LEAD OUTREACH SPECIALIST

Company: Community Renewal Team
Location: Hartford
Posted on: September 30, 2024

Job Description:

Our Mission

Preparing Our Community to Meet Life's challenges.

We help everyone who comes to our door with resources for both immediate needs and long-term goals.

Our network of programs, services, and experiences strengthen individuals, families, and communities and provides opportunities for growth and economic stability

Come join our team!

When you become an employee at the Community Renewal Team (CRT), you will join a host of others with an average tenure of nine years of service. Some of our employees have celebrated more than twenty + years of service. You'll participate in fun activities, themed- employee appreciation events, organization sponsored golf tournaments, etc. We celebrate the accomplishments of employees using our Wall of Excellence highlighting employees of the month. Opportunities to grow within the organization are plentiful. Most of our employees started in entry level positions and have been promoted throughout their career.

BENEFITS

401K with a matching employer contribution, medical, dental, vision, HSA Spending

Accounts, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD)/Long- Term Disability (LTD),

and an Employee Assistance Program. Eligible employees are also able to participate in

agency sponsored educational opportunities. Eligible employees receive ten paid vacation days, six sick

paid days annually, and two personal days paid annually.

JOB DETAILS

POSITION TITLE: Lead Outreach Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Clincial Services

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

PAY GRADE: $25.34- $29.64

REPORTS TO: Senior Director Clincial and Support Services

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of this position is to support the Agency's needs by providing Lead Outreach Specialist that will collaborate closely and work with Journey Home staff and CAN Partners to develop a coordinated homeless outreach system that will cover the entire geographic region. This will include conducting /training in best practice. This may include bringing in new partners, exploring creative options and more effectively utilizing already existing resources. The Lead Outreach Specialist will perform street-based outreach services to homeless individuals, families with the intent of comprehensively identifying those in the region who are sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, connecting them to temporary shelter, if desired, and making rapid connections to housing options. The Lead Outreach Specialist is key to a team approach and commitment to ending homelessness by working from a Housing First, Harm Reduction, Person-Centered approach.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

In order of Priority/Importance:

• Facilitate regular meetings of all the region's outreach workers and other staff who work with unsheltered individuals.
• Collaborate with other outreach providers and partner agencies to establish and continually improve a standardized referral process for connecting households sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation with an outreach staff. Oversee referral process and troubleshoot any challenges as needed.
• Work with other outreach providers to ensure that the entire geographic region is comprehensively covered and prevents duplication of services to clients.
• Provide training to any new outreach workers in the region to orient them to the Coordinated Access Network processes.
• Provide technical assistance as it relates to all homeless verification requirements for all local outreach providers.
• Manage and maintain a By Name List of all households actively sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation.
• Take on special projects for the CAN or staff
• Serve as the representative of the outreach providers at local and statewide CAN meetings advocating for the needs of the outreach staff and unsheltered clients.
• Establish new relationships with police departments, fire departments, ambulance services, first responders, and social service department in all of the towns in the CAN's geographic region to improve the reporting of households they know to be unsheltered.
• Establish new relationships and new partnerships with organizations external to the CAN, such as healthcare, faith-based or community-based providers who may regularly interface with the unsheltered homeless population.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to communicate with external providers/ entities about the Coordinated Access Networks.
• Enhance partnerships with the Business Districts and Transit agencies
• Maintain positive community relationships with other collaborative partners
• Serve as a representative of the GHCANs in the community at various meetings/forums/events.
• Prepare agenda, send reminders, facilitate, and provide follow-up for meetings each month.
• Assist with conducting the annual Point in Time count by identifying areas
• Support grant administration, documentation, performance measurement, and reports
• Serve as a representative on relevant Statewide Committees as requested
• Work with other staff to maintain up to date and transparent policies and procedures.
• Develop monthly/ quarterly writing of reports
• Provide data/reports as necessary for funders ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS
  • Perform street outreach across the geographic region to assist with filling outreach gaps that may exist due to other outreach providers contract restrictions.
  • Work with unsheltered individuals to connect them to temporary shelter; if desired.
  • Provide information, referrals and follow-up for appropriate services and resources with a focus on connecting clients to housing options as rapidly as possible, if housing is a goal for them.
  • Complete disability verifications for unsheltered households in the region, as applicable
  • Ensure client files are complete and accurate as required by project guidelines. (Includes intake, service plans, identification documentation, homeless verifications, etc.)
  • Maintain a log of all outreach activities.
  • Complete any child neglect or abuse referrals as needed, as required of all mandated rep011ers.
  • Provide / arrange transportation for clients to and from appointments as necessary
  • Perform all other duties as assigned MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
    --- Lived experience of homelessness preferred
    --- Must be willing to work flexible hours including early morning, evening and weekend hours as required
    --- Proven record assisting homeless clients and/or clients with behavioral health disorders
    --- Knowledge of federal and state funding housing programs preferred
    --- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and data entry
    --- Excellent organization skills and attention to detail required
    • Maintain a valid CT Driver's license, reliable transportation, and adequate auto insurance as required by CT state law.
      • Pass required background check
        
        _Peer recovery support certificate or CHW preferred.
        
        Minimum Years of Experience in _Lived experience required.
        
        Demonstrate skills in:
        
        Strong communication skills, including written correspondence and phone personality
        
        Strong leadership and facilitation skills
        
        Excellent organization skills and attention to detail required
        
        Ability to work independently, adjusting to changing priorities
        
        Ability to work with groups and balance multiple points of view
        
        Knowledge of:
        
        Proven record assisting homeless clients and/or clients with behavioral health disorders
        
        Knowledge of CT HMIS and DDAP preferred, but not required
        
        Knowledge of federal and state funding housing programs preferred
        
        Bilingual: YES - Preferred
        
        Driving Required YES Agency Vehicle YES Employee's Own Vehicle YES
        
        Active Driver License in good standing required upon hire and throughout employment
        
        Physical and TB Required YES
        
        ADA COMPLIANCE
        
        Environmental Factors: cold Heat, unhabitable places.

Keywords: Community Renewal Team, Hartford , LEAD OUTREACH SPECIALIST, Other , Hartford, Connecticut