Community Outreach Worker

Description

The Community Outreach and Engagement Worker is responsible for providing community outreach, engagement, and retention support services to individuals experiencing substance use disorders. The position supports and strengthens implementation of community referral pathways to increase treatment engagement, retention, and recovery outcomes.

This position is designed to support underserved and high‑risk populations with lower interaction with Vermont’s system of care, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system, individuals experiencing homelessness, and persons with co‑occurring disorders. The Community Outreach and Engagement Worker will report to Assistant Director of Outpatient Services. The Community Outreach Worker will work collaboratively with UCS’s SUD Case Manager, Same Day Access Teams, UCS Emergency Services, and other members of the Outpatient program.

The Community Outreach Worker will at a minimum attend local, regional, and state partner stakeholder meetings; scheduled and organize community partner and stakeholder meetings, represent UCS for the purpose of raising awareness both directly and indirectly of services available to individuals with substance use disorders.

• Conduct outreach activities in community settings including shelters, police barracks, social service agencies, recovery centers, healthcare settings, and other community locations.
• Develop and maintain collaborative referral relationships with community organizations and service providers.
• Engage prospective clients and assist individuals and families in accessing treatment and recovery supports.
• Identify and reduce barriers to treatment engagement and continuity of care.
• Provide assertive outreach to individuals who miss appointments or disengage from services.
• Support successful transitions between levels of care and recovery support services.

• Provide outreach, engagement, and support services to individuals seeking or in need of SUD treatment and recovery services.
• Interest/proficiency in working with individuals recently released from incarceration, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other marginalized populations.
• Educate clients on available treatment and recovery options, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, peer recovery supports, and harm reduction services.
• Utilize motivational interviewing and trauma‑informed approaches to engage clients in a respectful, culturally responsive, and nonjudgmental manner.
• Assist clients with accessing services including primary care, mental health treatment, social services, insurance resources, housing supports, transportation, employment services, community supports and residential treatment programs.
• Coordinate referrals and facilitate timely access to treatment and follow‑up care with internal teams and community providers.
• Maintain ongoing communication with clients through phone, text, email, or in‑person contact to encourage engagement in treatment and reduce barriers to care.
• Coordinate with clinicians, case managers, probation/parole staff, hospitals, recovery coaches, and other providers.
• Support client engagement in treatment planning and recovery goals.
• Provide advocacy and recovery‑oriented support services.

• Complete documentation in a timely, accurate, and professional manner in accordance with agency standards.
• Utilize electronic health record systems, including My Avatar, for client documentation and reporting requirements.
• Maintain program data and assist with collecting and reporting required program metrics and outcomes.
• Maintain confidentiality of all client, agency, and program information in accordance with HIPAA and agency policies.
• Assist with maintaining and updating community resource directories and public‑facing program information as assigned.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation in accordance with agency, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements.
• Collect and report program outcome data including outreach contacts, engagement…