South Cook Outreach Coordinator

Women, trans, gender non‑conforming and queer folks, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Live4Lali is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate by race, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability in its procedures and policies. Involvement in the criminal justice system is not an automatic disqualifier. Live4Lali does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, complies with the Illinois Human Rights Act, and provides reasonable accommodations as required by law. Substance use disorder continues to be a devastating public health crisis. Americans die from drug overdoses at a rate of roughly 210 to 300 people per day. In 2023, there were 105,007 total drug overdose deaths in the United States. In Illinois, 3,052 residents died from an accidental drug overdose in 2023, which is more than twice the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents and more than twice the number of homicides. The increase in the number of fatalities is attributed to the rise of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. Since 2013, synthetic opioid deaths in Illinois have increased 3,341%. Live4Lali has been serving suburban Chicagoland for nearly sixteen years providing critical prevention, education, treatment access, support programs, community solutions‑building initiatives, harm reduction, and overdose prevention services to decrease the devastating toll of the opioid epidemic. Live4Lali’s mission is to reduce stigma and prevent substance use disorder among individuals, families, and communities, and minimize the overall health, legal and social harms associated with substance use. Core Responsibilities Identify areas of greatest need within Southern Cook County, and distribute naloxone both on the street and within existing services; Provide peer‑based support to participants through rapport building, recovery coaching, harm reduction‑informed interventions, and referrals, using lived experience to support participant‑defined goals and reduce harms associated with substance use; Assist with stocking, ordering and maintaining harm reduction inventory; Accurately log and report data collected during outreach; Provide on the spot training in harm reduction and overdose response and distribute naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication across the counties; Provide education on overdose prevention and harm reduction techniques; Identify treatment providers, shelters, supportive housing, sober living and other facilities and educate on the need to scale up access to naloxone and other safety practices, providing training where needed; Identify events and organizations to connect and collaborate on harm reduction and education initiatives; Provide peer support for participants including treatment navigation, housing navigation, and other social services as needed; Provide transportation for individuals requiring treatment, recovery, or wrap‑around services; Provide increased and enhanced training to impacted persons, and the general public on first aid practices, naloxone distribution, and harm reduction practices; Identify and develop safety plans with peers who are at increased risk of overdose; Collect, input, and coordinate data; Must have an understanding of, and ability to maintain, HIPAA compliance and participant confidentiality at all times; Provide open office hours for community drop in. Qualifications The South Cook County Outreach Coordinator must be a person with lived experience, preferably with at least 2 years in recovery/remission from substance use disorder. Bilingual in Spanish is a plus. They will preferably also have a minimum of two years’ relevant work experience in substance use disorder, mental health, public health or social work. This candidate will demonstrate the following qualifications: Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community‑based programs and community support systems; Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges; Proficiency in technology, including but not limited to Google Drive, Zoom, Microsoft Office Suite; Demonstrated attention to detail and strong organizational skills; Demonstrated knowledge in the areas of safer drug use, addictions, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental health, etc.; Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care; Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices; Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non‑violent communication and diffusing techniques; Ability to problem‑solve with creativity, flexibility and assertiveness in dealing with complex issues; Ability to work as part of a team, to prioritize and handle multiple tasks, and to work independently in a high‑pressure environment. CPR and Basic first aid certified preferred; Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them; Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co‑workers, clients, community, and other service providers; Strong working knowledge of local health and social services; Must have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and reliable inter‑suburban vehicle; Feel comfortable driving 10‑40 miles per day to serve the population as needed; Must comply with all Live4Lali policies and procedures, including, but not limited to the Risk Management Guidelines. The South Cook County Outreach Coordinator position is based out of our South Holland office and requires regular travel to multiple community locations. Due to the dynamic nature of street‑based and mobile outreach work, this role operates on a flexible and evolving schedule that does not follow a traditional 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. workday. Hours may include evenings or weekends and will adjust as programs expand and community needs shift. The position requires a full‑time commitment of 40 hours per week, with days and times adaptable and open to negotiation for the right candidate. Compensation and Benefits Salary Range $37,000 – $47,000 Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance 401k with 5% employer match Generous PTO policy #J-18808-Ljbffr Live4Lali, Inc.