Peer Counselor, STEP

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Peer Counselor, Safe Transitions and Empowerment Project (STEP)
Program: Parole Support and Treatment Program
Salary: $38,000 – 42,000 per year

Program Description:
The Safe Transitions and Empowerment Project (STEP) Program provides services to women parolees being released from New York State Correctional facilities with a diagnosis of serious mental illness and substance addiction. In addition to temporary housing, an array of services is offered to the clients. The programs include the Parole Support and Treatment Program, Transitional Housing Program (PSTP), Safe Transitions and Empowerment Project (STEP), Intensive Case Management (ICM), Supported Case Management (SCM) and PSTP Supported Housing (Permanent Housing).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the Peer Counselor include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Escort clients to medical appointments, benefits appointments, and other appointments as needed
• Meets with identified client individually and/or groups to discuss issues related to successful community living, including budgeting, medication adherence, sobriety or harm reduction, and use of leisure time
• Collaboration with Intensive Case Manager to conduct home visits with clients
• Assist clients with everyday activities such as grocery shopping and money management
• Facilitate groups for clients
• Conduct bi-annual housing inspections and view potential new housing units
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical documentation and complete case notes in a timely manner
• Attend and participate in all staff and team meetings, and in-service training, case consultation with interdisciplinary staff
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Program Director

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with females who have histories of mental illness, substance use issues, incarceration, or homeless.
• Ability to interface with clients as well as all levels of staff and providers
• Spanish fluency preferred
• Valid Driver’s License is a plus

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer.  Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.