Outreach Worker

Position: Outreach Worker FT
Location: Pine Lawn

Summary This position is responsible for identifying the needs of homeless, runaway, foster, and at-risk youth and connecting them with resources, crisis intervention, referral information, and tangible goods to provide for their basic needs. The work involves conducting presentations and outreach in the community; implementing the Drop-In Center program, policies & procedures in everyday activities; connecting youth to community resources and assisting them with basic needs;

role modeling daily living skills and socially accepted behavior to youth; and providing structure, limits, guidance, and consistency to the activities of the youth who access the Drop-In Center. The work involves facilitation and/or participation in recreational and educational group activities.

This position demonstrates commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the agency by engaging in respectful, cooperative relationships with customers (i.e., clients, employees, and external stakeholders); being accountable for providing services and ensuring safety to customers while empowering customers in achieving the agency’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ensure that all youth visiting the Drop-In Center are eligible and appropriate for services and wand/search clients prior to admission. Complete the intake form to assess needs and ensure all youth sign in and out upon arrival and exit from the Drop-In Center. Monitor youth to ensure compliance with agency rules, cleanliness, and personal habits; ensure safety and care of the youth.

Conduct individual assessments and counseling with youth who access street outreach services and the Drop-In Center; build rapport and establish trust with these youth.

Develop and maintain knowledge of websites, resources, local programs, and learning opportunities that could be used to support youth and disseminate this information via verbal referrals, fliers, postings, presentations, and activities in the Drop-In Center and in the community.

Develop and maintain knowledge of and relationships with programs in the St. Louis area that could be used as resources for youth, especially area shelters.

Track, organize, secure, and maintain supplies for the Drop-In Center and Street Outreach programming.

Plan and facilitate activities for youth, providing instruction on areas such as interpersonal relations, social skills, anger management, self-care skills, life skills,work habits, study skills, money management, self-advocacy, and choice making. Develop a monthly calendar of said activities. Collaborate and connect with community partners to provide resources and support to youth who access the Drop-in Center and outreach services, deliver presentations to and conduct tours for these partners as needed.

Provide basic computer assistance and guidance to youth with completing resumes, job applications, financial aid forms, and other documents that may further a youth’s progress towards achievement of his or her goals.

Perform regular community mapping and identify areas where homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth congregate.

Provide crisis intervention services to at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth on the streets and in the Drop-In Center. Connect and transport these youth to shelter, housing resources, and other appropriate resources as needed.

Provide and deliver tangible items to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth, including but not limited to food, hygiene items, safer sex kits, and clothing.

Assist youth with laundry, food preparation, and accessing the shower facilities and supplies closets in the Drop-In Center.

Deliver presentations and distribute written information about the Street Outreach Program in an effort to reach the target population and the referral sources for Street Outreach Services.

Attend meetings in the community for networking and informational purposes; work as a partner in the community, building and maintaining relationships with community resources.

Ensure the general security, maintenance, and cleanliness of the facility, equipment, and supplies.

Provide or manage direct service to clients; demonstrate an unwavering commitment to empowering clients in reaching…