Outreach Worker FT

Epworth Children & Family Services; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 17,047 - 24,280; Full time

Job summary

Epworth Children & Family Services is seeking a Full-Time staff member at the Drop-In Center in St. Louis, MO, to assist homeless and at-risk youth by connecting them with resources and support. This role includes conducting outreach, providing crisis intervention, and facilitating life skills activities in a supportive environment.

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in youth services, effective communication, and the ability to work non-judgmentally with diverse populations. The position offers $15/hour and contributes to the important mission of empowering vulnerable youth.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or HISET required.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Valid driver's license and insurance necessary.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake forms and assessments of youth needs.
• Monitor youth for compliance with rules and safety.
• Facilitate activities to teach life skills.

Skills

Communication skills

Experience with youth

Problem solving

Data tracking

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

High school diploma or HISET

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google search engines

Job description

Job Details
Location: Epworth Drop-In Center - Normandy - St. Louis, MO 63121
Position Type: Full Time
Education Level: High School
Salary: $15.00 per hour
Shift: Day
Category: Other

Summary

This position is responsible for identifying the needs of homeless, runaway, foster, and at‑risk youth and connecting them with resources, crisis intervention, referral information, and tangible goods to provide for their basic needs. The work involves conducting presentations and outreach in the community; implementing the Drop‑In Center program, policies & procedures in everyday activities; connecting youth to community resources and assisting them with basic needs; role‑modeling daily living skills and socially accepted behavior to youth; and providing structure, limits, guidance, and consistency to the activities of the youth who access the Drop‑In Center. The job includes facilitation and/or participation in recreational and educational group activities.

This position demonstrates commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the agency by engaging in respectful, cooperative relationships with customers (i.e., clients, employees, and external stakeholders); being accountable for providing services and ensuring safety to customers while empowering customers in achieving the agency’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities

• Ensure that all youth visiting the Drop‑In Center are eligible and appropriate for services and conduct searches prior to admission. Complete intake forms to assess needs and ensure all youth sign in and out upon arrival and exit.
• Monitor youth to ensure compliance with agency rules, cleanliness, and personal habits; ensure safety and care of the youth.
• Conduct individual assessments and counseling with youth who access street outreach services and the Drop‑In Center; build rapport and establish trust with these youth.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of websites, resources, local programs, and learning opportunities that could support youth and disseminate this information via verbal referrals, fliers, postings, presentations, and activities in the Drop‑In Center and in the community.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of and relationships with programs in the St.Louis area that could serve as resources for youth, especially area shelters.
• Track, organize, secure, and maintain supplies for the Drop‑In Center and Street Outreach programming.
• Plan and facilitate activities for youth, providing instruction on areas such as interpersonal relations, social skills, anger management, self‑care skills, life skills, work habits, study skills, money management, self‑advocacy, and choice making. Develop a monthly calendar of such activities.
• Collaborate and connect with community partners to provide resources and support to youth who access the Drop‑In Center and outreach services, and deliver presentations to and conduct tours for these partners as needed.
• Provide basic computer assistance and guidance to youth with completing resumes, job applications, financial aid forms, and other documents that may further a youth’s progress toward achieving goals.
• Perform regular community mapping and identify areas where homeless, runaway, and at‑risk youth congregate.
• Provide crisis intervention services to at‑risk, runaway, and homeless youth on the streets and in the Drop‑In Center. Connect and transport these youth to shelter, housing resources, and other appropriate resources as needed.
• Provide and deliver tangible items to homeless, runaway, and at‑risk youth, including but not limited to food, hygiene items, safer‑sex kits, and clothing.
• Assist youth with laundry, food preparation, and accessing the shower facilities and supplies closets in the Drop‑In Center.
• Deliver presentations and distribute written information about the Street Outreach Program to reach the target population and referral sources.
• Attend meetings in the community for networking and informational purposes; work as a partner in the community, building and maintaining relationships with community resources.
• Ensure the general security, maintenance, and cleanliness of the facility, equipment, and supplies.
• Provide or manage direct services to clients; demonstrate an unwavering commitment to empowering clients in reaching identified treatment and personal goals and confronting problems in a constructive manner.
• Document all service provision and outcome measurement into the required funder and agency database systems in a timely manner, ensuring consistency with quality standards established by funding sources, accrediting bodies, and agency policies and procedures.
• Adhere to policies and procedures, including attendance, program/department‑specific procedures, workplace safety, code of conduct, training requirements, social media, and confidentiality.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Qualifications

• High school diploma or HISET.
• At least 21 years of age.
• Valid driver’s license and insurance.

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with runaway, homeless, and street youth and/or youth who have emotional and behavioral issues is preferred.
• Ability to serve clients in a non‑judgmental manner.
• Maintain awareness of current community and networking resources to maximize client services.
• Ability to perform pain screening assessments.
• Tracking and monitoring of data.
• Problem solving.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel) and Google or other search engines.
• Ability to transport youth in personal and/or agency‑owned vehicles.

Physical Requirements

Requires sitting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs on a regular basis; lifting up to 25 lbs and pulling and/or pushing on occasion.

Work Environment

On‑site. Must be able to transport clients to activities or appointments in personal and/or agency vehicles. Some evenings and weekends required.