Community Health Outreach Worker

Under the general supervision of the Loving Steps Supervisor, conducts systematic, standardized screenings and assessments with parents prenatally or immediately following birth and refers families in need of extra supportive services to appropriate programs or agencies. Markets the program in the community via resource fairs, program contacts, and other sources, and make home visits. 

• Conducts assessments/screenings with prenatal and post-birth families.  Determines families in need of extra supportive serves, and meets with supervisor to review family status and plan appropriate service interventions i.e. Loving Steps and/or other community resources. 
•  Makes appropriate referrals to community resources if needed, submitting any written materials to supervisor for approval prior to mailing. 
• Serves as client advocate as required.   Demonstrates ability to successfully link client families with community resources. 
• Accurately completes all paperwork required in a timely manner and submits to supervisor as required.
• Conducts community education activities and presentations as assigned. 
• Accurately enters information into RedCap in a timely manner. 
• Organizes and manages all resource information such as flyers, pamphlets, booklets, etc. 
• Establishes and maintains relationships with referring agencies in the community.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with other community agencies to whom we may refer clients for services.
• Attends regular staff meetings, team meetings, in-service training, and other meetings as required. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Applies working knowledge of established family dynamic principals including but not limited to parent-child interaction, child development and the dynamics of child abuse/neglect to help client improve parenting skills, reduce family stress, and meet needs of parents.  Helps parents learn problem solving and coping skills and refers them to appropriate community agencies as is appropriate.  Helps parents to incorporate effective disciplinary techniques in the family structure.
• Performs case management and development of individual or family service plans with goals, objectives and activities to meet individual client needs.  Meet with supervisor on a weekly basis to evaluate client status.
• Implements Family Service Plan and developmental screening tools under the general supervision of the Program Supervisor.

Minimum Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred. Related education, training, and experience maybe substituted for formal degree. 
• A solid understanding and experience in supervising diverse staff with humility as well as providing support to staff in stressful work environment.
• Experience in home visiting preferred.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• Infant mental health endorsement preferred.
• A valid Virginia driver’s permit and reliable transportation with appropriate insurance coverage. 

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of family dynamics, child development, and community resources.
• Knowledge of issues related to maternal-child health, infant mental healthily, and child abuse and neglect.
• Knowledge of community resources.

Skills:

• Demonstrated skill in interviewing and communicating with clients and professionals in the community
• Basic computer and word processing knowledge.
• Critical thinking, complex reasoning, and analytical Skills.
• Basic Math.
• Organization and time-management skills.
• Problem-solving, customer service and communication (oral, written, and listening) skills.
• Skilled in teaching parents to interact and meet the needs of their children, training others in agency on how to use curriculum, interventions, etc.

Abilities:  

• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse cultures, humility in successfully working with different background.
• Ability to plan effectively for client services.
• Willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision).
• Demonstrates accuracy and an understanding of confidentiality of client records and need for follow up on issues with other community professionals and clients.
• Must pass a criminal and Social Services background check.

Work Environment:

• Work is generally performed in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, family homes, and light traffic), requiring regular use of motor vehicles, mechanical, and/or technical equipment, and observing general surroundings and activities. Worker maybe exposed to extreme noise, irate clients, and to potentially dangerous people or situations.
• Work regularly requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions, frequently requires exposure to blood borne pathogens which may require the use of specialized personal protective equipment, and occasionally requires exposure to fumes, airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals.

Essential Physical Activities:

• Stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions, and depth perception. 
• Typical weight handled up to 25 lbs.

Salary : $42,000 - $44,000