Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA)

Position Title: Certified Peer Recovery Advocate (CRPA)

Department: Center for Healing

Reports To: Director of Admissions

Job Location: 190 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012

FLSA: Exempt

Job Status: Temp to Full-Time

Availability: Monday-Friday, 6:15am-1:45pm, rotating hours from 7:00am-3:00pm, as required 

Requirements: CRPA, CRPA-P

Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Flexible Spending Account, 403b Retirement Plan, Worker’s Compensation, Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Holidays, Personal Time Off, Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Competitive Remuneration.

About Greenwich House

Founded in 1902 as a settlement house to help New York’s increasing immigrant population adjust to life in a new country, Greenwich House today offers a variety of programs and approaches that continue to provide thousands of New Yorkers with health and wellness support, education, personal enrichment, skills building and cultural experiences.

Position Summary

The CRPA will serve as a dynamic bridge between referral sources and those who wish to enter treatment, offering peer support, advocacy, and resource linkage. The role focuses on fostering positive peer interactions and engaging individuals to enter treatment, who without this support, would not expansion of access to treatment. The CRPA will utilize lived experience and community insight to facilitate engagement, education and access to treatment. CRPA will also serve as part of the Greenwich House at Home program, which dual certifies CRPAs as home health aides, with goal of reducing on site visits.

Responsibilities

Peer Engagement & Support:

• Act as a trusted peer liaison, facilitating conversations and interactions between referrals and the unhoused community.
• Provide empathetic support and share relevant resources, using a trauma-informed approach.
• Assist in reducing barriers to intake and admission.

Resource Coordination:

• Identify and connect individuals with relevant community resources (housing, health, food, and social services).
• Maintain updated directories of local service providers and assist in coordinating referrals and follow-ups.

Community Outreach & Education:

• Organize and participate in outreach efforts, workshops, or informal meetups aimed at building community trust and understanding.
• Educate on best practices for engagement in substance use disorder treatment, emphasizing respect, safety, and community inclusion.

Crisis Management:

• Provide immediate support during critical incidents, liaising with local authorities and service agencies when necessary.
• Document incidents and resolutions to help improve future responses and preventive strategies.

Collaboration & Reporting:

• Work closely with local organizations, city agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure coordinated support and sustainable interventions.
• Keep accurate records of interactions and outcomes, preparing periodic reports for supervisors and funders.

Qualifications

Experience & Background:

• Lived experience or a strong personal understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized or unhoused populations is highly valued.
• Prior experience in community outreach, peer advocacy, or social services is preferred.

Skills & Competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate sensitive situations with empathy and confidence.
• Strong problem-solving skills, crisis intervention experience, and the ability to work independently in dynamic urban environments.
• Familiarity with local community resources and service networks is a plus.

Personal Attributes:

• Respectful, non-judgmental approach towards all community members.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries while offering genuine, peer-level support.
• Flexibility in working outdoors and adapting to the evolving needs of urban community spaces.

Additional Information:

• This role involves regular outdoor engagement at busy public parks, requiring the ability to work in varied weather conditions and during peak community activity times.
• Flexible hours may be necessary based on community needs and event schedules.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, a successful candidate must be able to perform satisfactorily each essential duty. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified candidates with disabilities to perform these duties.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Greenwich House is strongly committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all individuals. All employment decisions and administration of all personnel policies are without regard to an applicant or employee’s actual or perceived race, religion, sex, age, national origin, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation or affectation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), predisposing genetic characteristic, genetic information, pregnancy, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, alienage, military or veteran’s status, physical or mental disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking offense and sex offenses, marital status, partnership status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. For more information regarding Greenwich House and our EEO statement, please visit https://www.greenwichhouse.org/about/