Independent Living, Inc.- Pediatrics

Description:

Title: Peer Transition/Diversion Specialist

Position Type: Full-time, Non-exempt

Reports to: Bridger/Diversion Team Lead 

Base Location: Monticello

Schedule:  Monday - Friday 

Office Days:  9am-5pm 

Hospital Days: 8:30am - 4:30am

Pay Rate: $23.65/hr

About Independent Living, Inc.

Since 1987, Independent Living, Inc. (ILI) has been increasing access, encouraging self-determination, and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities throughout the Hudson Valley of New York. Following the traditional independent living center (ILC) model, the majority of ILI’s board and staff are individuals with disabilities, bringing valuable peer and life-experience perspectives to the services we provide.

ILI is committed to empowering individuals to live independently and participate fully in their communities.

Interested in learning more about who we are? We encourage applicants to watch our agency video to gain insight into our mission, vision, values, and the impact we make within the community. The video offers a closer look at our culture and the meaningful work our team does every day. Please select the link below for your preferred platform to view the video. 

 YouTube: https://youtu.be/pc1BlNdilYM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyIndependentLiving

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myindependentliving/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myindependentlivinginc 

Why Work with Us?

• Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to building a barrier-free society and supporting independent living
• Be part of a collaborative workplace that embraces diversity and innovation, where every team member’s voice and lived experience are respected and valued
• Be part of an organization that champions inclusive hiring practices and actively welcomes individuals of all abilities, recognizing the value of both visible and non-visible disabilities
• Make a meaningful impact by helping individuals transition from institutional and treatment settings to successful, independent community living.
• Use your lived experience and peer expertise to promote recovery, self-determination, and personal empowerment.
• Help reduce hospitalizations, recidivism, and reliance on intensive services by providing proactive, individualized peer support and community-based connections.

About the Role

The Peer Transition/Diversion Specialist provides intensive, individualized peer support to individuals with mental health disabilities who are transitioning from psychiatric hospitals, treatment facilities, correctional settings, or other institutional environments into the community. Drawing on personal lived experience and recovery-oriented practices, this role helps individuals develop meaningful goals, strengthen support networks, navigate systems, and access the resources needed to live successfully in the community.

The Peer Transition/Diversion Specialist collaborates with hospital discharge teams, behavioral health providers, community agencies, families, and other supports to facilitate effective transitions and prevent unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization. The role promotes self-determination, recovery, wellness, independent living, and quality of life through demand-responsive peer engagement and advocacy.

What You’ll Do

• Provide proactive, individualized peer support to individuals transitioning from psychiatric hospitals, treatment facilities, correctional settings, and other institutional environments to community living.
• Collaborate with discharge teams, clinicians, hospitals, treatment providers, and community agencies to develop and implement effective transition and discharge plans.
• Engage individuals who may be at increased risk of hospitalization or institutionalization and provide timely, flexible, and intensive peer support during periods of increased vulnerability.
• Support individuals in developing Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), advanced directives, health care proxies, and other tools that promote self-direction and continuity of care.
• Provide ongoing peer counseling, advocacy, recovery education, and support related to wellness, self-management, and community integration.
• Help individuals identify and pursue personal goals related to housing, employment, education, relationships, wellness, recreation, and independent living.
• Assist individuals in navigating behavioral health, disability, social service, and other community systems while promoting informed choice and self-determination.
• Develop and maintain integrated support networks that may include case management, benefits advisement, housing, employment, education, self-help, family supports, healthcare providers, treatment programs, emergency services, and other resources identified by the individual.
• Provide individual advocacy by helping individuals understand and exercise their rights, resolve concerns, access services, and make informed decisions about supports.
• Identify recurring barriers and concerns affecting individuals and participate in systems advocacy efforts to improve services, policies, and community resources.
• Educate individuals, families, providers, and community partners about disability, mental health recovery, available resources, and community-based alternatives.
• Promote personal empowerment, independence, recovery, and the development of independent living skills.
• Maintain current knowledge of mental health, substance use, disability, transition, diversion, and community-based service systems.
• Maintain effective working relationships with hospitals, treatment programs, behavioral health providers, correctional facilities, and community organizations.
• Complete required documentation, case notes, statistical reports, and other records accurately and within established deadlines.
• Attend and actively participate in required meetings, supervision, trainings, and professional development activities.
• Facilitate community wellness groups as needed. 
• Provides screening, navigation, and care coordination through the Social Care Network, connecting individuals to appropriate services and documenting outcomes.
• Perform other related responsibilities and participate in additional training as assigned.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have

• Personal lived experience as a current or former recipient of mental health services and the ability to use that experience appropriately and effectively in a peer-support role.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Willingness and ability to undergo hospital and partnership onboarding.
• Experience working with individuals with serious or persistent mental health disabilities.
• Strong knowledge of the mental health system, recovery principles, peer support, and community-based services.
• Ability to practice appropriate and purposeful self-disclosure while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Strong understanding of wellness, recovery, WRAP principles, self-determination, and independent living.
• Demonstrated ability to connect individuals with disability, behavioral health, housing, benefits, employment, education, healthcare, and other community resources.
• Knowledge of local, state, and national disability-related issues and community resources.
• Strong advocacy, communication, relationship-building, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and respond effectively to changing or urgent needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality requirements and applicable laws and regulations related to mental health and substance use services.
• Must complete an approved advocacy training program within the first six months of employment.
• Valid unrestricted driver’s license.

It would be a plus if you also have

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field preferred, with at least two years of advocacy experience. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills; ASL proficiency is also a plus.
• Experience facilitating peer-led groups or other recovery-oriented programming.
• Knowledge of substance use disorder services, recovery supports, and local treatment resources.
• Strong familiarity with community resources, including transportation, recreation, self-help, support groups, drop-in centers, housing, and other community-based services.
• Experience with transition, diversion, hospital discharge planning, or community reintegration.
• Familiarity with the DLA-20 Assessment Tool.
• Experience working collaboratively with hospitals, behavioral health providers, correctional facilities, and other multidisciplinary systems.

Success in this role will be demonstrated through

• Individuals successfully transition from institutional and treatment settings to stable, meaningful community living.
• Individuals demonstrate increased self-determination, independence, and confidence in managing their wellness and recovery.
• Individuals establish meaningful connections to housing, healthcare, benefits, employment, education, peer support, and other community resources.
• Transition and diversion plans are individualized, timely, recovery-oriented, and responsive to each person’s goals and preferences.
• Individuals experience reduced barriers to services and decreased reliance on hospitalization or other intensive interventions.
• Strong, collaborative relationships are maintained with hospitals, providers, referral sources, and community partners.
• Advocacy efforts result in improved access to services and resolution of individual and systemic barriers.
• Documentation, reporting, and program requirements are completed accurately and on time.
• Individuals report increased quality of life, community connection, and progress toward their personal goals.

Benefits available to you include

• Paid holidays from the first day of employment
• Paid lunch break
• Paid time off
• 401(k) with company match
• Health, Dental and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company provided Life, AD&D and Short- and Long-Term disability insurance
• Voluntary insurances including Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity 

We actively support an inclusive hiring process and encourage people with disabilities, visible and non-visible, to apply. If you require reasonable accommodation to support the application or onboarding process, please contact Latoya Merricks at (845) 674-7752.

ILI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To apply, visit us at https://www.myindependentliving.org/careers/