Occupational Therapist-Programming Specialist

Occupational Therapist-Programming Specialist

Stephen Center has served homeless and low-income individuals in Omaha since
1984 with the mission to partner with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty. The Pettigrew Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing offerings provide safe and secure housing while individuals and families complete an assessment of permanent housing options. All Stephen Center residents have access to dual diagnosis support services via the HERO addiction/recovery program. 100% of Stephen Center shelter supportive housing participants are living in poverty.

Housing transition support identifies poverty barriers that may impact one’s ability to achieve or maintain permanent housing through case management, life skills, and behavioral health services. Stephen Center serves approximately 250people daily in all programs.

Purpose:

The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides person-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based occupational therapy services across Stephen Center’s continuum of care, including residential recovery, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing programs.

This position supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders by addressing functional barriers to independence, health management, recovery engagement,parenting capacity, and long-term housing stability. The OT plays an integral role in helping clients move from crisis response to sustainable, structured,and meaningful daily living.

Consistent with Stephen Center’s mission and CARF accreditation standards, this role emphasizes:

• Individualized assessment and service planning
• Measurement-informed care and data-driven outcomes
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Cultural responsiveness and inclusion
• Risk awareness and safety practices
• Continuous performance and quality improvement

In addition to direct clinical services, the Occupational Therapist contributes to recovery programming, family-centered initiatives, life skills development, and academic partnerships that strengthen community impact and workforce development.

• Conduct comprehensive occupational profiles and functional assessments to identify client strengths, needs, preferences, and barriers to community integration.
• Develop individualized, measurable, and time-sensitive goals aligned with client-driven service plans and housing stability objectives.
• Development and facilitation of integrated trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices into evaluation and intervention.
• Provide group facilitation focused on, but not limited to:
  Empowerment & Self-Identity, Routines & Structure, Wellness & Coping Skills, Community & Social Engagement, Creative Expressions.
• Ensures services uphold client dignity, rights, choice, and autonomy in accordance with organizational policy and accreditation standards.
• Adhere to the principles of Trauma Informed Care to assure a safe treatment program.

• Collaborate with the HERO Clinical Director in the facilitation and development of evidence‑based occupational therapy recovery groups focused on relapse prevention and recovery‑supportive routines, emotional regulation and coping strategies, executive functioning and habit formation, health, wellness, and self‑management.
• Provide psychoeducation on sensory processing, stress response, trauma impact, and behavioral patterns.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to support discharge planning and continuity of care.
• Participate in performance measurement discussions and contribute to outcome tracking and program evaluation.
• Create and maintain a work environment focused on problem‑solving and conflict resolution.
• With the leadership team, participate in development, review, and revision of program courses.
• Participate in statistical and program evaluation reports.
• Effectively respond to client/consumer needs and problems, initiate and maintain positive interactions, timely responses to phone calls, e‑mail, and other requests.

• Provide individual…