Center for Alternative·New York
Provide individual peer support, wellness counseling, and vocational services to young adults with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Coordinate with a multi-disciplinary team to integrate vocational goals and provide community-based outreach and crisis intervention.
Job Title: Peer Specialist
The CASES Young Adult ACT team provides mobile community based mental health treatment to promote the recovery and community integration of individuals ages 18 to 25 with serious mental illnesses, high rates of co-occurring substance use disorders and histories of criminal legal system involvement. The Employment Specialist is an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians delivering services such as supported employment, wellness self-management counseling, integrated co-occurring disorder treatment, daily living skills and general case management.
The Employment Specialist has lead responsibility on the team for integrating vocational goals and services with the tasks of all team members to support consumers to participation in vocational training, adult education, and competitive employment. We are looking for a professional clinician with extensive experience in vocational assessment, job exploration, and skills development in choosing, getting, and maintaining employment. This is a field-based position and requires at least 80% of services to be provided to participants in their homes, shelters, places of employment, vocational and education settings and other community settings.
The salary range for this role is $53,045 - $54,636.
424 East 147th Street, Bronx, NY 10455. Our office is easily accessible by public transportation.
Flexible – Staff have the flexibility to complete their workday from home or another suitable space, typically after reporting to the office and/or engaging in field or community-based work.
Attend and participate in daily team meetings to discuss clients’ clinical and case management issues and needs
Complete documentations required by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) licensing guidelines, NYS Medicaid billing guidelines as well as per CASES ACT Policy and Procedures
Complete Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), safety, relapse prevention plans
Identify the treatment services consumers should receive based on stage of change, immediate needs, and psychiatric presentation
Use motivational interviewing, recovery and trauma-informed approaches when delivering peer services to address housing, income support, education and vocational training, social supports, employment, and primary care needs
Work effectively and involve family, significant others, as well as other service providers in the consumer’s treatment with the YA ACT team
Provide individual peer support and wellness counseling, harm reduction counseling based on motivational interviewing
Act as advocate and liaison for consumers in income support and access to resources to support service plan goals
Provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis
Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice.
Although we would love to learn about the skills of every candidate, only selected candidates that are selected will receive a response. We encourage you to apply for any position(s) you feel you are qualified for.
CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm 35 hours per week excluding breaks
Requires a high school diploma and lived experience with mental health or substance use treatment, along with a Peer Specialist certification or eligibility to obtain one. Candidates must have at least 2 years of experience providing peer support to individuals with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement.
Market context
In New York, peer specialist openings are often tied to behavioral health, recovery, and community support programs, with demand shaped by agencies serving people in mental health and substance use services. These roles are competitive because employers value lived experience, strong communication, and a willingness to complete or maintain CPS credentials. Review the original posting carefully and confirm your eligibility, then use the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time comparing fit before you apply.
