Peer Specialist - Outreach

Downtown Women's Center•Los Angeles, CA

16d•$25 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist on DWC’s Street Outreach team provides trauma-informed outreach to unsheltered women and gender-diverse individuals in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Peer Specialist will distribute harm reduction supplies, offer peer support and resource navigation, and facilitate two-way communication between people with lived experience of homelessness and community providers to promote equitable care. The Peer Specialist will also provide advocacy and accompaniment to basic needs and housing resources as needed. This position is part of the Health & Wellness Department and reports directly to the Supervisor- Outreach & Engagement.

Requirements

Lived experience and familiarity with the Skid Row community strongly preferred
Comfort working with issues related to homelessness, substance abuse, mental health diagnosis, and history of trauma preferred
Experience working with unhoused women and gender diverse individuals, especially those who have complex health and/or behavioral health conditions
Provide effective crisis intervention in consultation with program staff and supervisor.
Utilize Evidence Based Practices in service delivery such as Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and Harm Reduction.
Ability to be flexible with hours when needed
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with community stakeholders and health and social service providers
Willingness to learn about healthcare resources, harm reduction strategies, COVID-19 risk reduction strategies, and other information
Strong administrative skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) required
Oral and written fluency in English required; Spanish a plus
Excellent active listening and problem-solving skills with ability to exercise and model good judgment
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; proven ability to communicate with diverse audiences
Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, including proficiency in balancing direct service responsibilities with effective record keeping
Cultural humility; knowledge of communities that are disproportionately represented in the homeless population (communities of color, LGBTQ+ etc.)
Comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations around confidentiality and mandated-reporting
Professional attitude; team- and service-oriented, friendly, and positive
Must be a CA resident and live no more than 80 miles from DWC; must be available for in-person meetings at DWC
Must provide documentation of a negative TB test result within the last twelve months, on first day of hire
Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. DWC does not sponsor employment visas, such as H-1B.

Responsibilities

Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive services to unsheltered women and gender diverse individuals in the Skid Row neighborhood.
Provide field-based services including identifying and providing linkages to needed resources (basic needs, health & mental health, benefits, housing, legal & vocational support, etc.) with a focus on identifying interim and permanent housing opportunities
Serve as an advocate and liaison for clients in accessing local resources; role requires comfort with walking the perimeter of the Skid Row neighborhood.
Create Housing Service Plans with clients that address their needs and goals
Connect participants to needed resources and provide advocacy and accompaniment.
Develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships.
Maintain a caseload of up to 10 participants.
Assist clients in becoming document-ready for permanent housing opportunities.
Work to effectively meet clients’ needs and resolve individual barriers through follow-up, advocacy, and collaboration with DWC staff and other community service providers.
Develop and maintain relationships with clients, staff and local service providers.
Provide effective crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation, including risk assessment, safety planning and follow-up interventions as needed.
Enroll women in the Clarity/Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database and conduct the Coordinated Entry System (CES) survey as needed.
Maintain accurate and timely records of all services provided to clients, including intake paperwork, required forms and progress notes.
Participate in individual and group supervision, multidisciplinary team meetings, and required trainings
Track participant outcomes and monitor progress towards program goals
Serve as an ambassador of DWC and its mission and values by participating in community meetings/events
Comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations around confidentiality and mandated-reporting
Provide regular, timely written reports to supervisor as assigned
Other duties as assigned to support the mission of the organization
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.