Community Health Outreach Worker

Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Provide outreach to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness 
• Provide first aid and participant training for wounds, heat and cold emergencies, and other commonly experienced medical conditions 
• Provide overdose prevention and response services, including naloxone distribution and resource education  
• Engage in regular consultation with medical providers partnered with the Renaissance Homeless Outreach Team re: complex medical conditions  
• Link participants to emergency medical care as necessary 
• Distribute harm reduction supplies to minimize risks of infection and other negative health outcomes associated with drug use 
• Provide outreach and temporary case management services including intakes, assessments, basic service planning, referral and linkage management, and advocacy to and for individuals who are unhoused 
• Assess participant needs, including barriers to receiving appropriate services and assist with effective problem solving to address issues 
• Conduct weekly outreach to each participant 
• Perform crisis prevention and interventions as needed using Harm Reduction, Trauma informed Care and Housing First philosophies 
• Act as a liaison with other service providers 
• Make appropriate referrals for services based on participant goals and needs, ensure that linkages are secure and functional, and complete warm hand-offs 
• Provide education and resources based on the needs of the participant to acquire and maintain housing and improve income status, community involvement, personal hygiene, life skills, and other identified needs 
• Assist participants in enrolling in public benefits such as SNAP, SOAR or employment readiness programs 
• Assist participants in obtaining state ID, social security card, birth certificate, and other identifying documents 
• Maintain the confidentiality of participant information in any written, oral, or electronic form including health information, HIV/AIDS status, and disability information. Release such information only as needed and with the proper release from the client unless mandated by law 
• Communicate and coordinate services with team members and other providers using Microsoft Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, and other computer and cell phone-based systems  
• Participate in weekly team meetings and daily team huddles 
• Participate in city-wide outreach coordination as necessary 

• Maintain required professional knowledge, job skills and relevant certifications. Attend and participate in monthly staff development and training opportunities 
• Document services provided in HMIS within five business days of interaction  
• Maintain all applicable and required documentation in participants’ files, in accordance with grant requirements, agency and program policies   
• Perform other duties as assigned 

Qualifications

Core Competencies

The basic skills needed for the position include, but are not limited to the following:

• High school diploma or GED 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as a team and independently

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 1 or more years’ experience in substance use, mental health or medical field 
• Experience in applying harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and housing first models  

• Experience using crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques
• Has experience homelessness 

• Bilingual in English and Spanish 

 Required: 

• Valid Illinois Driver's License, 100/300/100 car insurance, and daily access to a personal vehicle  

• Within 6 months of hire, obtain National Outdoor Leadership Society (NOLS) Wilderness First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or comparable certification, and maintain certification. Training cost paid by Renaissance Social Services. 

Supplemental Benefits: 

CRSS, LCSW, LCPC, CADC hours and supervision during work at no cost. 

Wilderness First Aid or comparable certification during work hours at no cost.