Court Based Peer Navigator

About the role

The Court Based Peer Navigator provides court-to-community navigation and peer support for Queens Supervised Release (QSRP) participants at Queens Criminal Court. This role engages participants throughout and beyond arraignment, completes brief needs screening, provides practical court navigation support, and connects participants to community-based resources through immediate referrals and short-term follow-up.

Responsibilities

• Immediate Engagement: Meet and support QSRP participants at key court touchpoints immediately after arraignment and throughout their continued appearances. Draw on your own lived experience to connect authentically with QSRP participants at key court moments to build genuine rapport and offer both practical and emotional support rooted in mutuality and trust.
• Needs Assessment: Use a strengths-based, person-centered approach to have real conversations about what participants are up against — whether that's housing instability, mental health or substance use support, benefits, ID, transportation, safety, or barriers to showing up to court (needs snapshot) and learn what resources the participant needs and wants.
• System Navigation: Use your knowledge of how systems work to help participants make sense of court requirements. Collaborate with them to build realistic, barrier-reducing plans that support consistent court appearance, grounded in their strengths and circumstances.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with QSRP court and case management staff to stay coordinated on participant needs, share observations from a peer vantage point, and ensure smooth handoffs — including knowing when and how to connect someone to clinical support when concerns arise
• Resource Connection: Leverage community knowledge and relationships to connect participants to vetted services. Use warm handoffs that reflect understanding and mutuality
• Follow-Up & Encouragement: Ensure smooth transitions by checking in with individuals and providers to strengthen engagement in the program. Stay connected with participants and providers across transitions to ensure continuity of relationships and support. Use hope, accountability, and recovery orientation to encourage sustained engagement
• Documentation and Data: Document all engagements, identified needs, referrals made, warm handoffs, follow-up plans, and outcomes in approved systems.

Qualifications

• NYS Peer credential required (OMH Certified Peer Specialist and/or OASAS Certified Recovery Peer Advocate). Credentials must be maintained while employed.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience navigating courts and/or supporting individuals with criminal legal involvement
• Lived experience of the criminal legal system (including arrest, detention, or supervision), mental health challenges, housing instability and/or substance use and recovery, with the ability to draw on that experience intentionally in peer support relationships
• Experience providing peer support/navigation in behavioral health and/or criminal legal settings (court-based experience preferred).
• Effective and strong communication skills; comfort operating in courthouse environments and court partners, and with multi-stakeholder teams.
• Strong boundaries, confidentiality discipline, trauma and crisis-informed judgment.
• Able to work collaboratively and in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent time and work management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Teams and comfort entering notes in a database system.

Benefits

• CJA offers a very generous benefits plan including health, dental, and vision insurance, a comprehensive mental health, and wellness (EAP) plan, four weeks’ vacation, paid holidays, and a retirement plan with employer matching contributions.
• CJA is also strongly committed to professional learning and development for its staff members and offers staff varied opportunities for learning and development through partnerships and vendor services for web based, in-person professional development training, as well as in-house job training and development.

Pay

$70,000

Schedule

The role is expected to work four-day shifts (9am-5pm) shifts and one night shift (5pm to 1am). Must be available to work during the day or night shift, including holidays, as the program operates 7 days per week, 365 days a year.

Note

This position is expected to operate in-person 5 days per week. The successful hire must be able to assume responsibilities on-site in a fast-paced setting.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.