The Street Outreach Worker will help support Ambassadors for Christ Youth Ministries (AFC) Street Outreach Program (SOP), and Transitional Living Program (TLP) in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. As a member of our team, you will serve as a liaison working to provide support to young people who are experiencing, or are at-risk of, homelessness and connect them with services and resources available to move them on to a path to increased stability and community connection. The ideal candidate will also serve as a program advocate informing youth, our communities and businesses of the services provided by AFC.

Essential Duties

• Work collaboratively with our partners to identify homeless youth that need assistance in accessing services and housing.
• Actively engage known youth on the streets to build rapport and provide basic needs supplies. Also, seek out and build trusting and healthy relationships with youth who are not yet accessing other services at AFC.
• Explore new and known outreach spots in order to introduce youth to resources and AFC’s spectrum of services.
• Participate in AFC’s strategic outreach and event planning meetings.
• Utilize effective, positive communication skills with peers, staff, families, the community and the general public and embody AFC’s core values in all interactions.
• Implement and maintain programming to deliver resources and knowledge to youth on the streets and that supports the building of healthy relationships.
• Provide services in a culturally responsive and youth-friendly manner.
• Implement outreach strategies to high-risk trafficking areas such as parks, front of convenient stores, bus stations, community centers, motels, gas stations at interstate corridors, etc).
• Utilize a trauma informed approach in all interactions with youth, maintaining client confidentiality as required.
• Provide survival aid and health/hygiene kits.
• Provide de-escalation and crisis intervention, phone counselling and support to clients as needed.
• Document all outreach and aftercare provided or attempts made
• Provide information and support and coordinate shelter and referral services.

• Prepare and distribute client appropriate materials regarding the SOP and TLP services and resources.
• Train, supervise and evaluate volunteers and practicum students.
• Maintain program statistics and participate in ongoing program evaluation and reporting procedures by ensuring to initiate, document and complete client follow-ups, outcome evaluations, case note entries and client contact sheets.

Education and Experience Requirements:The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a human service field from an accredited university (preferred) and one (1) year relevant experience working with the target population or Associates degree (minimum) and 3 years relevant experience However, we will consider a candidate with a High School Diploma who is at least 25 years of age . The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 year of experience working with at-risk youth applying outreach trauma-informed care or willingness to adapt to this approach as required.

• MUST meet requirements for Central Registry Background Check.
• MUST have a valid Arkansas driver’s license, a vehicle for travel and verifiable insurance.
• Must be able to pass comprehensive criminal, sexual offender
• Must be able to handle confidential matters with appropriate discretion.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills, possessing the ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships and work effectively in a team environment.
• Knowledge of community resources and experienced in providing referral services to clients
• Ability to learn and interpret specific rules, laws, and policies and apply them with good judgment in a variety of situations.
• Ability to manage task and activities, work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines despite the competing priorities presented daily.
• Ability to be observant and take initiative to address issues presented while engaging with our clients.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite.
• Ability to communicate both orally and written form and possess the ability to write clear and decisive planning documents both on a strategic and near-term basis.
• Ability travel to various locations utilizing personal transportation and maintain insurance coverage to transport clients as needed.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, working an evening shift a couple of days per week.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is required to stand and walk, and occasionally drive a car. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 10 - 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: From $40,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday