Community Outreach Specialist

Company Description UPLIFT Drug-Free Coalitions is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for youth and families by preventing youth substance use and promoting healthy choices. The organization reduces youth substance abuse through youth substance misuse prevention programs, youth-focused awareness events, social marketing strategies, training for law enforcement, underage drinking prevention, educating on illicit drug trends (including Fentanyl), overdose awareness/response, recovery resources and addiction treatment advocacy. UPLIFT builds strong partnerships among community members, parents, youths, nonprofit agencies, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, governmental agencies, and local businesses to coordinate community-wide prevention efforts. Through this collaboration, UPLIFT seeks long-term, positive outcomes for young people and their families. UPLIFT is accredited by COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, reflecting its commitment to quality and accountability.

I.    Position Concept:

This position: Will coordinate and facilitate community-based services throughout Osceola County, FL. Serves as a point of contact for stakeholders, facilitating ongoing communication with their respective leads. Coordinates, implements, and/or creates substance misuse prevention and intervention programming with appropriate community partners. Develops and implements strategies in line with UPLIFT’s chosen substance misuse prevention initiatives, while also providing support as needed to other UPLIFT program regions. The goal is to promote and advance UPLIFT’s substance misuse prevention strategies at a community level.

II.     Essential Functions:

·      Develop and execute effective outreach strategies for youths and families. 

·      Developing and implementing materials that effectively deliver the “I Choose ME”, “Better Without It, and Move Into Light (or other management-approved) substance misuse prevention initiatives messaging to the public while ensuring model integrity and contractual compliance.

·      Administer surveys, pre/post assessments and other evaluation tools as required for tracking outcome measures.

·      Attending and presenting at community events to increase visibility within the community for UPLIFT as well as assisting in setting up and break down of those events.

·      Facilitate summer program services at designated sites, as well as prepare activity plans and document attendance.

·      Plan, prepare, deliver, and direct instructional activities related to substance misuse prevention that actively engage youths, parents, families, or people in family/youth-serving fields in meaningful and relevant learning experiences, including opportunities to apply higher-order thinking skills and investigate new approaches to learning application, including methods based on positive youth development (PYD).

·      Follow up on new leads and referrals resulting from outreach activity in a timely fashion.

·      Establishes and maintains positive and productive working relationships with community stakeholders, leveraging these relationships to enhance the promotion of UPLIFT’s substance misuse prevention initiatives as well as support UPLIFT’s fundraising efforts.

·      If a Lead Community Outreach Specialist, assist supervisor/program manager in designing and maintaining culturally sensitive prevention services, taking the lead on initiatives, programs, and activities in the absence of the Program Manager as well as coaching other Community Outreach Specialist staff.

III.  Other Duties Include, But Not Limited To:

·      Participate in required Company training and development activities.

·      Actively participate in the local opioid abuse task force initiative of the substance abuse prevention coalition. Attend and actively participate in local community coalition meetings, events, and contract requirements along with other local related collaborations.

·      Provide input into ordering necessary materials, supplies, and equipment in sufficient numbers to support the substance misuse prevention program and implement its plans for improvement.

·      Report any acts, incidents or conditions that reflect the possibility of inappropriate participant-to-participant or staff-to-participant relationships as per UPLIFT policy.

·      Adhere to safe practices and ensure safe practice by reporting any acts, incidents, or conditions that reflect the possibility of inappropriate youth-to-youth, adult-to-adult, staff-to-youth, or other adult-to-youth relationships and any use of physical force and all unusual incidents per UPLIFT and governing authority’s guidelines.

·      Ensure compliance regarding agency funder requirements including: Federal Block Grant Standards reporting and requirements; Department of Children and Families Substance Abuse License; Managing Entity contract language, reporting requirements and program outcomes; and adherence to state and federal laws related to confidentiality.

·      Maintain an understanding of substance misuse/abuse prevention Institute of Medicine (IOM) targets (Universal Indirect, Universal Direct, Selective and Indicated), with emphasis on Universal Indirect.

·      Participate in a continuous program of professional development that supports achievement of the program’s improvement goals as well as meets contractual obligations/requirements for UPLIFT.

·      Complete necessary and required background screening and trainings assigned by UPLIFT.

·      Perform other duties as assigned.

IV.  Position Specifications:

Education: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required

Experience: Experience with youth in school or community environments is required. Experience in delivering community outreach work. Experience working with families and youth in a supportive and developmental capacity. Experience in networking and cultivating professional and community relationships. Having been directly or indirectly impacted by the opioid crisis or substance misuse is preferred.

Skills: Willingness to share skills, knowledge, and expertise. Demonstrates a positive attitude and acts as a positive role model, good verbal and written communication, self-motivation, resourceful, creative, collaborative, interpersonal skills, flexible, objective, problem solving, decision making, organization, planning and critical judgment skills.

Public speaking, appropriate business telephone skills/etiquette, interviewing skills, supports diversity, and results driven. Ability to proficiently use technology and learn new applications including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Publisher, etc.), as well as Google Workspace and its affiliated products/tools. Analytical skills, ability to type proficiently; set-up and maintain filing systems; learn quickly, work independently, exercise sound judgment with minimal supervision; interact effectively with diverse group of stakeholders and staff; maintain working knowledge of policies and practices; multi-task effectively; and strong organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines with a strong customer service orientation required.

Other: Must meet state criminal background check requirements, must possess ability to pass a drug test. Must be willing to work flexible hours which may include some weekends, but not to exceed 40 hours per week.

Travel: Must be able to meet requirements for Company’s auto insurance and be able to drive employee’s own car for business purposes. Must have and maintain an appropriate and valid state driver's license. Travel may be up to 30% each month but may exceed at certain times. Travel may include weekly offsite work, special events and training out of town.

Physical Demands: Requires extended periods of walking/sitting/standing. Depending on the assigned program/facility, position may also occasionally expose incumbent to working outdoors for extended periods of time, and exposure to the elements. Employee may occasionally need to lift/move up to 40 pounds.

(UPLIFT is the dba for Brevard Prevention Coalition, Inc.)

UPLIFT Drug-Free Coalitions is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military status, status as a protected veteran, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

UPLIFT Drug-Free Coalitions is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at hr@uplifters.org.