Outreach Worker

Job Description

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Outreach Supervisor, the Outreach Worker will be responsible for connecting with youth on the streets to build healthy and strong relationships with these youth in hopes of helping them on their path to self-sufficiency.

The Outreach Worker acts as a liaison to inform youth, the community, and businesses about the services offered by Urban Peak to promote the health, safety, and well-being of homeless and runaway youth and to assist them in permanently exiting the street life.

Other duties include coverage of program shifts at the Mothership, outreach on the streets and to Denver area shelters, intensive and basic needs case management, and facilitation of activities.

This position also works as part of a larger interagency team to coordinate care and outreach services as part of the Denver Street Outreach Collaborative and as part of the Continuum of Care in the Denver Metro area.

This position will ensure that interactions, interventions and environments at Urban Peak are trauma informed and emphasize the physical and emotional safety of youth and staff.

Large encampments in Denver are becoming more commonplace and present a set of unique challenges. Some of the other duties of this position, in collaboration with other outreach workers from partner agencies, that include case managers, outreach workers, a peer support specialist and street nurses, will also serve as the service providers dedicated to engaging marginalized individuals in these complex environments.

Services provided will include but are not limited to : crises intervention; supplying of basic needs (socks, food, cold weather gear, etc.

facilitation of increased access to the Urban Peak shelter, safe outdoor spaces, medical respite, medical and behavioral health care and COVID-related health care and shelter;

transportation; client advocacy; and general service linkage. This position will also build relationships and collaborate with Denver Police, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, Parks and Recreation, and other city entities as needed to best engage and serve those living in large encampments.

The Urban Peak Outreach Worker will specialize in connecting with youth under the age of 25 and will work to connect with the youth as Case Managers for longer term case management and support.

The Encampment Response team works as an extension of the Denver Street Outreach Collaborative (DSOC). This position will ensure that interactions and interventions are trauma informed and emphasize the physical and emotional safety of youth and staff.

Who You Are :

• Experience in providing harm reduction education and trauma informed care or willingness to adapt this approach is required
• Experience, competence, sensitivity and to connect well and work effectively with homeless young adults who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA, or who are mentally ill, addicted to substances, suffer from brain injury / trauma, live with developmental disabilities or who may be considered difficult to engage
• Skill in oral and written communications
• Skill in negotiating and mediating sensitive situations as well as skill in crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Able to communicate effectively with a diverse population
• Able to make independent judgement and sound decisions using available information while maintaining appropriate confidentiality
• Skill in flexibility and adapting to change in job duties and work environment
• Able to function as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and work with collaborating agencies while also being comfortable with working alone and being autonomous when it comes to de-escalating and decision making
• Able to manage tasks and activities in an environment that sometimes includes conflict and chaos
• A Master’s degree in social work, psychology or a related field and a minimum two (2) years’ of experience working with youth;
• or a Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field and a minimum three (3) years’ of experience working with youth;

or high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum five (5) years’ full-time experience working high-risk youth

• Must be team-oriented and able to coordinate with various departments and staff
• Must be comfortable with handling crisis and other stressful situations alone
• Must be computer proficient and possess experience of Microsoft Office Suite (e.g. Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
• May be required to obtain QMAP certified or eligible for QMAP certification
• Must be insurable as a driver on Urban Peak’s auto liability policy in order to conduct business on behalf of the agency and / or transport youth using an Urban Peak vehicle and an approved personal vehicle
• Ability to pass both federal and state background checks and a pre-employment TB Screening

What You Will Do :

• Actively represent Urban Peak in the community to persons interested in the issue of homelessness for education, funding, and advocacy purposes
• Host educational events to promote business and community responsibility as well as to educate the public on the services we provide
• Attends all required staff meetings, trainings and client reviews, being prepared to address client issues and creative solutions
• Assists in conducting yearly Point In Time and other outreach surveys
• Accompanies youth on group outings (e.g., DMV, movies, and other recreational activities)
• Educates and trains community members in all aspects of working with youth who are homeless or at high risk of homelessness
• Actively engage youth on the streets, in schools, detention centers, and other institutions
• Accountable to all defined outcomes, both individually and team level
• Provide HIV / STI testing to Urban Peak clients with a trauma informed, Harm Reduction approach
• Respond to emails, calls, texts and all other means of communications in a timely manner
• Documents all services provided to clients and records entries into the HMIS database within 2 business days of the initial contact
• Develop, implement, and maintain programming to deliver resources and knowledge to youth on the streets as well as to build community and foster trust with young adults experiencing homelessness
• Outreach
• Works as a member of the Denver Street Outreach Collaborative (DSOC) to provide face-to-face outreach services to individuals who are homeless in public places, under bridges, in abandoned buildings, shelters, and other outdoor areas in an attempt to engage them in a non-threatening way, assist them in recognizing and defining their own service needs, inform them of available services, and help them access those services
• Works closely with the Drop-In Center Case Managers, the SOLE team and other city outreach programs to coordinate care for youth
• Seek out and build trusting and healthy relationships with youth who are not yet accessing other services at Urban Peak while always maintaining healthy and professional boundaries
• Represent Urban Peak through attending Human Trafficking events and other related Outreach events such as conferences, seminars, and other tabling events with the intent to better understand creative solutions when serving vulnerable populations
• Work to provide street youth resources through street outreach using a trauma-informed approach
• Support youth in obtaining vital documents, connecting with physical and mental health partners, and providing basic needs and resources while building relationship through trust and consistency
• Works collaboratively with shelters to identify homeless persons living in the shelter that need assistance accessing services and housing
• Outreach Case Management and Referrals
• Collaborates with homeless service providers in the community and Urban Peak programs to provide optimum coordination, communication and continuity of services
• Assists youth into shelter, permanent housing and / or family reunification and provide referrals for supportive services to help maintain stability while ensuring positive youth development
• Accepts referrals from other agencies and works collaboratively with staff of all agencies to provide contact and to support additional goals and outreach efforts
• Implements individual assessments and develop case plans with participating youth to identify needs and provide appropriate resources and services through outreach
• Accurately document all services including assessments, outreach attempts, contacts and locations, case notes, service plans, partnerships, housing goals and specific services received that are documented through Urban Peak database in a timely manor
• Collect and maintain accurate data on an ongoing basis
• Communicate with DSOC, SOLE and other outreach teams on a consistent basis
• Document relevant and significant events that occur during the shift with supervisor and Communication Log
• Maintain clear and effective communication with other staff regarding clients and outreach updates
• Work to ensure client confidentiality
• Accurately document all relevant resources and partnerships, keeping the resource directory up to date
• Complete thorough intakes in a manner that begins to establish safe and trusting relationships while on Outreach in the community
• Assess the level of need and intent of youth and make recommendations regarding youth’s involvement in other Urban Peak programs
• Keep contact info and camp locations updated to maintain relationship and consistent continuity of care

What We Offer :

• Salary : $24.02
• 100% Employer paid Medical and Dental plans - Buy-up plans available
• Tele-health & Dispatch Health included
• FSA & Dependent Care
• Vision Accident Coverage Critical Care & Hospital Extended Stay Plans
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Robust Employee Assistance Program
• RTD Eco Pass
• 10 Paid Holidays & Paid Sick Time
• 120 hours of vacation to start
• Second Language pay differential
• Staff support for lateral growth through training and mentorship

Who We Are :

Founded in 1988, Urban Peak is the only non-profit organization in Denver that provides a full convergence of services for youth ages 15 through 24 experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Our goal is to meet youth where they are and to provide them with the assistance and support, they need to become self-sufficient or obtain the necessary services they need to exit a life on the streets.

Urban Peak provides numerous programs and services that are founded on the principles of trauma-informed care and Positive Youth Development to assist youth in reaching their potential and living a successful life off the streets.

Services include street outreach, a 40-bed shelter for youth ages 15 through 20, a daytime drop-in center, supportive housing, education and employment services, case management, life skills courses, behavioral health evaluations, meals and more.

The youth served at the shelter come from a variety of backgrounds, and we strive to be a safe community for all youth, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, class, educational background, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability status.

The Denver Urban Peak embraces diversity and considers all qualified candidates that have an interest in the non-profit sector.

We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, HIV / AIDS status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We encourage all candidates to apply.