Autism Outreach Worker

Overview

The Autism Outreach Worker MA DS (“AOW”) contributes to high quality case management services for persons served providing direct case management services to children and young adults with Autism Spectrum diagnosis (“ASD”) living at home with their families. The AOW will develop and investigate recreational opportunities, specialized funding sources, grants and educational tools for persons served, as well as assist families to apply and research needed and applicable benefits such as SNAP, Mass Health, SSI etc.

SIGN ON BONUS: $500

• Implements service plan interventions with persons served who include children and young adults, ages birth to 22, with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, both with and without intellectual disorders or cognitive delays.
• Provides direct training and support (instruction, assistance, modeling and reinforcement) for persons served in developing and enhancing their daily living skills (i.e. symptom, medication and money management, cooking, cleaning, recreational activities, personal hygiene, social and interpersonal skills, etc.)
• Maintains and updates documentation in individual and program records.
• Acts as an advocate for persons served.
• Communicates verbally and in writing with co-workers, supervisors, and other service providers, including funding agency personnel.
• Escorts persons served into the community using public transportation, company or personal vehicle, as necessary.
• Monitors status of persons served, provides crisis intervention and counseling, as needed. Reports incidents to on-call manager or supervisor, as required.
• Performs housecleaning tasks, as assigned.
• Attends in-service trainings and staff meetings, as assigned.
• Adheres to established policies and procedures of the program and company as well as internal and external standards and regulations.
• May provide outreach to persons served living in their own homes.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, racial, disability, and gender issues
• Knowledge of different clinical interventions and resources for individuals with ASD, and competency in assessing individual and family needs, and utilizing a variety of planning and problem-solving approaches.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed service delivery and experience working with families who face a variety of social and economic challenges, such as substance use disorder, housing instability, etc.
• Knowledge of public benefits, entitlements, and generic resources available in the geographic areas in the Greater Boston Area, which are relevant to families at different life stages.
• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Knowledge and use of different communication styles
• Participatory skills, collaborative skills, teaching skills
• Knowledge of human, legal, civil rights, community, and other resources
• Knowledge of available equipment, therapies, and service providers
• Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
• Knowledge of formal and informal assessment practices
• Knowledge of participatory planning techniques
• Knowledge of required physical personal management skills
• Knowledge of required household management skills
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,200 dedicated employees are experienced,…