Outreach Specialist

Outreach Specialist

Position: Outreach Specialist

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Salary: $23.62 - $26.92 per hour

Schedule: 35 hours per week

Queens Community House (QCH) is a multi-site, multi-service settlement house that serves the diverse population of Queens through a broad network of programs and services for Children and Youth, Adults and Families, and Older Adults. We are a modern interpretation of the traditional settlement house, bringing to our work current best practices, cost-effective management, innovative leadership, and a passion for social and economic justice. Our mission is to provide individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities. We welcome amazing individuals who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission, and are highly motivated to change lives.

We are seeking a qualified Outreach Specialist with a strong commitment to youth development and knowledge of engagement strategies. The Outreach Specialist engages out-of-school, low-income youth ages 16-24 and provides alternative education and employment pathway that enables participants to obtain a high school equivalency diploma, advance toward post-secondary education or career-oriented employment, and take responsibility for their families and communities.

This position will provide ongoing assistance with counseling support, advocacy, and guidance to program members to help them cope with their personal, legal, and social service needs, especially those that interfere with their ability to meet the program requirements and their personal goals. In addition, work closely with the entire staff to build leadership skills in all program participants.

Responsibilities:

Community Outreach:

• Conduct program outreach and community-related activities to increase the referral base for all Young Adult programs while increasing visibility.
• Using screening criteria to determine the eligibility of prospective youth participants.
• Assist with Young adult participant recruitment across the division, including (but not limited to) identifying recruitment sources, conducting community presentations, screening applicants, and collecting eligibility documentation.
• Track and analyze recruitment activities (e.g., outreach events) to determine effectiveness and plan for successful future strategies.
• Engage in intensive outreach, including home visits and street outreach, to locate participants unresponsive to program staff’s outreach.

Administrative Accountabilities:

• Ensure enrollment applications are complete, accurate, and submitted on time.
• Assist with creating marketing materials, i.e., flyers, brochures, print, and video advertising, and manage content on various social media platforms.
• Collaborate with all staff around the creation and implementation of student engagement events, service projects, extracurricular activities, and community meetings.
• Attend interdisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, various meetings, and outside events as assigned by the supervisor.

Relationship Building and Participant Engagement:

• Cultivate, develop, and maintain productive relationships with referral agencies.
• Promote linkages with other service providers that will help participants obtain and maintain external resources.
• Assess the personal needs of Young Adult participants and help find resources to meet their needs.
• Take responsibility for particular leadership development activities as defined by the division leadership.
• Assist with individual and group counseling to Young Adult participants.
• Advocate with human service, health, court, and criminal justice systems to resolve issues facing young people.
• Ensure a positive culture and climate through relationship building with the support and guidance of the Young Adult program teams.
• Participate in various consortium meetings when applicable.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Other duties and special projects as assigned to meet the needs of participants of the Young Adult Division.
• Contracts are fluid, and the Young Adult Division works collaboratively to meet the needs of the participants while remaining compliant with contract guidelines. The Outreach Specialist will recruit for all programs, and responsibilities may shift to address changes within the division.

Qualifications:

• At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• 2-3 years of relevant work experience.
• Working knowledge of Queens and 11416, 11417, 11419, 11419, 11432, 11433, 11434, 11435, 11367, 11355 zip codes.
• Understanding of community resources and service availability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and good presentation skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skill set, able to work independently and participate collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Computer literate and competent in Word, Excel, and Publisher.