Outreach Peer

Position Description

Position: Outreach Peer (REAL Team)

Full Time, 40 hours per week

Purpose: The REAL Program Recovery Coach will act as the contact point for all referrals to the REAL Program and will spend most of their time in the field. The REAL Program Outreach is the primary liaison with law enforcement, community, and others making REAL Program referrals. The REAL Program Recovery Coach will provide screening, outreach, and engagement to individuals referred to REAL Program. As such, this position must ensure effective and efficient communication and collaboration between all partners involved in referring and receiving referrals for REAL Program. The REAL Program Recovery Coach must develop and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with all community partners and other service providers to best support REAL Program participants.

Employment Classification: Non-Exempt, Union

Position Requirements:

Respond to community referrals and interact with individuals who might need support, coordination services, or ongoing referrals to external services.

• REAL Program Recovery Coach shall routinely engage and interact with potential participants as long as necessary to build relationships and trust.
• Meeting participants where they are physically and mentally to engage in conversation and extend program offerings.
• Develop trusting relationships with participants, promoting a sense of self-direction and self-advocacy, and helping the participant plan how they will successfully manage their life.
• Provide initial and on-going screening and engagement with referred individuals.
• Provide assistance while addressing the immediate needs of the individual (this is not intensive clinical case management).
• Provide immediate response within 60-90 minutes to Law Enforcement and other referents. ·
• Provide street outreach to engage referred individuals and help facilitate client engagement with assigned REAL Program outreach support/care manager.
• Follow-up with program participants in the community when there is indication of disengagement.
• Develop and maintain positive collaborative working relationships with other social services providers, navigator-like programs, crisis stabilization facilities, crisis responders, evaluation and treatment facility staff, DSHS workers, substance use disorder treatment providers, mental health providers, health care providers, shelter providers, landlords, harm reduction resources, withdrawal management program, protective or representative payees, DCYF, and other community programs which may support participants.
• Identify gaps and barriers in available community resources and advocate for systemic changes.
• Develop and maintain participant files for assigned caseload according to program, contract and state requirements.
• Attend regularly scheduled Operational Work Group Meetings and the staffing of participants with partners to represent the experiences of the program participants. ·
• Attend REAL program team meetings, trainings, and regional/state required meetings as requested.

Qualifications and Skills:

· Demonstrate ability providing street-based outreach and engagement to offenders and difficult to engage populations. Street outreach requires the ability to easily navigate city streets on foot and tolerate a variety of weather conditions. Street outreach experience a plus.

· Demonstrate experience developing positive, collaborative relationships with law enforcement and social services providers to effectively serve mutual individuals.

· Understanding of substance use disorders and harm reduction strategies along with a demonstrated passion for serving individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges highly desired.

· Understands and adheres to state and federal confidentiality regulations.

· Conducts self ethically and professionally at all times.

· Ability to be in rotation for 24/7 on-call response to law enforcement for arrest diversion referrals.

· Ability to flex schedule when necessary to accommodate special program needs.

· People with lived experience with behavioral health system involvement, arrest and incarceration, trauma, and systemic inequities are encouraged to apply.

· REAL Program attempts to reflect the visible diversity of the community they serve. Individuals with visible diversity and other diversity that may not be visible (e.g., BIPOC peers, trans peers, lesbian/gay/bisexual peers, peers with visible and non-visible disabilities) are strongly encouraged to apply.

· Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Must have competence using computer, photocopier, fax machine, smartphone and entering data into electronic database.

· Must possess a valid WA state Driver’s License and be able to use a program/personal vehicle.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.84 - $23.35 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• Port Townsend, WA 98368 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $23 - $23