StateJobsNY

AgencyMental Health, Office of

TitleAdvocacy Specialist 2, located in New York, Central Office;

Occupational CategoryHealth Care, Human/Social Services

Salary Grade18

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $61270 to $77912 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Non-competitive Class

Travel Percentage 30%

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? Yes

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

County New York

Street Address NYS Office of Mental Health, New York City Field Office

330 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor

City New York

StateNY

Zip Code10001

Minimum Qualifications Qualified candidates must possess:

A Bachelor’s degree AND two years experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.

OR

A 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.

Duties Description The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill one Advocacy Specialist 2, G-18, position in the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services (OAPSS) located at the Western New York Field Office (WNYFO). OAPSS works to ensure the inclusion of recipient perspectives into OMH policy making, planning, program development, and evaluation. The Advocacy Specialist 2 works 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 serves at a Statewide level and and will function as a Regional Family Advocate OR as a Regional Youth Advocacy Specialist within the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services assigned to the WNYFO.

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

• Provide feedback and recommendations concerning the development of new family OR 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 Family Peer Advocates OR 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 Family Peer Advocate Workforce OR 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 Family Peer Advocates’ OR 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 family perspective into Agency services.

• 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 family 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 family/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.

Additional Comments Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

All OMH Central Office employees who are vaccinated for COVID-19 must show proof of vaccination. Fully vaccinated means that two (2) or more weeks have elapsed since receiving either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or the first and only dose of a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson [J&J]/Janssen). Those not vaccinated must indicate this. Vaccination is required for many OMH positions but not all. Those not vaccinated for COVID-19 are ineligible for appointment to positions that require vaccination.

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.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Janelle Zamierowski

Telephone

Fax (518) 486-3897

Email Address OMHHRM@OMH.NY.GOV

Address

Street NYS Office of Mental Health

44 Holland Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12229

Notes on ApplyingTo be considered for this position, interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format as an attachment to omhhrm@omh.ny.gov. Please include the title of the position and Vacancy ID #130017 in the subject line of your email when applying.

You are advised that, should you accept a job offer with the Office of Mental Health, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee.