Prevention Outreach Specialist, Youth on Fire
Company: Fenway Health
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: January 26, 2023
Job Description:
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Job Type
Full-time
Description
Under the supervision of the Youth on Fire (YOF) Program Manager
proactively engage unstably-housed youth and young adults (14-24
yrs/old) in high-risk situations by establishing rapport during
regular street outreach (2) Con-ducts street outreach, community
engagement, and networking and; (3) Collaborate and build
relationships with among Fenway departments and local organizations
(4) Provide harm reduction materials, supportive referrals, and
work with the YOF team to create a safe and supportive environment
in the drop-in center.
Representative Duties:
- Conducts street outreach, community engagement, and networking
in Cambridge and the Greater Boston area.
- Builds relationships with collaborating organizations and
internally among departments within Fenway Health
- Identifies and reaches out to agencies, organizations and
community groups to build a network of com-munity partners in
Cambridge and Greater Boston area.
- Coordinates with community partners to increase awareness of
Youth on Fire's services, to understand and meet community
needs.
- Attends community events to represent Youth on Fire and Fenway
Health and distribute relevant infor-mation.
- Provide street outreach throughout the year in various weather
conditions.
- In the circumstance of low staffing due to illness, vacations,
and time off, the Prevention Outreach Special-ist, will prioritize
supporting staff and members in the drop-in center to ensure safety
and staffing to keep the drop-in center open and accessible to
members.
- Provide clients with easily accessible and low-threshold
services that operate within the harm reduction framework in both a
remote and drop-in setting. This includes enrolling participants in
program services, conducting basic risk assessments, and assisting
participants with accessing support services on an as-needed
basis.
- When on the floor, maintain a visible presence in the drop-in
space by proactively engaging participants through rapport and
relationship building, responding to service needs, safety issues
and provide general support through active listening.
- Work with the YOF staff to create a safe and supportive
environment in the drop-in center.
- Provide written and verbal health education and harm reduction
information on safer sex strategies, sub-stance use, overdose
prevention, incarceration, sex work, sexual reproductive health,
street safety, LGBTQIA+ issues, and HIV, STI and Hepatitis
transmission and health education.
- Assist participants in accessing medical and social services
such as primary care, drug treatment, mental health and legal
advocacy.
- Assist with community presentations and Speaker's Bureaus on
services available at Youth on Fire.
- Work with team to organize daily operations and programs in the
drop-in center, including opening and closing procedures to help
ensure facilities are safe, clean, and welcoming
- Complete all required paperwork and data entry including but
not limited to: referrals and advice, Short-Term Health Navigation,
drop-in space visits, conversations with members, risk reduction
sessions, follow-up needs, outreach sessions and participant
feedback in a timely manner.
Requirements
- 2-5 years experience working with under-represented youth/
young adults. This can include working with young adults in a
coaching or mentorship capacity and/or lived experience OR 2-5
years of outreach expe-rience in working with historically
underserved populations.
- Significant knowledge of health-related, social, and legal
issues faced by homeless youth and an under-standing of Social
Determinants of Health.
- Knowledge of youth development principles and practices as well
as trauma informed services.
- Strong crisis management, de-escalation, and group facilitation
skills.
- Commitment to practice harm reduction in all interactions with
program participants.
- Understand importance of confidentiality and boundaries in
prevention and education work.
- Demonstrated experience working in a multi-cultural environment
where commitment to diversity based on race, age, ethnic origin,
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical ability
is an institutional and programmatic value.
- Ability to be punctual and perform tasks consistently during
scheduled work hours.
- Ability to conduct street outreach in various weather
conditions.
- Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues,
patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity,
including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender
identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national
origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity,
disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran
status, and/or limited English proficiency.
- Willingness to contribute towards Fenway's efforts in becoming
an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to
ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity,
inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and
valued.Preferred qualifications:
- Candidates must be self-motivated, organized, and
communicative
- Candidates must be able to work independently
- Cultural humility, specifically the capacity to work with
diverse community stakeholders and a willingness to learn from
individuals from different backgrounds
- Experience performing street outreach
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Strong relationship-building skills
- Comfort in diverse settings
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with other members
of a teamPhysical Requirements:Ability to meet the following
physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:
- Sit at a computer station for extended periods of time
- Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds on occasion
- Ability to perform street outreach in various weather
conditionsWe offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify,
an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and
dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match.
We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.LGBTQIA+
identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color
(BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented
communities are strongly encouraged to apply.Key words or areas of
interest: Outreach, youth worker, social determinants of health,
networking, homelessness, housing insecurity, case manager, case
management, harm reduction, LGBTQIA+ youthHighly experienced
individuals may be compensated at a higher rate.
Salary Description
$23.74-26.10/hour ($46,300-50,900/year)
Keywords: Fenway Health, Cambridge , Prevention Outreach Specialist, Youth on Fire, Other , Cambridge, Massachusetts
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