Community Support Specialist - Worcester, MA

Safe Exit Initiative; Worcester (MA); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Safe Exit Initiative (SEI) operates Harbor, a 15-bed women’s day shelter in Worcester, providing a drop-in center for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and related challenges. SEI delivers peer and recovery support, helping guests access medical care, MAR, behavioral health services, and housing resources.

The Community Support Specialist plays a pivotal role in facilitating trauma-informed care, coordinating services, and supporting guests through individualized recovery plans within

Qualifications

• Lived experience with CSE preferred, but not required.
• Reliable transportation is required.
• Personal interest in and commitment to working with women impacted by CSE.
• Flexible and positive attitude with belief in the healing and recovery process.
• Possess cultural sensitivity and adaptability to various personalities and backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Must be proactive, solutions-driven, and able to apply problem-solving techniques to various situations.
• Must be committed to guiding guests in creating their own recovery plans, when applicable, rather than dictating outcomes.
• Ability to recognize that one-size-fits-all approaches to recovery and treatment do not exist and that individuals require unique treatment models to achieve their recovery goals.
• Must have an open-minded approach to all forms of recovery, especially MAR.
• Must have a basic understanding of the trauma-related impacts of CSE.
• Must understand that not all guests are seeking recovery and be able to meet them where they are in their current needs and circumstances.

Responsibilities

• Be a key part of a collaborative team-management approach in delivering healing, recovery, and treatment programming.
• Work with guests to develop and implement goal-oriented case plans based on guests’ overall needs and hopes for the future.
• Meet with guests individually on a weekly basis.
• Identify appropriate resources with guests and advocate for services when needed.
• Coordinate medical and behavioral health services offered through health insurance.
• Encourage individuals to participate in community activities.
• Provide leadership, advocacy, and mentorship to guests, staff, and the community.
• Provide crisis intervention services as needed.
• Provide guidance on different pathways to recovery and remain accepting of a variety of recovery pathways, including MAR.
• Complete required documentation by the end of each shift.
• Attend, participate in, or facilitate meetings, trainings, and supervision as assigned.
• Perform housekeeping duties, including cooking and cleaning.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by management.

Skills

Lived experience with CSE

Reliable transportation

Cultural sensitivity

Collaborative teamwork

Proactive problem-solving

Recovery-oriented

Open-minded toward MAR

Meet guests where they are

Job description

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION

Safe Exit Initiative (SEI), formally Living in Freedom Together, Inc. (LIFT), is a survivor-led nonprofit organization where survivors of systems of prostitution and allies collaborate to provide support to victims and survivors of the sex trade - populations that are routinely neglected and marginalized by society. Our mission is to provide quality exit services and support to prostituted individuals and to end prostitution. We have developed a comprehensive approach to accomplishing our mission, which includes advocacy for social change and justice for survivors; leading legislative initiatives at the national, state, and local levels; providing training and consulting services to community-based partners such as medical providers, social service agencies, and law enforcement; and developing and delivering education and outreach services for community members and academic institutions.

HARBOR

Harbor is our Drop-In Center and a 15-bed women's day shelter, providing a safe place for women experiencing homelessness, commercial sexual exploitation, substance/opioid use disorder, and/or mental health disorders. Harbor responds to several issues affecting the city with a coordinated and collaborative approach, resulting in the most efficient and effective delivery of services and resources to our community’s most vulnerable members.

Harbor provides solutions to this population through intensive case management, peer mentorship, access to healthcare and treatment programs, advocacy within the court system, DCF matters, and the healthcare system, access to stabilization resources (SNAP, SSI, etc.), and rapid re-housing support. Harbor operates seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary responsibility of the Community Support Specialist is to provide zero-barrier access to services with the goal of inspiring change and supporting trauma healing. The Community Support Specialist provides peer and recovery support services for guests. These services include, but are not limited to, accessing medical services, Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR), behavioral health services, and housing applications.

The Community Support Specialist supports guests in achieving their goals through treatment planning, appointment scheduling, and connecting guests with community supports. Additionally, Community Support Specialists provide support for guests experiencing challenges managing trauma-related symptoms and help ensure the Drop-In Center remains a safe environment for guests and staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be a key part of a collaborative team-management approach in delivering healing, recovery, and treatment programming
• Work with guests to develop and implement goal-oriented case plans based on guests’ overall needs and hopes for the future
• Meet with guests individually on a weekly basis
• Identify appropriate resources with guests and advocate for services when needed
• Coordinate medical and behavioral health services offered through health insurance
• Encourage individuals to participate in community activities
• Provide leadership, advocacy, and mentorship to guests, staff, and the community
• Provide crisis intervention services as needed
• Provide guidance on different pathways to recovery and remain accepting of a variety of recovery pathways, including Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR)
• Complete required documentation by the end of each shift
• Attend, participate in, or facilitate meetings, trainings, and supervision as assigned
• Perform housekeeping duties, including cooking and cleaning
• Perform any other tasks assigned by management

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Lived experience with CSE preferred, but not required
• Reliable transportation required
• Personal interest in and commitment to working with women impacted by CSE
• Flexible and positive attitude with belief in the healing and recovery process
• Possess cultural sensitivity and adaptability to various personalities and backgrounds
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Must be proactive, solutions-driven, and able to apply problem-solving techniques to a variety of situations
• Must be committed to guiding guests in creating their own recovery plans, when applicable, rather than dictating outcomes and expectations
• Ability to recognize that one-size-fits-all approaches to recovery and treatment do not exist and that individuals require unique treatment models to achieve their recovery goals
• Must have an open-minded approach to all forms of recovery, especially MAR
• Must have a basic understanding of the trauma-related impacts of CSE
• Must understand that not all guests are seeking recovery and be able to meet them where they are in their current needs and circumstances

NOTE

Hourly Wage: $20/hour

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. Employees may be required to follow additional job-related instructions and complete other job-related duties as assigned. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.