ROOTS Community Health Worker

The Reaching Out on the Streets (ROOTS) Program aims to reduce the prevalence of homelessness by addressing the social determinants of health, opening opportunities for personal agency, and intervening in critical moments of crisis to reduce criminal legal interactions, increase access to services, and reduce fatal overdoses. The staffing and organizational plan consists of both site and outreach workers who work citywide to help unhoused and unstably housed people to be healthy and safe while homeless through case management, referrals to services, addressment of daily living needs, criminal justice navigation, and follow-up care coordination. 

Our staff will facilitate non-coercive service connection based on the client’s priorities; staff use of motivational interviewing, unconditional positive regard, assertive engagement, trust and reciprocity to build relationships and meet client goals. 

Primarily-street based, the ROOTS Community Health Worker will support the ROOTS Outreach Specialist and other outreach staff to address client needs. The successful incumbent will work diligently to ensure that clients establish service connections and receive care. This will include, but is not limited to: accompanying clients to appointments, coordinating transportation, distributing basic needs supplies, and facilitating connection to teams and internal resources. Current ROOTS sites are located in the Northside, Downtown and East Liberty, respectively in Police Zones 1, 2, and 5. 

Department:  Office of Community Health & Safety
Posting Type: Announcement
Salary:  $53,380 per year. 
Union:  None, this is a non-union position.
Civil Service Classification: Non-competitiveGeneral Application Requirements:
You must submit or show proof of all of the following at the time of filing your application (unless otherwise indicated below) or your application will be disqualified.  Disqualifications based on any of these General Application Requirements are not subject to a Civil Service appeal. 

• Applicants must submit a complete application including education, work experience, a resume (if applicable) and completed supplemental questions. 
• Applicants must be or become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and remain a resident throughout employment.  
  • Click here to view a map of City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
• A current, valid Class C Pennsylvania Driver's License is required prior to appointment, and must be maintained throughout employment. Written requests for accommodation based on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act will be considered by the Department of Human Resources & Civil Service on an individual basis.

NOTE:  The City of Pittsburgh, as a matter of policy, conducts pre-employment and promotional background investigations on all candidates being considered for positions.  The background investigation includes but is not limited to criminal background, driver's license and City of Pittsburgh real estate tax payments.  Candidates may be disqualified from consideration from employment based on the results of their background investigation (as it relates to the job for which the applicant is being considered).

NOTE:  Candidates being considered for employment will be required to submit official transcripts to verify of their post-secondary education (college/university, trade school, etc.) prior to being hired by the City of Pittsburgh.  Transcripts must be submitted at the time of any/each job interview you have with the City of Pittsburgh. 


Qualifying Requirements:
Your City of Pittsburgh application will be reviewed and your work experience and education/training will be evaluated to determine if you meet the qualifying eligibility requirements listed below for this position.  You will be sent an eligibility letter regarding your eligible/ineligible status.

• WORK EXPERIENCE: The application must clearly show two (2) years of full-time experience in Social Services, Criminal Justice, Healthcare Street Outreach, or a related field. (Less than full-time experience will be calculated on a pro-rated basis.)  
• EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show a high school diploma or equivalent. A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Direct Care, Criminal Justice, or Human Development is preferred. (See NOTE under the General Application Requirements Section above regarding the verification of education/training.) 
• EQUIVALENCY: Education/training may be substituted for work experience on a year for year basis if the application clearly shows the required number of years to meet the Total Qualifying Requirement for this position (based on the sum of work experience and education/training listed above). The Total Qualifying Requirement is two (2) years. (See NOTE under the General Application Requirements Section above regarding the verification of education/training.) Eligible applicants must possess one of the following combinations of education and/or work experience. 
  • High School diploma or its equivalent and two (2) years of full-time experience in social services, criminal justice, healthcare street outreach, or a related field.
    • OR 
  • Associate degree in social work, human services, direct care, criminal justice, human development, or a related field.
    • OR
  • Bachelor’s Degree in social work, human services, direct care, criminal justice, human development, or a related field. 
    • OR
  • A Bachelor's Degree in an unrelated field. 
    • OR
  • A Master's Degree in any area. 

• Supports the ROOTS Outreach Specialist in liaising with clients and addressing client needs.
• Assesses and responds to needs of clients by providing referrals to services, and escalating client needs to other staff or leadership where appropriate.
• Fosters trust with potential and current clients to achieve individual and program goals.
• Facilitates transportation needs such as public transit or ridesharing.
• Maintains case load in conjunction with street outreach efforts.
• Distributes and tracks use of harm reduction and basic needs supplies, including but not limited to hygiene supplies and winter clothing.
• Addresses daily living needs such as bathing, eating, and temporary shelter.
• Establishes supportive relationships with people experiencing homelessness to assist them with housing needs, and co-occurring mental health, drug and alcohol, and physical health needs. 
• Ensures coordination of follow-up care to facilitate secure service connections. 
• Attends weekly case conferencing with Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to coordinate care for clients.
• Supports assessment and team interventions and makes appropriate referrals when necessary, in regard to mental and behavioral health crises.
• Utilizes drop-in centers to provision services and address unmet needs for clients.
• Facilitates connections with internal resources such as benefits coordination and legal navigation.
• Encourages cultural competence among healthcare professionals serving vulnerable populations. 
• Accompanies clients to appointments and engages in patient advocacy to ensure successful outcomes. 
• Documents service encounters, client information, and outcome tracking in relevant software using proper case management protocols.
• Provides support to one ROOTS site but supports other sites throughout the City of Pittsburgh as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Click here to view the full job description including knowledge, skills, and abilities and working conditions for this position.  Locate and click on the position title to view the complete job description.  

Salary : $53,380