Outreach Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION. (PDA)

PDA strives to build robust support for non-punitive, community-based solutions to many public safety issues. With neighborhood and public partners and in partnership with community members actively seeking to move past experiences of harm and injury, we design and deliver widely supported initiatives that promote safety, restoration, and racial equity.

Who We Are

Formed in 1969 as The Defender Association to provide high-quality legal defense for civil rights activists in Seattle, in 2013 we began to concentrate exclusively on alternative public safety models, when King County created an in-house public defense program. PDA remained independent to carry on the work of our Racial Disparity Project, which had helped to design LEAD, the nation’s first pre-booking diversion model for drug-related offenses. In 2021, we adopted a Co-Executive Director structure, recognizing the value of power-sharing, multiple voices, and perspectives at the leadership level. Our multicultural team of lawyers, organizers, project managers, social workers, direct service providers, and administrative staff blends professional and technical skills with lived experience of the systems we’re working to change.

CoLEAD Background

CoLEAD developed from the LEAD framework to provide intensive case management in non-congregate shelter facilities for people who are at high risk of exposure to the criminal legal system; all participants experience substance use disorder and high barriers to housing and establishing a lawful income source. CoLEAD connects hundreds of participants to primary care, prevents overdoses (no participant has died of an overdose since we launched in Spring 2020), establishes permanent housing plans, and provides legal system coordination under the LEAD model. While our services are low-barrier, our case management team implements recovery supports aligned with the SAMHSA recovery framework, including health care (physical and behavioral), connection, and addressing recovery obstacles that can impede stabilization and hope for progress.

Position Description:

The Outreach position entails going out into the community to contact, develop rapport, and engage with individuals who are living outside. The position will provide services from a client centered, harm reduction approach, utilizing motivational interviewing skills. Outreach may also connect with community members and business owners to help inform them about current conditions for homeless individuals in the community and help strategize positive solutions to public safety and public health community concerns. The nature of this position is extremely independent, requiring excellent interpersonal relationship and communication skills, common sense regarding personal safety, creative thinking, multi tasking and conflict resolution skills.

Essential Job Functions:

● Participant outreach and coordination

o Provide trauma-informed outreach, assessment and linkage to appropriate care for unsheltered individuals

o Coordinate individual referrals from outreach to shelter, temporary lodging, or other service resources when necessary

o Participate in case conferencing meetings for outreach and other homeless service providers to discuss clients with high barriers

o Work with Housing Case Manager as needed for CE and other assessments needed for direct housing placement

● Community outreach and coordination

o Outreach and engage community partners, businesses, organizations to foster connection and collaboration to advocate for client needs

o Serve as a liaison to business interests when necessary to communicate model and problem solve around the needs of unsheltered community

o Connect with government and community entities to bring a coordinated system response, which may include:

• Public health assessments and care

• Hygiene and sanitation services

• Waste removal

• Law enforcement coordination

• Benefits Assistance

• Other systemic services

● Program reporting and coordination

o Provide data and reports per contract requirements

o Participate in all outreach and other staff activities as needed

o Other duties as assigned

General requirements, ability to:

● Ability to implement harm reduction techniques within a participant-centered framework, e.g. motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and low-barrier assistance

● Demonstrated ability to respectfully engage with individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions essential.

● Maintain confidentiality

● Work cooperatively, harmoniously and respectfully with co-workers, supervisors, participants, public, and customers

● Deal with a variety of people with diverse backgrounds

● Communicate effectively verbally and in writing

● Understand and follow verbal and written instructions

● Handle multiple tasks and priorities with interruptions

● Maintain case files and maintain file information in PDA’s case management/data management systems

Essential Job Qualifications:

● Experience working in programs that serve individuals with mental health disabilities and substance use disorder

● Clinical training or expertise in behavioral health

● Interest or experience in working with program participants who have difficulty engaging with traditional programs and have exposure/involvement with the criminal legal system

● Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds

● Ability to work effectively with participants displaying a wide range of behaviors

● Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for participants

● Ability to oversee and train staff to utilize and track participant progress and information in an electronic case management system, including chart audits for continuous quality improvement efforts

● Current Washington State Driver’s License, current auto insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

● Lived experience with criminal legal systems, including jails, law enforcement and courts

● Mental Health Professional (LICSW, LMHC, etc.) Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) or related work/experience

● Three years of experience in work related to residential programs, outreach programs or in an institutional setting

● Academic training in the social service field and in the area of substance use disorder and mental health treatment

● Experience providing services from a harm reduction perspective to individuals with unsupported mental health disabilities who also have problematic drug use

Location

The PDA Office is in Seattle, WA.

Benefits include:

• 401k match of up to 4% of salary, beginning after six months of employment

• Annual, 2% of salary, profit sharing contribution to 401k, provided in most years

• Generous medical and dental benefits for employees and family members

• Flexible Spending Agreement for both medical and dependent care needs

• 15 days vacation per year, increasing annually up to 20 days vacation per year, after 5 years

• 12 personal/sick days annually;

• Monthly $50 employer cell phone contribution if required by position

This is a Fair Labor Standards Act-exempt, at-will position; continuation in the position depends on both performance and funding.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PDA is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. PDA actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity. PDA is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board, and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual identity, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, those directly impacted by the criminal justice system, people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact hr@ WeArePDA.org.

How to Apply

Submit your cover letter and resume. Please Note: Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls, please.