INTERVENTION SPECIALIST

City Of Lakewood•Lakewood, OH

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Intervention Specialist provides nonclinical crisis de-escalation, emotional support, and stabilization to individuals in distress. This role involves conducting follow-up contacts, responding to referrals from various agencies, and assisting in the development of service plans for residents with complex needs. The specialist also plays a key role in benefits navigation, resource connection, and community engagement to identify and support residents, particularly underserved populations. Administrative duties include maintaining client records, reporting program data, and participating in interdepartmental collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Public Health, or a closely related field; and, Two years of progressively responsible related experience in human services, community outreach, crisis intervention, or benefits navigation; or, Associate's degree in a related field and four years of progressively responsible related experience in human services, community outreach, crisis intervention, or benefits navigation; or, Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Valid Ohio driver's license with less than 8 points.
CPR/First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

Provides nonclinical crisis de-escalation, emotional support, and stabilization to individuals in distress, under the direction of the Social Work Clinical Manager.
Conducts follow-up contacts with individuals and families after crisis events to ensure continuity of care and connection to services.
Receives and responds to referrals from Fire/EMS Neighborhood Paramedic, Police officers, code enforcement, and community partners; participates in co-response activities as directed.
Conducts nonclinical intake assessments; assists the Social Work Clinical Manager in developing and implementing service plans for residents with complex needs including housing instability, behavioral health challenges, domestic instability, and social isolation.
Performs needs and risk screening; identifies individuals at risk for crisis through community engagement, outreach, and pattern recognition.
Provides mentoring, motivation, guidance and emotional support to program participants across the lifespan.
Assists residents in identifying eligibility for and applying to public benefits programs including Medicaid, SNAP, HEAP/PIPP, TANF, SSI/SSDI, WIC, and Veterans benefits.
Helps residents complete applications, gather required documentation, and navigate Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services and state eligibility systems.
Conducts on site benefits screenings at Cove Community Center and at community events; tracks applications submitted and successful enrollments.
Coordinates referrals to community partners including Lakewood Community Services Center, LakewoodAlive, Neighborhood Family Practice, Signature Health, and other Lakewood and Cuyahoga County based organizations; follows up to ensure residents successfully connect with services.
Accompanies and transports clients to appointments, application offices, and service providers as needed.
Maintains current knowledge of available benefits, eligibility requirements, application processes, and changes to federal, state, and local assistance programs.
Plans, coordinates, and facilitates community engagement programming at Cove Community Center, including community meals, wellness events, and connection activities that serve as entry points for service identification and benefits screening.
Conducts proactive outreach throughout the Lakewood community to identify and engage residents who may not independently seek services, with particular attention to underserved populations including isolated older adults, immigrant and refugee families, and LGBTQIA+ residents.
Develops and distributes informational materials, multilingual resource guides, emergency shelter information, and navigation tools about available programs and services.
Represents the Department of Human Services at community events, neighborhood meetings, partner agency gatherings, and public forums.
Collaborates with the Division of Aging, Division of Youth, and Division of Early Childhood on cross-divisional and intergenerational initiatives.
Serves as a liaison and/or member of various committees/teams and collaborates, persuades, presents reports to and negotiates/networks with others outside own work area to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative and efficient relations.
Maintains accurate client records, case notes, progress notes, statistics and other correspondence related to work processes.
Collects and reports program data on services provided, referrals made, benefits enrolled, community event attendance, and outcomes achieved for department leadership, grant compliance, and partner reporting.
Participates in interdepartmental collaboration meetings with Fire/EMS, Police, LakewoodAlive, and other city departments and community partners.
Completes administrative and clerical functions for office and program; reports administrative and/or operational problems to the Director.
Interviews, screens, greets visitors and directs them to the appropriate area or individual; may answer various inquiries personally, provides information on departmental services and functions.
Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications; makes presentations at workshops.
Follows up on inquiries from various agencies, groups, media, etc., regarding department programs and services.
Participates in process improvement learning and projects.
Works efficiently and effectively while implementing principles of continuous process improvement.