Community Safety and Overdose Response Specialist

Evergreen Treatment Services & REACH•Seattle, WA

2h•$78,500 - $92,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Safety and Overdose Response Specialist supports overdose response and fatality prevention by building relationships with people who use drugs (PWUD) in and around REACH drop-in spaces and integrating harm reduction best practices into milieu work. The role supports a safe, welcoming community, manages client flow, responds to overdose and behavioral health crises, and helps connect clients to supportive services. Services are grounded in harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care. REACH, a program of Evergreen Treatment Services, serves people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions through outreach-based care coordination, multidisciplinary clinical services, and housing support. Its work emphasizes community health and safety, racial equity, social justice, respect, and dignity. The position includes regular local travel on behalf of the agency. Work may involve exposure to illicit drug residues, fumes, biohazardous materials, and bloodborne pathogens; ETS provides training and has relevant policies and procedures. The work environment has a moderate noise level. Equipment includes a computer, photocopier, fax machine, phone, and tablets; a program vehicle may also be used, requiring a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least three years of direct client service experience in mission-driven programs serving the unhoused community.
Experience providing healing-centered, harm-reduction services to people experiencing complex behavioral health challenges.
Demonstrated conflict-resolution and de-escalation skills.
Knowledge of local resources, community services, harm reduction, and overdose prevention principles.
Strong interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to build rapport with diverse populations in challenging environments.
Understanding of racial equity and social justice, and commitment to contributing to an equitable environment for ETS clients, patients, and staff.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, patients, and staff from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
Training or expertise in compassionate overdose response, naloxone administration, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, MOUD options counseling, and de-escalation.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload, work independently, and complete tasks efficiently and on time.
Dependability, ability to work under pressure, receptiveness to change, willingness to learn, and a cooperative approach to problem-solving.
Flexibility, teamwork, and excellent attention to detail.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive information.
Ability to set boundaries, resolve conflict, and de-escalate issues.
Computer literacy, including basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, and initiative in keeping current with technological changes.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including occasionally lifting or moving up to 30 pounds.
Local travel on behalf of the agency is required.
If using a program vehicle, a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required.
A Washington State Patrol criminal background check will be conducted periodically as a condition of ongoing employment.

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate degree preferred.
Academic training in social services, substance use disorder, or mental health services desired.
Relevant experience may substitute for a degree.
Qualifying bilingual or multilingual language proficiency may make employees eligible for an additional $1,000.
Qualifying advanced educational credentials may make employees eligible for an additional $1,000.

Responsibilities

Build trusting relationships with clients living outside and using drugs near the REACH office, emphasizing harm reduction.
Use established relationships to intervene proactively, prevent escalation, and encourage engagement with supportive services.
Promote community safety in and immediately outside the REACH milieu through respectful interactions and clear behavioral expectations and boundaries.
Manage client flow into and out of the milieu, welcome clients, triage needs, and maintain a safe client-to-staff ratio.
Maintain current knowledge of community resources, particularly overdose prevention and MOUD treatment options, and provide information and referrals to clients and staff.
Orient new clients to the milieu, including their rights and responsibilities.
Orient new staff to the milieu and support REACH staff in applying trauma-informed harm reduction practices.
Collaborate with Care Managers to create self-care and crisis intervention plans for REACH clients.
Staff the front desk, check clients into AGENCY, answer phones and general inquiries, and replenish coffee supplies.
Help coordinate and facilitate support groups, trainings, outings, special events, and other group activities with REACH staff and partner agencies.
Conduct brief needs assessments concerning clients’ substance use patterns and mental health status to reduce drug-related risks and improve safety in the milieu and surrounding area.
Coordinate with EMS, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders and providers during emergencies and arrange appropriate aftercare.
Conduct regular trash pickup and other activities to maintain a tidy, respectful environment.
Educate clients about safer drug use, overdose prevention, and harm reduction resources, including MOUD access and overdose aftercare.
Serve as a milieu-based liaison to the REACH Drug User Health Team, supporting site-based drug checking, harm reduction supply inventory, kit preparation, and distribution.
Conduct bathroom checks as needed to support client safety and restroom cleanliness.
Serve as the milieu point person for overdoses and behavioral health crises in and around the REACH office; coordinate with external partners as needed to reduce escalation, prevent fatalities, coordinate care, and respond to client and neighbor needs.
Identify gaps and barriers in community resources and advocate for systemic change.
Document relevant client and community interactions in AGENCY and prepare reports required by funding sources or organizational needs.
Use clinical supervision, case consultation, and peer support to explore intervention strategies, counter-transference, resource development, self-care, and burnout prevention.
Attend REACH Program staff meetings and other required meetings.
Perform other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned.