Outreach Specialist

Outreach Specialist

Safer Steps/Prevention Team

Damien Center Values

Dignity-Collaboration-Accountability-Access-Quality-Innovation

Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization (ASO) and serves more than 8,000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to care and prevention. Our purpose is to be a trusted partner in providing services, education and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care.

Our services include care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition.

Position Summary:

The Outreach Specialist provides intensive, one-on-one services for persons in active substance use. This position is outreach based and most of the time will be spent in the community. The Outreach Specialist may assist with the safe syringe exchange, providing supplies, conduct health and other assessments of need, and assist with referrals as needed. Position will require outreach to houseless and marginalized populations and will include testing for HIV and Hepatitis

C. The Specialist will also coordinate with internal case managers and clients as necessary to assist in reducing barriers and achieving positive life goals and outcomes as agreed upon with client.

This position is grant funded. The position is part-time (20 hours a week) and is scheduled to last until December 31st, 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills.

• Perform street, camp, mobile, or tabling outreach with partner as a part of the Outreach Team
• Scout and build relationships with encampments and individuals living outside all around Marion County
• Stay knowledgeable on local resources and periodically check in to ensure they are still functional (including their locations, dates, times, and active periods)
• Accurately record and enter data to track statistics of supplies given for funding purposes, as well as to understand demand in particular areas
• Actively track and prepare for weather patterns and seasonal changes that may affect unhoused clients and understand proper precautions to share with them
• Organize and host volunteer opportunities such as camp cleanups, kit packing, and neighborhood cleanups
• Organize, execute, and appropriately prepare and train volunteers
• Provide knowledgeable presence and supplies to local community partners, events, venues, and organizations when asked
• Connect other agencies and local community resource providers with Damien Center for future partnership opportunities to maintain consistent and diverse networks of varying types of direct action within the community
• Develop and deliver educational presentations on Narcan and other safe practices depending on requests and location
• Creatively engage in situational problem solving, including but not limited to sourcing and developing resources and identifying personal needs for individual clients
• Foster meaningful engagement with participants, residents, neighborhood associations, government partners, anchor institutions, medical partners, and any other entities related to community outreach and function
• Secure food donations and put together snacks or meals in accordance with IDOH safety regulations
• Maintain accurate schedule in collaboration with the rest of the team and ensure open space is available for per-request events
• Safely operate company owned vehicle
• Performs special assignments and other work, on an as-needed basis.

Education and/or

Experience:

The ability to build rapport and engage with diverse populations while being sensitive to cultural, racial, and socio-economic diversity is essential to this position. Experience working in outreach situations, the field of substance use or mental health, working with unhoused populations, or persons living with HIV or HCV is preferred.

* Work or lived experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess superior organizational and administrative skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Ability to work independently and achieve high standards of productivity, achieving deadlines and with superior product results. Strong calendaring, organizational, and document management skills required. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required.

Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills,…