LEAD OUTREACH WORKER

Job Description

Summary

This individual is responsible for implementation of the Street Outreach Program; providing coordination of services for homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth up to the age of 21 by developing linkages with and collaborating with community service providers.

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 mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

- Provide supervision, guidance and direction of the day-to-day operations of street outreach and Drop-In Center services.

- Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff and volunteers as applicable; setting and monitoring performance expectations to ensure agency and departmental goals are met.

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

- Work as a partner in the community; building and maintaining relationships with community resources and overseeing the coordination of SOS volunteers.

- Develop and maintain knowledge of programs in the St. Louis area that could be used as resources for youth.

- Record data, outcome measurement and other significant information into ETO and other required database systems to show the effectiveness of the Street Outreach Program.

- Maintain case files in accordance with agency policy, guidelines, and funder requirements.

- Create and update resource manuals, training curriculum, and other tools pertinent to providing effective services to Street Outreach clients.

- Link homeless, runaway and at-risk youth to food, clothing, hygiene products, shelter, housing resources and other appropriate programs and resources as needed.

- Acquire, maintain, and manage donations and supplies for the Epworth Older Youth Services Drop-In Center, ensuring expenditures do not exceed budget limits.

- Organize and plan recreational and educational activities for the Epworth Older Youth Services Drop-In Center. Development of the monthly Drop-In Center training and activities calendar.

- Provide crisis intervention services to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. Conduct individual assessments and counseling with clients.

- Provide or manage direct service to clients; demonstrate an unwavering commitment to empowering clients in reaching identified treatment and personal goals and confronting problems in a constructive manner.

- Build rapport and establish trust with homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. Ensure a Strength-Based Treatment approach is utilized with clients.

- Facilitate and attend meetings in the community for networking and informational purposes; attend meetings in the community with clients as needed; take youth to community appointments as necessary.

- Adhere to policies and procedures inclusive of, but not limited to, attendance, program/department specific procedures, workplace safety, code of conduct, training requirements, social media, and confidentiality.

- Provide guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance to ensure staff is held accountable for client/program/departmental goals and services; and that customer safety is met.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Outreach workers and PRN youth advisors; student interns and volunteers as needed.

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in social work, drug and alcohol education, counseling, psychology, sociology, or criminal justice.

Knowledge of St. Louis neighborhoods and understand the dynamics of street youth.

Minimum two years of experience with older youth.

One year supervisory experience preferred.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentations to various groups

- Oversight and compliance of Program requirements and compliance

- Ability to provide guidance and supervision to staff

- Ability to interpret and monitor performance metrics

- The ability to build rapport and trust with staff and clients.

- Ability to perform pain screening assessments

- Problem solving

- Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Outlook, Excel and Google

- Ability to transport youth in personal and/or agency owned vehicles

Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this job includes: sitting, standing, walking and climbing stairs on a regular basis; lifting up to 25lbs, pulling and/or pushing on occasion.

Work Environment : Drop-In Center and Community based. Will need to utilize personal vehicle. Some evenings and weekends required.

Great Benefits

Epworth offers a comprehensive benefits package with eligibility beginning on hire date for medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability. Colleagues may participate in the 401k starting on the first of the month after hire date. We have a generous paid time off plan for full time colleagues, including PTO, sick leave, and holidays.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Epworth is an EEO/AA employer. Consistent with this policy, Epworth embraces diversity and welcomes colleagues and applicants of all backgrounds. Our goal is to empower every day and build a community that is inclusive, drawing upon the strengths of the diversity of our colleagues to exceed the expectations of our clients.

About Epworth

Founded in 1864, Epworth is a multiservice agency that seeks to empower youth who have experienced trauma to realize their unique potential by meeting essential needs, cultivating resiliency, and building community. Thousands of youth and families turn to Epworth each year for a full range of services including: therapeutic foster care and case management; residential and intensive treatment; individual/family therapy and comprehensive psychological testing; emergency shelter and longer-term housing services; life skills and vocational training; as well as crisis care and outreach through the Drop-In Center, food pantry, and 24-hour crisis help-line. Epworth is headquartered at 110 N. Elm Ave. in Webster Groves, Missouri and has locations in Normandy and South St. Louis City.

Our Mission
Empowering youth to realize their unique potential by meeting essential needs, cultivating resiliency, and building community.

Our Vision
A world in which every youth experiences life in all its fullness.

Our Values

Respect: We recognize the inherent worth and promote the well-being of every client and colleague.

Excellence : We offer evidence-based, high-quality programming and provide exceptional care and service.

Community: We cultivate a sense of belonging and solidarity among colleagues and advocate for racial equality and social justice throughout our communities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily, as well as possess the skills and meet the demands outlined in this job description. Upon an individuals request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job duties and responsibilities or related to the skills and demands outlined herein. Epworth will determine if a reasonable accommodation can be made.

Colleague acknowledges and understands that Epworth reserves the right to modify the contents of this job description or to assign alternate and additional duties and responsibilities. Nothing in this job description is intended to alter or alters the at-will nature of colleagues employment at Epworth.