Youth Outreach Specialist

About CCC:
Since 1923, Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC)has provided life-changing human services to vulnerable individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. CCC offers quality and compassionate human services to all people, especially the most vulnerable, regardless of faith. We are passionate about the work we do in our communities, providing 31 critical services at 11 locations throughout Virginia.

SUMMARY: This position is responsible for providing comprehensive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and who may also be living with addictions and mental illness. Position focus may vary by population (youth, families with minor children, etc) Successful candidates are committed to ending homelessness and dedicated to CCC's mission of serving the most vulnerable in our community, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those traumatized by systemic inequities.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Engage individuals experiencing homelessness and assist them with accessing health, housing, and social services. (employment, mental health care, substance use treatment, and other social services)

• Provide in-person, community-based assistance and connect with individuals in their physical location - street, hospital, emergency shelter, etc.

• Assist eligible individuals/households in applying or recertifying for mainstream benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security disability, as well as school enrollment and childcare.

• Assist individuals with connecting to basic needs, including food, clothing, showers, laundry, transportation, obtaining identification, etc.

• Conduct client intakes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness as well as households at risk of homelessness. Assess client needs and most appropriate referrals to ensure a return to permanent housing as quickly as possible, including referrals for housing services, shelter, and other services. Document client's homelessness according to HUD guidelines.

• Maintain client records in HCIS (Service Point), including demographics and other essential client information including service transactions, client needs and referrals, reason for homelessness, and summary statement.

• Advocate on behalf of clients to obtain essential services and/or support them to advocate for themselves.

• Collaborate and coordinate services with appropriate community agencies to address barriers and complex needs of individuals.

• Identify other community resources and provide in-depth referrals to housing, medical and/or mental health services.

• Assist with crisis intervention and act as a liaison between hospitals and other community agencies.

• Provide case management to a core caseload (i.e. assess needs, develop goals with client, coordinate services, monitor progress, and assist in obtaining housing).

• Perform street outreach to the local region multiple times per week, connecting individuals experiencing homelessness to shelter, permanent housing and other community resources.

• Consult with mental health professionals (nurses, social workers, family physicians, psychiatrists) for screening, documentation and coordination purposes.

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners to identify and improve processes that enhance services to clients.

• Staff on call hours at Housing Resource Center (HRC) or Youth Hub connection point (RVA staff).

• Represents the Agency in the community and workplace in a professional and ethical manner.

• Demonstrates sensitivity to the service population's cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

• Demonstrates strong interpersonal, decision-making, problem-solving, oral, and written skills.

• Utilizes a basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES ASSIGNED TO COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH SPECIALIST

• Provides data driven service coordination to patients by leveraging EPIC (Electronic Health Record) and HMIS (Housing Management Information System); Responsible for data collection and analytics of patient micro and macro trends

• Works with Enterprise Analytics to track patient trends and measure the impact of addressing housing insecurity towards improvements in patient utilization (avoidable readmissions and emergency department visits) and improve health outcomes

• Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrates ability to manage multiple, complex projects, think strategically, and exercise independent judgement.

• Facilitate system level coordination; Plan, organize and promote homelessness strategies across systems by relaying information, addressing concerns, and ensuring smooth interactions between participants and partners

• Possess a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential patient information and situations

• Ability to present complex information to diverse audiences, both orally and visually

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's Degree preferred with two years of related experience. Persons with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability encouraged to apply. For Peer Outreach Specialist degree is preferred.


Full-time Employee Benefits:
Retirement savings - After one year of employment, the agency contributes 4% of your plan year earnings into a savings account for you and will match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of salary if an employee makes contributions to the plan. That's an 8% annual contribution to your retirement savings!
PTO - earn 16 days off for vacation, sick, or personal time in your first year. This goes up to 22 days in your second year and keeps climbing every five years.
Holidays - Enjoy eleven paid holidays
Other paid leave at no cost to employees - bereavement, short-term disability, long-term disability, paid parental leave
Virginia Credit Union memberships
Employee Assistance program - Free services including five free confidential consultations with a mental health professional
Medical Insurance - a choice of 4 PPO plans for employee, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), or family coverage. A portion of premiums subsidized by the agency.
Dental Insurance - a choice of two dental plans for employee, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), or family coverage. A portion of premiums subsidized by the agency.
Vision Insurance
Life insurance - paid by agency with option to purchase additional coverage
Other insurance benefits - flexible spending accounts including dependent care, health savings account (for qualified HDHP participants), legal resources