Advocacy Specialist 1 Or Advocacy Specialist 2

If you value job security, work life balance, and opportunities for growth, join us at the New York State Office of Mental Health as an Regional (Adult) Advocacy Specialist to receive all of that and more!

Who We Are: New York State has a large, multi-faceted mental health system that serves more than 700,000 individuals each year. The Office of Mental Health (OMH) operates psychiatric centers across the State. OMH also regulates, certifies and oversees more than 4,500 programs, operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies. Our mission is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances.

What We Offer:

• NYS pension and retirement programs
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care
• Paid time off, including thirteen paid holidays per year, personal leave, vacation leave, and sick leave

What We Stand For: The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

DUTIES DESCRIPTION: The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill a Advocacy Specialist 1, SG-14, OR a Advocacy Specialist 2, SG-18, position in the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services (OAPSS) located in the Central New York Field Office (CNYFO). The salary grade to which the selected candidate is appointed will be dependent on candidate qualifications. OAPSS works to ensure the inclusion of recipient perspectives into OMH policy making, planning, program development, and evaluation. The incumbent will work to promote awareness of recovery, self-help and empowerment, and the inclusion of people who are current and former users of mental health services into all areas of the mental health system. The incumbent will serve at a Statewide level and and will function as a Regional Youth Advocacy Specialist within OAPSS assigned to the CNYFO.

Specific duties to be performed may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide feedback and recommendations concerning the development of new youth initiatives, policy implementation, and the expansion of agency initiatives as they relate to recipient and family services.
• Provide input/direction on OMH policies, program development and guidance documents.
• Promote the inclusion of family members of current and former users of mental health services and Youth Peer Advocates in planning, policy implementation, program development, evaluation, monitoring, and related activities.
• Promote and support peer services in OMH licensed and funded services.
• Provide regional coordination and support to the Youth Peer Advocate Workforce including working in various community-based organizations and in OMH state operated programs.
• Participate in OMH workgroups (composed of recipients, families, providers, county government staff, and the general public) and in Statewide and regional initiatives to ensure that Youth Peer Advocates’ interests are represented.
• Participate in OMH or system related workgroups, committees and meetings.
• Work with psychiatric centers, central office and field office staff to continue to incorporate the youth perspective into Agency services.
• Collaborate with Regional Advocacy Specialist colleagues across all five OMH regions in New York State.
• Oversee and monitor peer service provider agencies and services.
• Provide a regional perspective, as well as provide technical assistance, in support of the provision of consultation and assistance to State facility staff, local government, and provider agency staff on methods for promoting youth recipient involvement in planning, implementing, and evaluating mental health services.
• Promote the development and implementation of youth support programs, initiatives, and training within the public mental health system by developing and/or facilitating a training curriculum to staff and stakeholders at State facilities and community-based programs. Evaluate training effectiveness and make suggestions for improvements.
• Convene regional focus groups, town meetings, work groups, and dialogues to gather feedback and direction from family members of individuals who use services on mental health related issues.
• Work with the counties and SPOAs on issues related to children and families, services and providers.
• Provide support for managed care/Medicaid billing of peer services.
• Address parent calls and parent engagement for services.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and technical assistance to OMH staff, OMH contract vendors, and key community stakeholders in implementing family support projects and initiatives. Develop and implement project proposals; develop outreach and engagement strategies to foster community buy-in; review and modify goals, timelines, strategic plans or deliverables.
• Provide expert advice, assistance, and training to ensure mental health services are trauma informed, person centered, resilience and recovery oriented, and culturally inclusive.
• Provide expert advice assistance, and training to ensure providers/programs are youth friendly and upholding the values of youth-guided and family-driven principles.
• Promote awareness of resilience, recovery, self-help, and empowerment by disseminating evidence based and best practices information to recipients, families, providers, and county government and the general public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
ADVOCACY SPECIALIST 1, SG-14 (Salary Range $50,678 - $64,693):
Qualified candidates must possess: A Bachelor’s degree in a human services field AND one year experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.
OR A Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in a human services field.
OR Five years of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.

ADVOCACY SPECIALIST 2, SG-18 (Salary Range $63,108 - $80,248):
Qualified candidates must possess: A Bachelor’s degree in a human services field AND two years experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.
OR A Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in a human services field AND one year of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.
OR Six years of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preference may be given to candidates who have:

• Lived experience in the OMH or mental health systems of care
• NYS Peer Specialist Certification
• Experience as a Professional Peer Supporter or Advocate

Additional Comments:
The salary for candidates appointed to Advocacy Specialist 1, SG-14, starts at $50,678 and for candidates appointed to Advocacy Specialist 2, SG-18, starts at $63,108. The salary grade to which the selected candidate is appointed will be dependent on candidate qualifications.

Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. The number of permissible telecommuting days for each employee will be determined by the current work demands/assignments, as well as program operational needs and employee performance/productivity, but may not exceed 50% telecommuting in a two-week payroll period.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,678.00 - $80,248.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Patient demographics:

• Adults

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Syracuse, NY 13210: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Syracuse, NY 13210