Peer Specialist (CTC) - Community Support Program

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

The Bridge offers supportive housing and behavioral health services to vulnerable New Yorkers facing behavioral health and substance use challenges. We provide individuals with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and live meaningful lives. The Bridge envisions a world where adults experiencing serious mental illness can live and thrive within their communities. As a recognized leader in developing and operating supportive housing and community-based programs, The Bridge has 70 years of experience helping New Yorkers with mental illness, including those affected by homelessness, incarceration, and institutionalization.

Scope of Position: The Connections to Care (CTC) Peer Specialist provides community-based support to individuals, youth, and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are living with serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, or co-occurring disorders. About 80% of the work takes place in the field—on the streets, in subways, drop-in centers, or shelters. As part of The Bridge, a respected mental health agency, the Peer Specialist helps carry out our mission to offer help, hope, and opportunity through a harm reduction and trauma-informed lens, while addressing the impact of systemic racism on the communities we serve.

Essential Position Functions:

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide person-centered peer support services to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), serious emotional disturbance (SED), or co-occurring disorders (COD).
• Complete all required documentation accurately and in a timely, high-quality manner.
• Partner with clients, their families, and community organizations to support progress toward treatment and recovery goals.
• Coordinate care with hospitals, substance use treatment programs, probation and parole, and other relevant service providers.
• Conduct psychosocial, substance use, and other clinical assessments as needed.
• Support clients in developing individualized service plans and crisis/relapse prevention plans.
• Apply evidence-based practices (e.g., WRAP, harm reduction) to address mental health and substance use challenges.
• Assist clients in accessing support for housing, benefits, employment, education, vocational goals, community integration, and physical health care.
• Provide advocacy and support related to legal needs, including navigating the criminal justice system and coordinating with legal agencies.

Requirements:

• Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English required; proficiency in Spanish is highly desired.
• Strong computer skills are needed.
• Lived experience in mental health, substance use, criminal justice, or homelessness is highly encouraged.

The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer