Community Support Specialist

Are you compassionate and caring? Are you looking for a rewarding career in Mental Health & Human Services? Apply today to join an amazing team, dedicated to advocating the health & well-being of individuals, families, and communities. MHA Columbia Greene is seeking to fill multiple positions of Community Support Specialists. These are 2 full time positions 40 hours per week and 2 part time positions up to 20 hours per week at $17.00 per hour.

Full Time Benefits include Medical, Dental, Life Benefit. Pension (employer contribution) plus Voluntary Vision, Life, AFLAC, Telemedicine (Concierge Medical), Voluntary 401K plans, EAP, generous sick, vacation, personal time, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement and much more. Plus, you get to be part of a dynamic, diverse, and supportive behavioral health organization

whose mission is to "Provide education and advocacy, and to enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities."

Part Time Benefits include generous accrued time off (Vacation, Sick, and Personal), paid holidays, Voluntary 401K plans, EAP, and voluntary benefits such as AFLAC, vision insurance, dental, and life, etc. Plus, you get to be part of a dynamic, diverse, and supportive behavioral health organization whose mission is to "Provide education and advocacy, and to enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities."

This position supports the CORE (Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment) services are person-centered, recovery-oriented, mobile behavioral health supports intended to build skills and self-efficacy that promote and facilitate community participation and independence. CORE Services are authorized under the 1115 Demonstration Waiver and replace Adult Behavioral Health Home and Community Based Services (BH HCBS) as a benefit for Health and Recovery Plan (HARP) enrollees and HARP-eligible HIV/Special Needs Plan (SNP) enrollees. Transitioning four Adult BH HCBS to CORE Services will improve access to services and use the expertise of clinicians and rehabilitation practitioners to support the eligibility and intake process.

Below is a list of the services that can be provided:

Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR)- to provide this service you need to have a High School Diploma or equivalency and 1-3 years of relevant experience, or must have a BA/BS Degree.

• Assists individuals in improving their functional abilities to the greatest degree possible in settings where they live, work, learn, and socialize.
• Rehabilitation counseling, skill building, and psychoeducational interventions.

Family Support and Training (FST)- to provide this service you need to have a High School Diploma or equivalency and 1-3 years of relevant experience, or must have a BA/BS Degree.

• Offers instruction, emotional support, and skill building necessary to facilitate engagement and active participation of the family.
• FST partners with families through a person-centered or person-directed, recovery oriented, trauma-informed approach.

Empowerment Services – Peer Support (Can only be provided by a Certified Peer Specialist through OMH/OASAS)

• Non-clinical, peer-delivered services with focus on rehabilitation, recovery, and resilience.
• Promotes skills for coping with and managing behavioral health symptoms while facilitating the use of natural supports and community resources.

• Education Requirements differ for each service that can be provided, please read all services above and the educational requirements. Certified Peer Specialists are encouraged to apply regardless of educational status. Non-Certified Peer Specialist should have at least two years’ experience in providing skills building, mentoring, or working in a behavioral health setting.
• Individuals are required to obtain a NYS-CPS-P and work towards a NYS-CPS during employment in the program. For more information on how to apply for a NYS-CPS-P (New York State- Certified Peer Specialist- Provisional) please click the link: NYCPS P Application Jan 2018.pdf (nypscb.org)
• During the first 60 days you will be required to complete all Essential Knowledge trainings as well as CORE Application of Principles training. Other training courses will be assigned as well.
• Be a self-starter who works independently in the community and maintains professional relationships with staff, providers, and recipients.
• Must be reliable and have excellent verbal, written, communication, electronic and interpersonal skills.
• Should be proficient in computer skills with the aptitude to learn additional software and data entry programs. Effective and efficient documentation skills are a must.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
• Ability to work with a diverse population of urban, suburban and rural cultures and with community members from varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Must be able to work regularly outside the office and in the field to engage with clients.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with Greene County and knowledge of managed care is a plus.
• Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

All offers are contingent on the candidate’s ability to obtain a Statewide Central Registry and Fingerprint clearance and must have a valid NYS Driver’s License and a clean MVR.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate in our employment practices due to an applicant's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, creed, disability, veteran status, marital status, familial status, military status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation or gender identity/expression (including transgender status), predisposing genetic characteristics/genetic information or carrier status, ancestry, ethnic group identification, ethnic background, traits historically associated with race, reproductive health decision making, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. At the Mental Health Association, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce makes the best workforce.