Employment Type : Full-Time
Position Title: Community Outreach Worker FLSA Code: Exempt
Department: Youth Development Report to: Youth Program Manager
Position Overview
Founded in 1971, Centers for New Horizons, Inc. (Centers) is a nonprofit organization that assists children, youth, and families to become self-reliant. With 200+ full-time staff, most of whom live in or near its service communities, Centers provides programs in seven locations throughout the Bronzeville and Riverdale communities of Chicago's Southside that reach over 1,000 individuals daily
Position Description
Youth Community Outreach Worker helps create or partner with existing area board of various sectors. Develop and work in partnership with an Area Project Board committed to developing and coordinating community service programs. Develop and work with at least one new/existing Community Committee. Community Worker in partnership with the community committee must conduct a community assessment. Develop one youth committee that includes youth from the community area between the ages 13-24. Assist youth committee with collaborating with community committee. Must develop and distribute Youth referral guide. Develop community action plan that outlines community problem, goal, objectives and strategies to address delinquency and violence. Submit quarterly reports, meeting agendas and rosters. Attend CYS required meetings.
Essential Functions
Communication and Documentation
Provides program information to various businesses and committees, provides networking opportunities between agency programs regarding employment; serves as a member of various committees as requested; assists in developing flyers, brochures and other methods to advertise program and Maintains documentation by completing forms necessary for compiling progress reports and entering information into a database. Represents the agency and its clientele to the community, public, and private agencies by attending community events, advising agencies on how they can interrelate with the agency, and maintaining working relationships with a broad range of agencies and organizations.
Knowledge
Knowledge of educational programs, local schools, financial aid, community resources and vocational services. Knowledge and understanding of educational referral and placement procedures. Knowledge of barriers to education such as substance abuse, domestic violence, childcare, and/or transportation. The functions and resources of public and private social welfare and related agencies providing services to individuals within the respective area of specialization, current social, economic, environmental and health problems affecting the clients’ social and environmental factors which result in the need for resources, placement or institutionalization of individuals.
Skills
Facilitate training workshops. Interviewing and educational evaluation skills. Skills in providing barrier identification and educational counseling, interpreting, applying, and explaining laws, rules, and regulations, assessing behaviors, barriers, and educational skills of clientele, deescalating situations with angry, upset, distressed or hostile clients and conflict resolution and/or mediation skills.
Skills and Ability
Effectively market and represent a program, its clients and services to employers; communicate effectively in both oral and written form; plan and make presentations to small groups including potential employers, business representatives, teachers, and program participants; assess the interests and aptitudes of participants; operate a variety of office equipment; use a computer to prepare documents and presentations, maintain various databases, and search for information on the Internet; utilize time management techniques to organize and prioritize work; work independently and meet timelines; coordinate a variety of projects simultaneously; interpersonal skills to work cooperatively and effectively with individuals and groups; interact with students and adults from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds; provide instruction and make presentations on resume preparation, job seeking, job retention, and interview skills; read, interpret, and apply rules and procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience
Training and Skills
Work Environment
The typical work environment is in an office setting, but may on occasion be outside of the office setting. The noise level will vary depending on the location. External vehicles, office equipment, machinery, telephone and conversations produce noise. May require nights, weekends or holidays. May be stressful due to the demands of the position.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, stoop, and walk.
The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to the 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
The employee may be required to work in or visit offices in the city of Chicago and suburbs and must be able to transport himself/herself to various locations.
EQUIPMENT USED
Employee will generally use the telephone, computer, calculator, copier, overhead projector, paper shredder, paper cutter, and filing systems.
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