Peer Recovery Specialist

Title:

Peer Specialist Unit:
Scattered Site Housing

Reports to:

Program Director Salary Range: $25.83 per hour (approximately $47,000 annually)
Status:
Full Time;
Regular;
Non-Exempt

Location:

625 West 140th Street, New York, NY 10031

Days/

Hours:

Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pmThis position is represented by OPEIU Local 153

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for almost 60 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with over $100 million in annual budget with approximately 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society.

The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, an arts program, lifetime aftercare, policy and advocacy through our David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, and research through our Center for Research, Inquiry and Social Justice.

Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 20,000 people a year. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

Scope of Work:

The Recovery Peer Specialist (RPS) serves as a role model, demonstrating competency in personal recovery and effective coping skills. The RPS provides advocacy, peer support, and access to resources for tenants enrolled in The Fortune Society’s OASAS-funded Transitional Safety Unit, particularly those who are justice-impacted and managing substance use disorders. Collectively with the TSU team the RPS also assists clients in securing permanent supportive housing after achieving stability within a 6–12-month period.

Core Competencies Mission and Fit:
Embodies Fortune’s mission, and will be an effective member of the team in furthering it. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value: that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Resourceful:
The Recovery Peer Specialist should possess a strong understanding of a wide range of Wellness Recovery resources available through government agencies and nonprofit organizations. This knowledge enable them to effectively support participants during crisis situations, make appropriate referrals, and advocate on their behalf.

Engagement:
Recovery Peer Specialist must demonstrate active listening skills by using empathy and reflection to effectively engage a diverse client…