Apply on Employer Site

New York State Office of Mental Health · 2 days ago

Advocacy Specialist 2, Central Office;

Poughkeepsie, NY

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$67K/yr - $85K/yr

2+ years exp

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is seeking an Advocacy Specialist 2 for the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services located in Poughkeepsie. The role involves promoting peer recovery values, collaborating with various programs and departments, and providing technical assistance and guidance to enhance mental health services across New York State.

GovernmentHealth CareMental HealthWellness

Comp. & Benefits

Responsibilities

Serve as the liaison between OMH and the community, seeking input from individuals and families in a variety of forums to create a feedback loop, and to promote voice, choice, and meaningful participation in services

Perform community outreach tasks with the goal of building relationships with providers and partners, including providing support to Peer-run agencies/Peer-directed programs and family run agencies/family-directed programs, attending community events, tabling at conferences, and providing presentations

Provide individual mentoring and guidance by helping to facilitate connection to peer services as well as guidance to community programs on peer support best practices, and ways to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by individuals and families within the mental health and intersecting systems

Provide guidance to agencies on developing peer/recovery-oriented services and support to enhance the provision of peer support services regionally and foster growth of the peer support workforce, including providing guidance on person-centered language, guiding interested individuals to peer discipline training programs, and providing guidance on implementing peer services

Participate in licensing or unlicensed program visits and provide feedback on the program’s strengths and improvement needs, including participating as a reviewer for a licensing visit, participating in a supportive housing visit, and providing feedback to licensing on a program's peer specialist job description

Work internally within OMH toward systemic changes through participation in internal workgroups, providing data/feedback to other departments, and reviewing potential new programs including, participating in the OMH redesign efforts, reviewing Requests for Proposals, providing guidance to OMH departments, and monitoring existing OMH programs

Demonstrate effective time management, organization, and communication to perform a variety of functions within the scope of their role

Other specific tasks are assigned as necessary

Qualification

Peer advocacy experienceMental health knowledgeCommunity outreachLived mental health experiencePeer support best practicesMental health peer certificationEffective communicationTime managementOrganizational skills

Required

Candidates must have six years of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health

A Bachelor's degree in a human services field, and two years of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health

A Bachelor's and Master's degree in a human services field AND one year of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health

Demonstrate effective time management, organization, and communication to perform a variety of functions within the scope of their role

Preferred

Lived mental health experience from first-hand, personal knowledge and understanding gained from directly navigating and receiving services and/or supports as an element of their recovery

Experience as a peer advocate in the mental health system

A mental health peer certification or credential (New York Certified Peer Specialist [NYCPS or NYCPS-P], Youth Peer Advocacy credential [YPA or YPA-P], or Family Peer Advocacy Credential [FPA or FPA-P])