Peer Advocate Veterans
Flatbush, NY
Up to $2,500.00 Sign-on Bonus
When you join the CCBQ Team, you will have an impact on the lives of many. For over 125 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing quality social services to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens, and currently offers 160-plus programs and services for children, youth, adults, seniors, and those struggling with mental illness. Our Peer Advocacy Program provides assistance and support to mental health consumers by other mental health consumers. Peers in recovery from their own issues with mental illness offer encouragement and assistance to others with similar problems. Peer Advocates conduct various support groups such as smoke cessation, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), co-occurring disorders, relapse prevention and others.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Provisional New York State Peer Specialist Certification
• Current or former client of a mental health program.
• History of mental illness and at least one year of symptom remission.
• Knowledge of computer programs (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook).
• Good communication skills.
• Proven ability to work with people with behavioral disabilities.
• Ability to read and write.
• Bilingual Spanish/English; Russian/English; Creole/English; Chinese/English; Korean/English speaking preferred.
• Frequent walking, standing, & sitting.
• Should be able to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, & office equipment.
• Ability to read printed & handwritten materials.
• Ability to travel extensively in the community and use public transportation throughout the five boroughs.

• Serves as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery-based services that will aid the veteran in daily living.
• Works with the veteran in exploring options for obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment, by making referrals to appropriate VA housing programs.
• Inform veterans about community and mutual supports and how to use these in the recovery process, Community resources may include but are not limited to consumer¬ run self-help and mutual support services, social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, library, restaurants, veterans’ service organizations, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.,
• Participate in conducting relevant assessments, contact clients not responding to outreach. In addition, where appropriate will assist clients with securing resources and other supports necessary for maintaining the highest degree of independence and self-reliance in the community.
• Conduct Outreach in the community and Participate in Outreach events within the community.
• Encourage all clients to participate fully in into program activities to help them achieve their personalized recovery goal