Peer Specialist, Harm Reduction

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional community court, hearing criminal, housing, and family matters under one roof with a single judge. The Red Hook Community Justice Center’s mission is to solve community problems: strengthening families, assisting at-risk youth, preventing evictions, addressing crime when it occurs and working to prevent crime before it takes place.

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is seeking a Peer Specialist to provide extensive outreach to program participants and treatment services providers to help coordinate communication and care, with a focus in Harm Reduction to help promote and facilitate program treatment outcomes of meaningful engagement. Reporting to the Community Healing and Wellness Clinical Director, the Peer Specialist will work as a community-based peer outreach professional, informing individuals about the services and resources available at the Red Hook Community Justice Center. The Peer Specialist will provide training on how to use Narcan, drug testing strips, and other harm reduction materials, as well as coordinate the treatment referral process and initial assessments to ensure timely and effective participant engagement and outcomes.

• Assess individuals who are using controlled substances, motivate clients to seek treatment, harm reduction, and/or recovery support assistance, and collaborate on the development of an initial participant action plan, which includes a thorough review of substance use-related issues;
• Coordinate and facilitate individual education that is responsive to the specific interests and needs of the individual, which may include a focus on treatment, harm reduction, and/or relapse prevention;
• Coordinate referrals and follow up, as needed;
• Provide crisis intervention and support to program participants as needed;
• Train community members, participants and staff on how to use Narcan, fentanyl strips, Xylazine strips and other harm reduction materials
• Work with a diverse population in a mutually respectful manner, using a strengths-based approach;
• Manage and collaborate with appropriate staff to ensure appropriate level of support is provided in efficient manner;
• Adhere to policies and procedures for each service offered by program;
• Accurate and efficient documentation of every client interaction;
• Participate in community outreach including in-person outreach to contact individuals who are referred to Community Healing and Wellness;
• Operate company vehicle in the community for community outreach and immediate client engagement and drive participants to referred services when needed;
• Help with loading and replenishment of materials needed in the vehicle;
• Attend all team meetings, supervision, trainings and perform other administrative duties as needed;
• Attend project events, community events, and meetings after hours, as needed; and
• Other appropriate duties as assigned.

• Ability to motivate clients in a courteous, empathic, and professional manner;
• Use lived experience and be comfortable serving as a role model of personal recovery to connect with participants and support them in their goals;
• Capacity to facilitate group using the harm reduction framework covering recovery, maintenance, and overdose prevention ;
• Knowledge on how to properly administer and train others to administer Narcan and other harm reduction materials and resources;
• Active listening skills to establish working alliance with clients , staff, and stakeholders;
• Superior communication skills to convey information clearly, accurately, and completely;
• Aptitude to maintain professional demeanor when engaging in difficult situations; and
• Strong work ethic, particularly in a team setting.

• A high school diploma as well as at least 2 years of relevant experience;
• Must have experience with integrated substance abuse assessment and treatment, motivational interviewing techniques and stage-wise treatment;
• Applicants should be comfortable working in a court and as part of a team in a collegial group environment;
• Bilingual skills (Spanish/English) preferred;
• Driver’s license and a clean driving record;
• CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate), Peer Recovery Coach, and or CASAC-T (Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee) credentials preferred; and
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of harm reduction.

Position Type: Full-time.

Position Location: Brooklyn, NY.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $57,500 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.