Outreach Worker

Urban Peak Denver•Denver, CO

About The Position

The Outreach Worker, under the supervision of the Outreach Program Manager, connects with youth experiencing homelessness to build healthy relationships and support their progress toward self-sufficiency. The role represents Urban Peak in the community, informs youth and community members about available services, and helps homeless and runaway youth improve their health, safety, and well-being and exit street life. Work includes street and shelter outreach, coverage of shifts at the Mothership, case management, referrals, and facilitating activities. Interactions and environments must be trauma-informed and support the physical and emotional safety of youth and staff. The position also serves people in large Denver encampments in coordination with partner-agency case managers, outreach workers, peer support specialists, and street nurses. Services may include crisis intervention, basic-needs supplies, access to shelter and other housing options, medical and behavioral health care, COVID-related care, transportation, advocacy, and service linkage. The worker builds relationships with city departments and other entities to support people in encampments, with particular focus on youth under age 25 and connecting them to longer-term case management. The position performs outreach, case management and referrals, milieu supervision, documentation, intakes, and assessments. Duties are performed individually and in coordination with supervisors, colleagues, and partner agencies; additional work may be assigned. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with three holidays and three on-call shifts per year.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or child development and at least two years of treatment-oriented or case management experience; or bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, human services, or a related field and three years of experience working with children or youth; or five years of full-time experience with homeless or runaway youth.
Experience providing trauma-informed care, or willingness to adapt this approach.
Ability to connect and work effectively and sensitively with homeless youth, including LGBTQ youth and youth who may be difficult to engage, mentally ill, substance-addicted, or otherwise impaired.
Oral and written communication skills.
Negotiation and mediation skills, particularly in sensitive situations, and some crisis-intervention and de-escalation skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population.
Ability to make independent judgments and sound decisions using available information while maintaining confidentiality.
Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and with collaborating agencies.
Computer proficiency and experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Understanding of and commitment to trauma-informed care and positive youth development.
Must be insurable as a driver under Urban Peak’s auto liability policy to conduct agency business or transport youth in an Urban Peak or approved personal vehicle.
Must be QMAP-certified or eligible for QMAP certification.
Must pass federal and state background checks, a pre-employment physical, and pre-employment tuberculosis screening.
Must provide proof of education (high school diploma or official transcripts).

Nice To Haves

Lived experience reflective of the youth served is encouraged but not required.
Ability to use a second language in written and verbal communication is desired but not required.

Responsibilities

Represent Urban Peak in the community for education, funding, and advocacy purposes.
Collaborate with shelters and service providers to help homeless people access services and housing and coordinate continuity of care.
Attend required staff meetings, client reviews, and professional trainings; contribute to client discussions and participate in the yearly Point In Time survey.
Accompany youth on group outings and educate and train volunteers on working with homeless or at-risk youth.
Engage youth on the streets, at the Mothership, and in other Urban Peak programs; build trusting relationships and develop programming that provides resources, knowledge, and community.
Provide trauma-informed street outreach, basic-needs support, crisis intervention, service linkage, and access to shelter, housing, health care, transportation, and other resources.
Focus on City-prioritized encampments and non-congregate shelters; collect aggregate, de-identified data about populations and service needs, and report client dispositions, camp trends, and service needs to supervisors.
Track outreach supplies, place orders, arrange pickups, and communicate standards for use and storage.
Accept agency referrals and work with youth and partner agencies to develop individual assessments and case plans, provide referrals, and support housing, family reunification, and stability.
Provide trauma-informed milieu supervision, promote youth and environmental safety, help maintain cleanliness, and cultivate relationships that may develop into case management.
Document services, assessments, case notes, service plans, client services, and significant shift events in HMIS and the Communication Log; maintain accurate data, communicate with staff, and protect client confidentiality.
Complete thorough intakes, establish trusting relationships, assess youth needs and intentions, and recommend involvement in Urban Peak programs.
Meet individual and team outcomes and other duties as assigned.

Benefits

100% employer-paid medical and dental plans, with buy-up plans available.
Vision plan.
Flexible Spending Plan for health and dependent care.
Accident coverage, critical care and hospitalization coverage, and an ancillary plan.
Employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance.
Voluntary employee life insurance.
Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability.
Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave private plan, with employee and employer costs split 50/50.
403(b) retirement plan with a 2% agency match.
Employer-paid RTD Eco Pass.
10 paid holidays.
48 hours of paid sick time.
120 hours of vacation to start, accrued.
Employee Assistance Program.
Second-language pay differential upon successfully passing a language exam.
Training and mentorship support for lateral growth.