Description:
We are North Idaho’s premier provider of integrated medical, dental and behavioral health services. Our amazing care teams deliver world-class healthcare utilizing a patient directed, community-focused approach. Providing high quality, affordable Healthcare from the Heart is our passion. Our mission is to deliver a healthcare experience that provides hope, inspires change, and extends life for our patients and our community.
Top reasons to join our team:
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Our employees are mission – minded
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We are passionate about providing excellent patient care
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Community-focused
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Committed to a fun and supportive team environment
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We offer high-quality competitive employee benefits
Summary:
The Homeless Outreach Specialist is committed to transforming the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness through comprehensive street outreach efforts that partner with community stakeholders to support our homeless neighbors by connecting them to physical and mental health care, and human service resources as quickly as possible. This position is responsible for development of outreach tasks and in-person outreach to locate camps and persons experiencing homelessness in Kootenai County to connect them to Heritage Health and other community-based services. The Community Outreach Specialist is tasked with creating and developing relationships with community stakeholders, donors, and service providers through relationship building, networking, and community building.
Requirements:
1. Homeless outreach or other experience working with homeless neighbors.
2. Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
3. High School Diploma or equivalent.
4. Valid Driver’s License, insurance, and reliable transportation
5. Demonstrated competency in personal computers and related software applications, including but not limited to Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.
6. Prior lived experience with homelessness preferred.
7. Electronic health record system experience preferred.
8. Bilingual preferred.
9. Community Health Worker certification preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
1. Strong interpersonal skills required.
2. Strong relationship building skills required.
3. Strong, efficient, and consistent documentation and record keeping skills required.
4. Strong Planning and Organizational skills required.
5. Strong knowledge and direct experience with Kootenai County resources required.
6. Strong awareness and familiarity with Heritage Health’s programs and activities required.
7. Ability to work collaboratively and positively with diverse teams across multiple programs/ sites.
8. Ability to see larger vision and bigger picture, but also focus on programmatic details.
9. Strong knowledge of best practices in homeless population as well as culturally specific.
10. Ability to remain positive in challenging work environments.
11. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
12. Strong interest/knowledge in safety planning and oversight.
13. Strong skills in data tracking, attendance, sign-in sheets, weekly program reports of work activities
14. Ability to submit mileage and other fiscal documents (like case management receipts, purchase receipts, and other program documentation), in timely manner.
15. Knowledge of trauma informed care, harm reduction, and other evidence-based practices.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Locating and responding to new and existing encampments and other areas where individuals and families are living outside in Kootenai County.
2. Building relationship with individuals living outside with a goal to engage in healthcare services and community resources.
3. Develop new relationships and engage regularly with existing community stakeholders, service providers, and donors.
4. Partner and work collaboratively with City, County, and State officials (e.g., EMS, Police, etc.).
5. Engage with individuals living outside, link to community connect for basic needs assessments.
6. Build and maintain a current network of local, state, and federal resources that support our homeless neighbor’s unmet needs.
7. Provide empowerment-based advocacy and referring them to other sources of assistance.
8. Drive company vehicle to provide mobile advocacy to best meet community needs.
9. Conduct basic triage on site throughout the community, transport persons experiencing homelessness to clinic and other service providers.
6. Ensure connection with resources to meet participant needs.
7. Provide culturally responsive advocacy that honors lived experience (e.g., persons living with trauma, survivors of domestic violence, immigrants, refugees, and the community at large).
8. Connect participants with relevant community resources to address needs related to housing, employment, health, education, and financial assistance.
9. Serve as a primary contact for community partners that provide culturally specific services.
10. Effectively and respectfully work with people from diverse backgrounds.
11. Provide a participant centered approach and excellent customer service that is sensitive to the challenges of the community we serve.
12. Ability to work as a member of a team and independently.
13. Conducts face to face screening and obtain consents as needed.
14. Conduct intake enrollment when applicable.
15. Cover front desk, answer phones, and provide