Optum Outreach Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TITLE: Peer Outreach Worker

REPORTS TO: Bronx Street Outreach

FLSA CODE: Full-time, 35 hours per week

PROGRAM: Bronx Street Outreach Program - 953 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY 10459

Our Mission:

Since 1967, Odyssey House has been providing innovative services and programs to a broad population of individuals and families struggling with substance use and mental health disorders. Odyssey House helps New Yorkers of all ages—and across all five boroughs—beat drugs and alcohol with highly individualized treatment programs. Odyssey House provides high quality, holistic treatment impacting all major life spheres, including psychological, physical, social, family, educational and spiritual in order to support personal rehabilitation, renewal and family restoration.

If that sounds different than other treatment programs, you’re right. Because Odyssey is where recovery gets real.

In addition, Odyssey House offers (for full-time employees):

• A 35-hour work week (as opposed to a 40-hour work week)
• Vacation Plan and Holiday Schedule
• Life Insurance
• Medical Insurance (Two Plans)
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Additional Insurance Coverages (hospitalization, accidental, critical illness coverage)
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account
• 403(b) Plan
• Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) EAP benefit
• Ability Assist Counseling Services (through The Hartford)
• Commuter Benefits
• Educational Assistance Programs
• Special shopping discounts through ADP Marketplace and PlumBenefits
• RUFit?! Fitness Program
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Assistance
• Optum Financial Service through ConnectYourCare
• Benefit Advocacy Center through Gallagher

Position Summary:

Peer Outreach Workers play a central role in Odyssey House’s Bronx Street Outreach Program, using lived experience to build trust, reduce harm, and connect individuals with lifesaving services. Working in high-need Bronx neighborhoods, Peer Outreach Workers provide compassionate, low-threshold support and linkages to treatment, housing, mental health, and other essential resources.

Description of Duties and Responsibilities.

• Engage PWUD and community members in parks, encampments, transit hubs, shelters, and other high-need areas.
• Distribute naloxone, fentanyl/xylazine test strips, sterile supplies, first aid kits, hygiene kits, and other harm reduction materials.
• Provide overdose prevention education and train individuals and families in naloxone administration.
• Offer peer support, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed engagement strategies to build trust.
• Support clients with navigation of Medicaid, housing, benefits, and treatment referrals, including warm handoffs and accompaniment to appointments.
• Conduct field-based behavioral health screenings (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7) and refer clients to appropriate providers.
• Maintain accurate outreach records and ensure timely documentation of encounters, referrals, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with community partners to expand access to harm reduction and treatment services
• Participate in ongoing training, group supervision, and reflective practice sessions.

Qualifications for Position:

1. Must have lived experience with substance use, recovery, and/or harm reduction.
2. Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) credential or CRPA-P is required.
3. Previous experience in street outreach, harm reduction services, or peer navigation is strongly preferred.

Skills and Knowledge Required: Strong skills in trauma-informed care, harm reduction practices, overdose prevention, and motivational interviewing are essential, along with the ability to engage clients with empathy and respect. Knowledge of community resources and benefits navigation is preferred, and bilingual ability is strongly valued.

Amount of travel and any other special conditions or requirements: Regular local travel required, valid NYS driver’s license strongly preferred.

Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel. Odyssey House, and its operational divisions, will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizen status in all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, training, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.