Kane County Outreach Coordinator

Overview

Kane/Dupage Counties Outreach Coordinator. Women, trans, gender non-conforming and queer folks, BIPOC, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Live4

Lali is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the Illinois Human Rights Act. We do not discriminate based on protected status and provide reasonable accommodations as required by law. Involvement in the criminal justice system is not an automatic disqualifier.

Substance use disorder continues to be a devastating public health crisis. Americans die from drug overdoses daily. Live4

Lali has been serving suburban Chicagoland for nearly sixteen years, providing prevention, education, treatment access, support programs, harm reduction, and overdose prevention services to reduce the toll of the opioid epidemic. Our mission is to reduce stigma and prevent substance use disorder while minimizing health, legal, and social harms.

The Kane/Dupage Counties Outreach Coordinator reports to the County Programs Manager and collaborates with other Outreach Coordinators. This role focuses on community-based outreach to provide education on harm reduction strategies, naloxone, and overdose prevention, while building trusting relationships with people who use substances. The Outreach Coordinator also provides peer-based support, drawing on lived experience to reduce harms and connect individuals to resources.

• Identify areas of greatest need across Kane County on the street and within existing services (such as our Mobile Outreach Program) to connect with participants and distribute harm reduction supplies
• Provide peer-based support to participants through rapport building, recovery coaching, harm reduction–informed interventions, and referrals, using lived experience to support participant-defined goals and reduce harms
• Assist with stocking, maintaining, and delivering harm reduction inventory
• Accurately log and report data collected during outreach
• Provide on-the-spot training and education in harm reduction, overdose response, and distribute naloxone across the county
• Identify and collaborate with a range of organizations and entities to scale up access to naloxone
• Develop and deliver professional education and trainings on overdose recognition and response, naloxone administration, substance use, and harm reduction practices
• Identify, build, and maintain relationships with community resources to develop partnerships and serve as referral and warm handoff resources
• Identify and develop safety plans with peers at increased risk of overdose
• Assess community needs in collaboration with participants and report to Program Manager to help develop appropriate programs
• Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance at all times
• Identify and maintain appropriate communication with team regarding issues, observations, and opportunities
• Perform other duties as assigned

The Outreach Coordinator must be a person with lived experience, preferably with at least 2 years in recovery/remission from substance use disorder. Bilingual in Spanish is a plus. Ideally, also have a minimum of two years in relevant work in substance use disorder, mental health, public health, or social work.

• Minimum of two years’ relevant work or lived experience in substance use disorder, mental health, public health, or social work; preferably a person with at least 2 years in recovery/remission
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices
• Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with knowledge of community-based programs and supports
• Knowledge in safer drug use, addictions, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
• Experience managing hostile interactions, using non-violent communication and diffusing techniques
• Understanding of social justice, health promotion, and public health approaches
• Must comply with Live4
  
  Lali policies and procedures, including Risk Management Guidelines
• CPR and Basic First Aid certification preferred
• Proficiency with technology (Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Office Suite, and…