Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist jobs in Madison, WI

Community Outreach Worker

Summary:

The mission of the Focused Interruption is to use a holistic approach to reduce generational trauma by providing evidence-based intervention and prevention services to victims, communities, and families impacted by gun violence. Focused Interruption Outreach Workers will accomplish this mission by developing relationships with individuals at highest risk of gun violence victimization and perpetration and engaging these individuals in supportive services such as job placement or training, mental health treatment, and legal services. Additionally, Outreach Workers will provide ongoing support, mentoring, life coaching, and dispute mediation to those at highest risk of gun violence. Finally, Outreach Workers will respond to incidents of community violence and seek to prevent further retaliatory violence by leveraging their relationships within the community at large, as well as people at highest risk of gun violence.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Relentlessly connects with people at highest risk through outreach. This includes frequent attempts and contact through home visits, street level engagement, relationship building activities, prison or jail visits

Practices relentless outreach to ensure continued engagement of people at highest risk in mental health treatment, work, school and other prosocial activities 

Works with manager and community partners to identify people who are at highest risk of becoming victims and perpetrators of gun violence

Carries a caseload of 5 or more people at highest risk of gun violence

Utilizes trauma informed approaches and practices to identify, connect, engage and support people at highest risk 

Prepares and submits reports per contract and as requested by Supervisor

Enters timely program information into appropriate data management system; documents detailed case notes and other items as assigned

Attends regular staff meetings, partner meetings, one on one supervision meetings, and community meetings as instructed by Supervisor

Participates in all mandatory trainings and undertakes any training and professional development as required to ensure effective work

Reaches out to the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with, residents, businesses, and community groups

Provides linkages and supports for individuals to enhance their use of opportunities and programs in the community (job programs, GED, drug treatment, mentoring, etc.)

Facilitates proper referrals and supportive case management for court advocacy, school enrollment, counseling, substance abuse services, employment, job training, etc.

Participates in media opportunities as requested

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

High School Diploma/GED 

Bachelors degree preferred; Associates Degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited institution highly desired

Excellent verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively in writing

Computer literacy commensurate to complete job duties

Demonstrated initiative in community involvement

Has shown concrete steps in advancing their lives, in education, employment or recovery and well-being

Experience or training in crisis intervention preferred

Experience working on a team

Ability to demonstrate empathy with participants and effectiveness in engaging target population

Expectations:

Adheres to Focused Interruption’s model, philosophy, approaches, policies and procedures

Elevates the field of Outreach by modeling professional behavior 

Attends field related trainings which may include on topics such as restorative justice, trauma informed care, Motivational Interviewing, conflict mediation and de-escalation, Mental Health First Aid, Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, Certified Peer Specialist

Possesses a valid Wisconsin drivers license, insurance, and good driving record

Participates in self-care sessions

Has no pending criminal cases

Able to work one-on-one and in groups with high-risk individuals to resolve conflicts and promote prosocial behaviors

Willing to respond to crime scenes, hospital emergency departments, and other chaotic environments 

Willing to work late nights and on weekends

Exhibits emotional maturity, effective teamwork and communication skills, professional conduct, good judgment, integrity, tolerance of differing points of view and beliefs, commitment to violence prevention best practices, growth mindset and problem-solving attitude

Willing to collaborate and communicate with external partners

Compensation:

Starting wage is $28 per hour with potential of raise at three month performance review.