Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA)

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The position will carry out traditional roles of a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) dealing directly with individuals in recovery for Substance Use Disorder and related issues. The Peer Advocate will also function as the link between the recoveree, their family and local addiction/mental health service organization. Through a combination of personal experience and professional training, peers can provide an array of services to program participants.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma/equivalent (Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, preferred but not needed)
Individual must have valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation.
Individual must be certified as a Peer Advocate through OASAS (CRPA) or have a provisional license (CRPA-P).
Must have lived experience with substance use recovery either personally or through a family member or friend who has gone through recovery and be comfortable with self-disclosure as needed.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Promotes skills for coping with and managing behavioral health symptoms through recovery-oriented principles.
Offers peer support using trauma-informed, nonclinical assistance with the goal of assisting individuals achieve long term recovery.
Set up and sustain peer and family self-help and educational groups.
Provides advocacy, outreach and engagement, recovery supports, transitional supports and pre-crisis and crisis supports to individuals in the community.
Raises awareness of local resources, pathways to recovery and helps the individual remove barriers to access.
Helps individuals link to community services to assist with housing, financial support, counseling, self-help and medical care.
Helps individuals get to scheduled appointments by providing encouragement, assistance scheduling appointments and possible accompaniment to scheduled appointments.
Provides person centered goal planning that includes relapse prevention.
Helps individuals as they transition from one setting to another such as bridging from treatment to independent living, outpatient to community-based supports, hospital or jail to community settings.
Communicates effectively and works cooperatively with MCC staff, MCC volunteers and community professionals.
Coordinates services and communicates progress and/or concerns to their supervisor.
Provides crisis management as needed. Able to identify symptoms of decomposition and develop strategies to address concerns with their supervisor.
Coordinate a variety of activities that encourage engagement, employment, self-management and personal wellness.
Network with other agency providers and community support services to maintain an integrated support system for persons with SUD.
Complete all reporting and record keeping as required.
Other duties as assigned.