COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKER

Tri-Valley Career Center; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Commuter benefits

Employee wellness

Job summary

The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office seeks a Community Outreach Worker II to provide outreach and advocacy for at-risk clients as part of CARE ACT proceedings. The role involves field-based services and building trust to connect clients with resources and support services.

Responsibilities include documenting contacts, attending client case conferences, and offering support alongside attorneys at all court hearings while coordinating with behavioral health agencies and CARE team members.

Qualifications

• Six months of full-time experience as Community Outreach Worker I or two years in a community outreach program with duties such as intake, peer counseling, data collection, and referrals.
• AA degree may substitute for one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide field-based outreach services and referrals to chronically housed or housing-insecure individuals.
• Document client contacts and outreach efforts accurately.
• Attend client case conferences and support the attorney at court hearings.

Skills

Community outreach

Housing services

Mental health supports

Social service programs

Cultural responsiveness

Team collaboration

Time management

Conflict resolution

Integrity

Empathy

Education

AA degree in health services / social science health education or related field

Job description

COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKER II (6701) – CARE ACT PROCEEDINGS

The Alameda County Public Defender's Office is seeking a Community Outreach Worker II, passionate about providing outreach and advocacy for at risk clients as part of the legal defense team.

Description

The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) ACT was created to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations and incarceration for Californians living with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders. The “petitioner” who may be a family member, behavioral health specialist, or first responder, initiates CARE proceedings for a “respondent” who meets specified criteria, by filing a petition with the court to create a voluntary plan that may include treatment, housing resources, and other services. The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office represents the respondent in these proceedings.

The Department

The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office provides its clients with comprehensive holistic defense services. Our model of client-centered holistic defense is enhanced by wrap‑around services for those subject to criminal, civil commitment, or immigration proceedings. We provide the highest quality of indigent defense by vigorously advocating for the rights of our clients, in pursuit of a fair and unbiased system of justice for all. For additional info, please visit: http://www.acgov.org/defender/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Office is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we deeply value the diversity of our staff. We are committed to building and supporting a culturally diverse workplace, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from other underrepresented groups to apply.

The Position

A community outreach worker assists individuals experiencing challenges, such as housing, mental health, and medical support. The position requires one‑on‑one time with individuals to access community resources and support services. To build trust and advocate for the needs of their clients, community outreach workers may draw on their own lived (or professionally equivalent) experiences to meet clients “where they are.”

Community outreach workers will provide field‑based services and referrals to individuals, many of whom are chronically houseless with substance use and/or health conditions.

Through regular engagement and rapport building, outreach workers may act as a liaison between behavioral health agencies, full‑service partnerships, and other members of the CARE team. Community outreach workers are expected to accurately document client contacts and outreach efforts, attend and participate in client case conferences, and offer support for the client alongside the attorney at all court hearings.

The Ideal Candidate

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of success in the following areas:

• Familiarity with community groups, housing services, mental health supports and social service programs in Alameda County and surrounding areas.
• Competency in culturally responsive approaches when working with families and individuals from diverse backgrounds, interpersonal styles, and abilities.
• Ability to work effectively with a team of other professionals from within the office as well as other agencies.
• Confidence to learn and apply new information quickly, while working independently.
• Effective time management and organizational skills, with the capacity to set priorities, meet deadlines, and shift gears when necessary.
• Strong sense of conflict‑resolution skills and ability to maintain a calm demeanor.
• A high degree of personal integrity to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Professionalism, courtesy, tact, and empathy.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English is highly desirable but not required.

Minimum Requirements

Either I

Experience:

The equivalent of six (6) months of full‑time satisfactory experience in the Community Outreach Worker I in the Alameda County classified service.

OR II

Experience:

The equivalent of two (2) years’ full‑time experience working in a community outreach program performing duties, such as: Intake, peer counseling, obtaining personal history data needs, non‑clinical assessments, client community health education, program screening, placement, and referral.

Substitution:

The equivalent of an AA degree (60 semester or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college in health services, social science health education or a related field, such as Psychology or Counseling, may be substituted for one (1) year of full‑time experience in pattern II above.

License:

Possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be required.

Salary and Benefits

$34.81 - $41.45 hourly

$2,610.75 - $3,108.75 biweekly

$67,879.50 - $80,827.50 annually

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide‑ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discounts, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well‑being. These benefits include but are not limited to:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short‑Term Disability Insurance
• Long‑Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits – Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity & Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1st United Services Credit Union
• Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.