Outreach Specialist

Compensation Range: $18/hr - $20/hr commensurate with experience

Benefits:
We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

Overview:

The OASAS Youth Clubhouse will serve as a safe space for LGBTQ and Gender Non-Confirming young adults of color to access peer related support, interventions, and activities in a nonclinical drop-in program. Youth, ages 18-24 will have the opportunity to engage in programming as an entry way into other clinical services, such as substance use treatment, mental health counseling, primary care, and vocational services. The Outreach Specialist will contribute to the development of the Youth Clubhouse programming, supervise the attendees and lead evidence-based groups related to recovery, recreational/artistic/educational activities, and other supportive services.  This is a full-time position that requires late afternoon, evening, and weekend hours for select outreach and drop-in activities

Responsibilities:

• Assist program coordinator in the creation of new and innovative programming activities that will increase client engagement
• Outreach to potential members through in-person and virtual activities which effectively meet new member targets each month
• Assist with content creation for social media platforms to recruit new members
• Facilitate in orientating new members to programming including completing required documentation, touring facility, and introducing them to other programs on-site including primary care, substance use treatment and mental health services
• Support Youth and Prevention Services Care Navigators in facilitating enrollment into applicable prevention programs and services, such as primary care and case management.
• Track group attendance and maintain group notes in internal database
• Assist with implementing groups, events, Youth Advisory Board meetings and other member activities in-person or online
• Conduct in-reach to recruit new participants to the clubhouse through Housing Works services where appropriate
• Document and track outreach activities and provide reporting Implements programming activities on/off-site & virtually via social media
• Participate in integrated department efforts on Ending the Epidemic, such as PrEP implementation and Viral Load Suppression efforts for eligible youth participants
• Participate in weekly supervisory sessions with the Program Coordinator, as well as regular Clubhouse & departmental meetings  Coordinate calendar of events on-site, off-site, and virtual activities to engage and retain youth  Implement evaluation tools, such as client satisfaction questionnaires and obtain youth feedback regarding interest in various engagement activities
• Collect and utilize client testimonials for promotional use of Clubhouse programming, activities, and services 

Other functions that may be required with this position include: 

• Participate in reoccurring interagency meetings, as well as external community meetings to improve integrated care and maintain relationships with community partners 
• Participate in Housing Works advocacy events (minimum 4 per year July-June) 
• Willing to work M-F 9am-5pm schedule, including occasional late nights & weekends for regular programming & special events
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with at least 1 year of work experience in a relevant nonprofit setting working with similar population in outreach capacity
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, trauma, substance use and mental illness, sexual health, and issues related to LGBTQ youth of color 
• Experience utilizing social media to recruit participants effectively
• Good problem-solving skills and ability to work well with team members 
• Ability to communicate respectfully to all participants and staff

The following additional competencies are viewed as important to success in this position:

• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, social media and database systems)
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred 
• Cultural competency regarding LGBTQ+ identities & language use, including differences between sex & gender, pronoun usage, etc.

Job candidates should be aware that scammers may pose as employers and create fake job postings in order to extract personal information from individuals for financial gain. Housing Works will never ask job candidates for personal information, such as social security numbers or bank account details, over the phone. If you suspect that a job posting may be fake or wish to confirm that a job posting from Housing Works is genuine, please contact us at [email protected]

Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State’s first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org

Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works’ New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (“RWDSU”). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a “CBA”) between Housing Works and the RWDSU