DAP Outreach Worker

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES INC•Akron, OH

6d•$19 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking to hire a DAP (Downtown Akron Partnership) Outreach Worker to join our Homeless Outreach Team. This individual does aggressive case-finding of persons who are homeless in the Downtown Akron area. This employee will engage individuals who are homeless in services and assist with accessing community resources, housing, and basic entitlements. The DAP Outreach Worker will make initial contact with the persons to be served in non-traditional settings such as meal sites, shelters, the street, abandoned buildings, etc. For over 35 years, Community Support Services has been making a difference in the lives of countless individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Our nearly 300 employees are real-life champions committed to quality treatment, collaborative care, and effective outcomes. Located in downtown Akron, Ohio, we serve as a leader in behavioral health care for the entire Summit County area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field required.
Prior experience working with persons who have a severe mental illness required.
Ability to work a flexible work schedule.
A car and a valid Ohio driver’s license and insurability through the Agency’s insurance carrier required.
A deeply held belief in CSS’s recovery-centered mission, and a strong sense of empathy towards the persons being served.
Interest in and ability to learn about the plight of persons who are homeless and have a severe mental illness.
Ability to utilize non-conventional resources and methods to deliver service for the persons being served.
Excellent organizational, attention to detail and communication skills.
Ability to work in a team environment.
Commitment to confidentiality, following rules of HIPAA.
Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook.
Skill in managing time and meeting deadlines.
Ability to work non-judgmentally with individuals whose behavior and belief systems are incongruent with that of society and/or your personal beliefs.
Perseverance in goals with individuals who may not improve or may only improve slowly.

Nice To Haves

LSW preferred.

Responsibilities

Continuously and independently provide case-finding through personal networking with street dwellers, shelters, meal sites, and other places where homeless people gather, particularly in the downtown area. The Outreach Worker will coordinate outreach services with Block by Block and Downtown Akron Partnership staff.
Assess persons who are homeless to determine appropriateness for service, and then either develop rapport to help persons to be served in their environment or connect them with other resources through referrals.
Work closely with other social services agencies that provide services to those who are homeless, or who risk homelessness, by accepting referrals from them and making referrals to them. Provide consultation/education regarding behavior management and mental health issues.
Participate in regular team meetings with outreach nurses, psychiatrists, and other outreach workers and residential staff.
Request and/or schedule necessary evaluations and assessments in order to identify strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences of persons served.
Provide, coordinate, and/or assist in crisis intervention and stabilization services during regularly scheduled working hours and to be available for “after hours” emergencies in accordance with established agency Emergency Services on-call procedures and grant requirements.
Assist the person served in linkage with appropriate referrals to PATH, AoD outreach worker, or other entities as warranted.
Assist in the development of formal and informal community support activities on behalf of the persons the agency serves.
Maintain relevant documentation and provide statistical reports in accordance with agency documentation standards and grant requirements, particularly in relation to DAP grant.