Location: Gainesville, FL & Lake City, FL
Rate of Pay: $17.12/hour
Position Description:
This is an independent professional position performing service brokerage and advocacy services for adults and some adolescents who are experiencing homelessness in conjunction with mental, substance use, or co-occurring disorders. The Outreach Specialist works as part of a modified Assertive Community Treatment team and with other professionals from numerous community organizations. The work is performed with a high degree of independence; however, work reviewed through conferences, supervision and required reports. The Outreach Specialist provides outreach to homeless persons in order to assess for eligibility for services and provides a link to the Homeless Recovery Team. The Outreach Specialist also provides outreach to area property owners and employers to increase resources for clients working in the Homeless Recovery Services program. The Outreach coordinator will performed their daily duties in community settings including but not limited to homeless shelters, client homes, and Meridian clinics.
Minimum Qualifications:
High school. Two-year associate degree strongly preferred. Mental Health First Aid certification and/or related work with homeless population or persons experiencing substance misuse and mental health challenges preferred.
Drivers Requirement: Must have a current Florida Driver's License with a clean driving record while meeting company insurance requirements. In order to qualify as a Center Driver, the candidate must at least 21 years of age and have an active Florida Driver's license. Motor Vehicle Record will be reviewed for eligibility. No more than 3 moving violations and/or accidents within the past 3 years and no major violations during the past 5 years. Drivers over 65 years old must provide a current doctor's note stating they have no driving limitations.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
- Identifies and engages with stakeholders and community partners
- Conducts outreach to referral sources on the referral process, including homeless shelters
- Identifies and attends targeted community outreach events
- Maintains contact with all staff/agencies providing services for the purpose of monitoring client progress and assessing appropriateness of services.
- Serves as an advocate for the client with a wide variety of community agencies and Center programs. Promotes community program development to meet client needs.
- Responsible for meeting yearly productivity and revenue goals.
- Researches, develops and maintains a comprehensive list of community resources that includes addresses, phone numbers, and names of contacts for each resource.
- Conducts outreach to identify and engage individuals who are eligible for services.
- Performs other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.
- Works with the treatment team and the client to develop a plan for services with specific goals and objectives, including achieving stable housing.
- Links the client with services and resources identified in the plan.
- Conducts face-to-face visits to monitor progress on treatment and service plans.
- Prepares and maintains client records and insures quality of documentation of medical records.
- Records every activity engaged on behalf of a client on a daily basis via Progress Notes.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Specific competencies required are identified on a department/program specific basis and identified in each employee's Competency Checklist. The following are general and apply to all positions with this title.
Language Skills:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Mathematical Skills:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Meridian is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, age, marital status, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service or because they are a protected veteran or other non-merit based factors.