Supported Education Counselor - Part Time

Mission Statement:  

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions is committed to providing peer recovery, person-centered, trauma-informed, and compassionate services to those with mental health lived experiences.    

Vision:  

Our vision is to drive a cultural transformation within the mental health community by advocating for the underserved, educating for change, and inspiring wellness. We approach our role with cultural humility and mindfulness of oppressive systems.   

Our Core Values:  

• We value a mentoring philosophy delivered by staff with peer-lived experiences.  
• We value the recovery journey of every individual with a mental health diagnosis.  
• We value the personal and professional experiences of our staff and board members.  
• We value community action to change societal views to break the stigma of mental health through advocacy within all systems.  
• We value everyone's desire to have opportunities to obtain their visions of wellness.  
• We value education and training to enhance an individual's opportunities for growth in one's journey to self-discovery.  

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions is seeking highly motivated and energetic candidates to fill a position in Community Links that will provide state of the art Wellness & Recovery Supported Education services to young adults and older adults in New York City. Applicants for the position of Supported Education Counselor will perform a full range of services that support the successful pursuit of educational goals identified by service recipients.

Because the onset of serious mental illnesses typically occurs during late adolescence or young adulthood, people often have had their educations, careers, interests, and other life pursuits interrupted. The program seeks to help people to identify and define their educational needs based on their vocational goals. The program also seeks to identify and create access to appropriate resources to meet the needs and mitigate the unique challenges encountered by service recipients. Through a personalized peer support relationship, counselors are expected to work with individuals to identify assets, challenges, and appropriate resources. Services are delivered in a blended model of on-site, mobile community-based and remote telehealth services where most services will be delivered individually.

In-person and telehealth group services may be delivered to service recipients as a complement to one-to-one service.

Respondents should demonstrate that they have experience and interest in providing mental health services to young adults and older adults. Greater consideration will be given to respondents with two years or more of relevant experience working in mental health, advocacy social services or educational settings.

Respondents should also have some experience in providing the services outlined below.

They will have experience with and/or be trained in an array of practical tools and their relevance to providing Supported Education services that endorses empowerment of the individual; this includes basic principles of a self- help recovery model, the basics of psychiatric rehabilitation, time and money management, development of a personal Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), peer support and peer wellness coaching, and trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive, and trauma-responsive care.

Essential Functions:

• Assist individuals by providing academic and vocational education preparedness planning services that develop & define steps towards education goals (in measurable outcomes) that enhance self-reliance and greater community interdependence. Develop individualized, person centered, strength based and career-oriented Readiness Development and Education Goal Plans in collaboration with the student/program participant.
• Contact schools and supportive resources by mail, phone, e-mail, and in person to develop appropriate networks; build knowledge base of resources, conducts extensive outreach to schools and potential supports, to increase pool of academic supports, increase educational support resources and develop new connections with providers.
• Serve as a liaison between individuals, their schools, and community agencies; responsible for developing and coordinating community resources and program services activities, including internships and academic development programs.
• Perform a variety of programmatic & administrative client-centered tasks including, but not limited to, client outreach & intake, required data collection & case records maintenance, progress notes, individualized readiness development and education goal plans, and assisting program team with planned activities.
• Maintain client records in a timely, complete, and organized manner, consistent with all applicable policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Facilitate school readiness and systems navigation workshops and one-on-one education counseling including assistance with admission applications and registration, identify financial aid resources and assistance with application for financial aid.
• Facilitate group meetings, workshops, training sessions and presentations which includes sharing your own recovery story/experience with participants.
• Conduct orientation groups and individual intake interviews, present new intake case presentations.
• Assist clients with assessment, education coaching, advocacy, and follow-along services
• Provide counseling and support to identify/establish vocational goals, educational goals, and study interests of the participant, as well as, administering/arranging for interest/skill assessments as needed.
• Provide advocacy and support to obtain necessary accommodations as needed. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, Bachelor’s degree in Education preferred.
• Specific experience in Employment or Education Counseling, or Vocational Rehabilitation with adults in behavioral health settings, preferably with adults with history of mental health conditions.
• Specialized skills in Educational Development, Assessment, and retention services
• Ability to independently make informed decisions that directly impact on education outcomes for participants
• Highly Proficient computer skills including internet research as well as MS Office and MS Word, Excel, and Outlook computer skills.
• Experience as a Peer Advocate, or other related experience

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions will require selected candidates to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 and having received a booster shot. If a candidate has a qualifying medical condition or religious exemption that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination, an  exemption form should be requested from Human Resources.

Physical Demands and Work Environment  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.