Family Outreach - Peer Specialist

Child Care Aware; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement savings match 4%

PTO 16–22 days first year

11 paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

EAP

Job summary

Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) in Virginia seeks a dedicated professional to provide comprehensive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including those living with addictions and mental illness. The position focuses on connecting clients to housing, health care, and social supports, with performance guided by HUD definitions of homelessness.

The role requires a Bachelor's Degree with two years of related experience; lived homelessness experience is encouraged to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required with two years of related experience.
• Persons with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Engage individuals experiencing homelessness and assist them with accessing health, housing, and social services.
• Provide in-person, community-based assistance and connect with individuals in their location – street, hospital, emergency shelter, etc.
• Assist eligible individuals/households in applying or recertifying for mainstream benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security disability, as well as school enrollment and childcare.
• Assist individuals with connecting to basic needs, including food, clothing, showers, laundry, transportation, obtaining identification, etc.
• Conduct client intakes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, assess needs and referrals to ensure a return to permanent housing.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Decision making

Problem solving

Oral communication

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Since 1923, Commonwealth Catholic Charities(CCC)hasprovidedlife-changing human services to vulnerable individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. CCC offers quality and compassionate human services to all people, especially the most vulnerable, regardless of faith.We are passionate about the work we do in our communities,providing31 critical services at7locations throughout Virginia.

CCCprovidesequal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex (includingpregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information(including family medical history) in all aspects of employment includingselection, job assignment,compensation, discipline,terminationand benefits, except where there is a bona fide occupationalqualificationreasonably necessarytothe normal operation of the agency.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities is a drug-free and smoke-free workplace. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a drug screening and background check.

SUMMARY:This position is responsible for providing comprehensive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and who may also be living with addictions and mental illness. Position focus may vary by population (youth, families with minor children, etc) Successful candidates are committed to ending homelessness and dedicated to CCC's mission of serving the most vulnerable in our community, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQIA identifying individuals, and those traumatized by systemic inequities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Engage individuals experiencing homelessness and assist them with accessing health, housing, and social services. (employment, mental health care, substance use treatment, and other social services)
• Provide in-person, community-based assistance and connect with individuals in their physical location – street, hospital, emergency shelter, etc.
• Assist eligible individuals/households in applying or recertifying for mainstream benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security disability, as well as school enrollment and childcare.
• Assist individuals with connecting to basic needs, including food, clothing, showers, laundry, transportation, obtaining identification, etc.
• Conduct client intakes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness as well as households at risk of homelessness. Assess client needs and most appropriate referrals to ensure a return to permanent housing as quickly as possible, including referrals for housing services, shelter, and other services. Document client’s homelessness according to HUD guidelines.
• Maintain client records in HCIS (Service Point), including demographics and other essential client information including service transactions, client needs and referrals, reason for homelessness, and summary statement.
• Advocate on behalf of clients to obtain essential services and/or support them to advocate for themselves.
• Collaborate and coordinate services with appropriate community agencies to address barriers and complex needs of individuals.
• Identify other community resources and provide in-depth referrals to housing, medical and/or mental health services.
• Assist with crisis intervention and act as a liaison between hospitals and other community agencies.
• Provide case management to a core caseload (i.e. assess needs, develop goals with client, coordinate services, monitor progress, and assist in obtaining housing).
• Perform street outreach to the local region multiple times per week, connecting individuals experiencing homelessness to shelter, permanent housing and other community resources.
• Consult with mental health professionals (nurses, social workers, family physicians, psychiatrists) for screening, documentation and coordination purposes.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners to identify and improve processes that enhance services to clients.
• Staff on call hours at Housing Resource Center (HRC) or Youth Hub connection point (RVA staff).
• Represents the Agency in the community and workplace in a professional and ethical manner.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal, decision-making, problem-solving, oral, and written skills.
• Utilizes a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

Qualifications

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's Degree required with two years of related experience. Persons with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability encouraged to apply. For Peer Outreach Specialist degree is preferred.

Full-time Employee Benefits:
Retirement savings - After one year of employment, the agency contributes 4% of your plan year earnings into a savings account for you and will match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of salary if an employee makes contributions to the plan.That's an 8% annual contribution to your retirement savings!
PTO - earn16 days off for vacation, sick, or personal time in your first year. This goes up to22 days in your second year and keeps climbing every five years.
Holidays - Enjoyelevenpaid holidays
Other paid leave at no cost to employees - bereavement, short-term disability, long-term disability, paid parental leave
Virginia Credit Union memberships
Employee Assistance program - Free services including five free confidential consultations with a mental health professional
Medical Insurance - a choice of 4 PPO plans for employee, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), or family coverage. A portion of premiums subsidized by the agency.
Dental Insurance - a choice of two dental plans for employee, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), or family coverage. A portion of premiums subsidized by the agency.
Vision Insurance
Life insurance - paid by agency with option to purchase additional coverage
Other insurance benefits - flexible spending accounts including dependent care, health savings account (for qualified HDHP participants), legal resources

Key Responsibilities:

Required Qualifications:

$20.18 - $23.55 / hour

Job Classification:

Social Work

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