Reports to: Manager of Education and Outreach
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt full time
Hours: 32 hours per week, 10am-6pm Monday through Thursday and 10am to 2pm on Friday, evening and weekend hours as needed or requested by supervisor. Hybrid work schedule with 2-3 days in the office.
About NAMI-NYC:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City (NAMI-NYC) is the only nonprofit organization providing direct support to family members caring for loved ones with serious mental illness, like major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. We offer classes, nearly 40 support groups, family mentoring, a Helpline in English, Spanish, and 180+ languages, and more to peers and family members completely FREE regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status. (Even if you don’t apply to this role, check out our calendar and tell a family member or friend about us. It’s free to any New Yorker who needs mental health support. Really. www.naminyc.org/calendar)
NAMI-NYC not only provides virtual and in person free mental health programs and services to the community, but also fights for New Yorkers and our rights, including access to affordable, culturally responsive mental healthcare, peers not police in mental health crisis response, and investment in community-based programs. We also work to prevent people with SMI experiencing further interaction with the criminal legal system and break an unjust, endless cycle of psychiatric hospitalizations, homelessness, and incarceration.
We aim to increase mental health access to communities of color, monolingual Spanish speakers, the LGBTQ+ community, the Deaf and hard of hearing, older adults, and other underserved communities. We also care about addressing our country’s mental health crisis, especially among young people. We care about suicide prevention and connecting all New Yorkers to the resources they need.
Check out our website at www.naminyc.org and follow us on social.
Position Description:
We are excited to continue to build our Program and Services team. We’re looking for our next incredible Community Outreach Specialist, who is creative and has a can-do attitude. If you enjoy rolling up your sleeves and getting things done, you’ll likely be a great fit. We’re looking for an experienced peer (an individual living with a mental health challenge OR a family member of someone living with a mental health challenge) who is passionate about community outreach and engagement. Someone who can punch above their weight and help position NAMI-NYC as the #1 resource in NYC for free mental health support.
You have respect and compassion for individuals and families affected by mental illness. You will be the face of NAMI-NYC at community events/activities to help spread awareness of our FREE mental health programs. You will establish, strengthen and support community outreach by partnering with community-based service providers, faith-based organizations, hospitals, colleges, etc. and will deliver one of the most important mental health messages to New Yorkers – You are not alone; NAMI-NYC is here for you.
You’re a problem solver who embraces change and thrives in a fast-paced work setting. You are primarily responsible for all community outreach activities including “NAMI-NYC Overview” and “Mental Health 101” presentations, participating on panels, workshops, events, tabling etc.in order to effectively communicate our mission of helping families and individuals affected by mental illness build better lives. Your critical, “boots on the ground” outreach activities serve to promote interest amongst community providers in broader partnerships with NAMI-NYC and your work will function as a direct pipeline to connect community allies to our programming. We are a close-knit team of nearly 30 staff and the programs and services team takes pride in being the heart and soul of the organization. (We also really like taking mental health walks during lunch and singing karaoke at our holiday parties. And we’re NAMI-NYC, so it’s also okay to take your therapy session during the workday. We get it.)
The sky is the limit, and new ideas are not only welcomed but encouraged. We can’t wait to see what our next Community Outreach Specialist can do.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Community Outreach
- Engage and participate in community outreach to increase visibility and promote awareness of NAMI-NYC’s programs and services within the NYC community especially high need areas of the Bronx and Brooklyn by:
- Enhancing current collaborative partnerships
- Identifying and creating new collaborative partnerships
- Seek, develop and maintain outreach partnerships, creating and implementing community outreach activities, and programs.
- Identify, organize and participate in community events such as health fairs, workshops, panels,tabling etc aimed at raising mental health awareness and reducing stigma
- Develop strategies to help build community awareness of NAMI-NYC programs and services.
- Maintain a calendar of outreach activities, including presentations, community events, tabling, workshops, etc.
- Deliver “Mental Health 101” and “NAMI-NYC Overview” presentations in target communities throughout NYC.
- Maintain accurate and timely records/data of outreach activities
- Collect and organize printed marketing materials and branded giveaways to bring to community events.
General
- Attend internal and external meetings
- Work with the Communications Department to promote programs in emails, newsletter, and social media as well as the NAMI-NYC website
- Maintain an up-to-date schedule of community outreach activities planned and/or in development.
- Enter all program data in the internal database(s) and report data regularly and accurately
- Other duties as assigned
What Makes You Successful:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- You possess a Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred
- You have 3+ years’ experience in the mental health field
- You have 3+ years experience in community outreach with proven success at building strong partner relationships within high need communities in NYC
- You are a people person with strong outreach and relationship building skills.
- You display cultural competence and a strong commitment to working within underserved communities e.g., Latino/Latinx and Black communities
- You are enthusiastic and passionate about traveling throughout NYC to meet people and raise awareness about NAMI-NYC
- You have excellent presentation skills and enjoy public speaking.
- You have basic knowledge of and experience with mental illness, recovery and the mental health system – either personally or through a family member.
- You’re a strong communicator (written and oral)
- You are proficient in the use of personal computers, Zoom, Microsoft applications, and electronic record keeping systems. You are a detail-oriented multitasker with strong administrative and organizational skills
- You have a go-with-the-flow attitude and sense of humor–that’s nonprofit life.
- Ideally, you speak more than one language- bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.
Salary & Benefits:
- Salary Range: $50,000 to $60,000
- Generous PTO policy
- Medical, dental and vision coverage
- 401K retirement plan
- Transitchek (when applicable)
To Apply:
Send cover letter and resume to jobs@naminyc.org. Be sure to put Community Outreach Specialist in the subject line. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. No phone calls, please.