The YA 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 team provides 80% of its treatment services in community locations. Peer staff use their lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or substance use to provide direct services to consumers in the community. Peer services include intentional peer support advocacy, engagement, self-help, recovery supports, pre-crisis and crisis supports and transitional supports for consumers leaving hospitals, jails and prisons. Using a person-centered approach to engagement, mental illness, recovery and histories of criminal justice involvement, supports consumers to live safely in the community and develop wellness plans and supportive healthy community networks. Specific responsibilities include:

Reports to: Team Leader

Locations: Bronx

All applicants must comply with CASES/NYC's vaccination policy. Individuals selected for employment cannot begin working until they provide verification that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with an FDA-authorized vaccine) or submit and gain approval for a Medical or Religious Exemption. Individuals approved for exemption must submit weekly PCR test results.

We believe that in-person operations are the best way to serve our clients, both directly and through essential operational support. ​This job requires work in our offices and/or in the community.

• 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

• Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate or Certified Peer Specialist, or eligible to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.
• At least 2 years of work experience providing peer support to individuals with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement
• Graduate of a recognized peer specialist training program such as the Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy and Training Center Peer Specialist Program a plus
• High school diploma
• Lived experience using mental health treatment and/or substance use treatment services
• Individuals with previous criminal justice experience are eligible
• Proficiency with computer and electronic health records
• Spanish speaking a plus.

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience 

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 justice system. Your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines