Community Outreach Specialist

Native Directions•Stockton, CA

About The Position

The Community Outreach Specialist provides culturally responsive community outreach, opioid and stimulant-use prevention education, harm-reduction education, and treatment-referral support. The employee travels to community sites, participates in workshops and town halls, distributes approved educational supplies, connects community members with services, and maintains accurate program records. The role requires respectful, nonjudgmental engagement with people who use substances, people in recovery, youth, adults, elders, families, and 2S/LGBTQ+ relatives. The position includes approximately two mobile outreach and education trips per week throughout San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties. The specialist supports education and community events, provides warm referrals, documents outreach and referral activity, protects confidential information, maintains supplies and equipment, and represents Native Directions and Native C.O.R.E. professionally. This position is grant-funded and may be modified or discontinued based on program needs, continued funding, and organizational requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
Ability to speak comfortably with individuals and groups and provide approved educational information.
Ability to complete forms, maintain accurate records, and meet documentation deadlines.
Basic computer and mobile-device skills.
Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and an acceptable driving record for work-related travel.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends based on outreach and event schedules.
Ability to successfully complete required organizational screenings and trainings.
Strong interpersonal and community-engagement skills.
Ability to communicate with compassion and without stigma or judgment.
Ability to follow instructions and work independently in community settings.
Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Ability to work cooperatively with staff, volunteers, partners, and community members.
Ability to organize supplies and maintain accurate records.
Ability to protect confidential information.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Frequent driving and community travel, standing or sitting for extended periods, setting up outreach tables, and transporting educational materials and supplies.

Nice To Haves

Experience in community outreach, customer service, peer support, behavioral health, substance-use prevention, social services, public health, or Native community programming.
Experience working with American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Knowledge of local Native communities, cultural practices, and community resources.
Knowledge of opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, overdose prevention, naloxone, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.
Experience providing peer support, resource navigation, education, or referrals.
Naloxone administration, CPR, first aid, peer-support, or community-health-worker training.
Lived experience with recovery or close familiarity with recovery communities; valued but not required.

Responsibilities

Participate in required training and continuing education on substance-use disorders, overdose prevention, naloxone, harm reduction, treatment options, and recovery resources.
Participate in approximately two mobile outreach and education trips per week as assigned.
Travel to Native community sites, schools, community events, social-service organizations, health programs, and partner locations throughout San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties.
Provide accurate, culturally appropriate information about opioid, stimulant, and polysubstance use; overdose risks; protective factors; treatment options; and recovery-support services.
Educate community members about naloxone, medication safety, safe storage, and safe disposal.
Assemble, load, transport, set up, distribute, and inventory medication lock boxes, drug-deactivation pouches, printed materials, naloxone education, and other approved supplies.
Assist with recovery education workshops for Native men, women, boys, and girls.
Assist with hybrid town halls, presentations, community meetings, cultural events, and anti-stigma campaign activities.
Set up and staff outreach tables, welcome participants, distribute materials, answer questions, and connect individuals with appropriate resources.
Engage individuals who currently use substances with dignity, compassion, cultural humility, and without stigma or judgment.
Provide warm referrals to substance-use treatment, MAT/MOUD providers, behavioral-health services, recovery programs, transportation assistance, and other community resources.
Follow up on referrals when assigned and document referral outcomes when information is available.
Seek assistance from the Outreach Coordinator or Program Director when a community member has needs beyond the employee’s role or training.
Complete outreach logs, sign-in sheets, participant counts, demographic forms, distribution records, supply inventories, referral logs, surveys, and event evaluations accurately.
Submit program documentation and receipts within required timelines.
Protect confidential and sensitive participant information and follow organizational privacy requirements.
Assist with gathering community input and stories for approved anti-stigma and prevention activities while following consent and confidentiality requirements.
Maintain outreach supplies, equipment, program vehicles, tablets, and other organizational property in clean and working condition.
Attend staff meetings, supervision sessions, trainings, program reviews, grant-monitoring activities, and community partnership meetings as assigned.
Communicate scheduling changes, supply needs, safety concerns, participant concerns, and documentation issues promptly to the Outreach Coordinator.
Represent Native Directions and Native C.O.R.E. professionally at community events and partner locations.
Follow organizational policies, safety procedures, professional boundaries, and applicable grant requirements.
Perform other related duties consistent with the position and program needs.