Outreach & Retention Specialist - CRED

Housing Works • Brooklyn, NY

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

In partnership with the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD), Housing Works launched the CRED Program, a new specialized 24-week paid training program for justice-involved and justice-impacted individuals ages 25 – 40. The program provides case management, connection to wraparound health services, industry recognized credential trainings, paid internships and employment placement and retention support. Reporting to the Program Manager, the Outreach & Retention Specialist will be responsible for, but not limited to, engaging in networking and outreaching activities to promote program services and enrollment, provide individual and group level counseling support to clients to promote continuity of care and engagement in services and monitor and support employment retention for clients placed upon completion of the program. The Outreach & Retention Specialist role is ideal for individuals seeking to enter the reentry workforce development sector and to work alongside like-minded professionals across an interdisciplinary team.

Requirements

• Minimum 1 year experience providing direct client service.
• Experience working with justice-involved or justice-impacted individuals.
• Strong written documentation and communication skills
• Good problem-solving skills and ability to work autonomously
• Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, required
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOC clearance.
• Experience utilizing EMR systems.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred in social services, psychology, social work or other related field.
• Preferably bi-lingual in Spanish.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent or proficient technical skills to perform tasks related to Microsoft Office, email and case management systems.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with the team.
• Dependability and reliability to arrive and depart timely for scheduled shift.
• Ability to frequently travel within the boroughs via public transportation.

Responsibilities

• Participate in networking and in-community outreach activities to raise awareness of program services and promote program enrollment.
• Develop referral relationships with community-based organizations, faith-based institutions and grassroot organizations in assigned catchment areas.
• Conduct initial screening assessments with individuals referred to the program.
• Facilitate program orientation and work readiness groups.
• Meet with clients assigned to caseload bi-weekly to provide retention support.
• Monitor client employment retention outcomes and provide individual vocational counseling sessions to promote long-term retention.
• Assist program leadership with developing and implementing client satisfaction and program evaluation surveys to gain insights to clients’ programmatic experiences.
• Participate in quality improvement activities.
• Participate in case conferences as needed.
• Utilize motivational interviewing strategies and techniques.
• Engage in crisis intervention as needed.
• Utilize internal and external data systems to document program services and client engagement activities.
• Submit daily, weekly and monthly reports timely and accurately.
• Provide culturally competent services in accordance to Housing Works policies and practices.
• Promotes Housing Works core values consistently.
• Ability to work with clients with diverse clients with varying levels of service needs.
• Works collaboratively with other team members within the Justice Initiatives Department and cross-agency.
• Attend and participate staff meetings and trainings as scheduled.
• Responsiveness to emails, texts and phone calls.
• Adhere to remote workforce policies, procedures and protocols.

Benefits

• Three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary.
• Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year.
• Educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree