Peer Specialist

• Overview Peer Specialist Samaritan Daytop Village is a leading human services organization in New York State serving over 38,000 New Yorkers annually across more than 60 locations through Transitional Housing, Community Based Services, and Residential and Outpatient programs.
• First Steps Intensive Crisis Stabilization Center (ICSC), operated by Samaritan Daytop Village in Rockland County, is a 24/7 program dually licensed by OMH and OASAS to provide rapid, short-term support for children ages 5+ and adults in mental health or substance use crisis.
• Our multidisciplinary team utilizes a trauma-informed, harm-reduction framework to stabilize individuals and connect them with long-term care while avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits.
• We are seeking a Peer Specialist to join our team and support individuals navigating mental health or substance use challenges.
• This role uses personal lived experience to build genuine connections, offer hope, and advocate for clients during and after a crisis.
• You will help people identify their goals, navigate community resources like housing or benefits, and ensure their voice is heard throughout the treatment process.
• This position is a great fit for someone with a background in peer support who wants to use their own recovery journey to provide practical help in a trauma-informed environment.
• Candidates must hold a New York State peer certification, such as a CRPA or NYCPS.

Responsibilities

Engages clients from point of arrival with empathy, respect, and a recovery-oriented presence Shares personal recovery experience purposefully to instill hope and model the recovery process Supports clients in identifying their individual strengths, goals, and recovery capital Assists with practical navigation of benefits, housing referrals, and transportation Facilitates warm hand-offs to outpatient providers, recovery organizations, and support groups Advocates for the client’s voice during treatment and discharge planning Provides overdose prevention education and naloxone training to clients and family members Documents all services accurately in the electronic health record system Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and case conferences to support integrated care Partners with the clinical team to support client completion of safety plans

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required One of the following is required: NYS Peer Specialist (NYCPS), Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) certification or Family Peer Advocate (FPA) credential; candidates with provisional status (NYCPS-P or CRPA-P) will also be considered Lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery Previous experience in peer support, behavioral health, or crisis settings preferred Strong understanding of the recovery process, harm reduction, and community resources Ability to share a recovery story purposefully while maintaining professional boundaries Basic computer literacy for documenting in electronic health records Deep empathy and a non-judgmental approach toward individuals in crisis Commitment to treating all clients with dignity, respect, and cultural sensitivity