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About the Role
The Harm Reduction Specialist is a critical team member providing person-centered support to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance use challenges, and chronic medical conditions within a supportive housing environment. This role focuses on promoting health, stability, and recovery through harm reduction strategies, substance use education, and linkage to services.
Responsibilities
- Work individually with a caseload of tenants who have Harm Reduction goals related to acute substance use and health needs, supporting risk reduction, relapse prevention, coping skills, and treatment decision-making.
- Provide person-centered harm reduction and substance use services that engage residents and promote health, wellness, and housing stability.
- Conduct risk assessments related to substance use and provide appropriate referrals.
- Identify short- and long-term service needs and support residents in achieving their goals.
- Utilize harm reduction approaches to address mental health and substance use challenges.
- Develop workshop curricula and group sessions on a variety of topics including recovery education, healthcare self-advocacy, coping skills, and social support.
- Utilize evidence-informed interventions such as Seeking Safety, Illness Management and Recovery, Wellness Recovery Action Planning, and others for group engagement.
- Facilitate group counseling sessions and educational and skill-oriented workshops.
- Engage in community outreach and support tenant participation in harm reduction activities.
- Coordinate on-site health and service engagement and educational tables.
- Document all services, interventions, and assessments in accordance with program requirements.
- Maintain accurate and confidential resident records in compliance with funder and organizational standards.
- Participate in staff meetings, clinical meetings, and supervision to ensure best practices.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and support educational initiatives.
- Participate in training and pilot programs related to evidence-based practices.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- CASAC-T required, or willingness to enroll in a CASAC program within six (6) months of hire, with completion within eighteen (18) months.
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience providing harm reduction and substance use services.
- Experience working with individuals impacted by homelessness, mental illness, substance use, HIV/AIDS, or chronic medical conditions.
- Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a diverse caseload.
- Ability to work under pressure, including in crisis situations.
- Experience conducting risk assessments and making treatment referrals.
- Experience with community outreach.
- Experience with electronic case management systems such as ETO or CASES.
- Experience with evidence-based practices including Motivational Interviewing.
- Experience developing and facilitating workshop and group curricula.
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
Skills
- Harm reduction strategies
- Substance use education
- Risk reduction
- Relapse prevention
- Coping skills
- Treatment decision-making
- Person-centered services
- Health promotion
- Wellness
- Housing stability
- Risk assessment
- Referral services
- Service needs identification
- Mental health support
- Evidence-informed interventions
- Group counseling
- Community outreach
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Documentation
- Record keeping
- Motivational Interviewing
Location
- Brooklyn
- Manhattan
Work Type
- Full-time
- Onsite
Experience Level
- Minimum of two (2) years of experience providing harm reduction and substance use services.
Education Level
- High school diploma or equivalent
- CASAC-T required
About the Company
- Lantern Community Services helps New Yorkers impacted by homelessness move from surviving to thriving by pairing safe, supportive housing with wraparound services that build lasting stability and independence.
- Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York — a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!
Equal Opportunity
- Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants.
- Lantern values the diversity of our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners.
- By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy, and just communities.