About the Company

American GI Forum - National Veterans Outreach Program is a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to establish and maintain a comprehensive community service agency with a diversified funding source serving the needs of Veterans, their families, and other individuals of the community who are in need. Our goal is to establish innovative programs of service for the contemporary needs, through an expansion and growth policy that will seek complimentary services that will generate self-sustaining mechanisms for the organization.

SUMMARY

This position promotes socialization, recovery, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, and maintenance of skills learned in other support services. The Peer/Outreach Navigator serves as an advocate for and on behalf of clients' rights and benefits. The Peer/Outreach Navigator will meet with veterans either by phone or in person for direct peer counseling sessions. The Peer/Outreach Navigator is a highly trained, street outreach individual who is familiar with the community and creates awareness of the program. Their function is to attract eligible Veterans to the program and assist with locating other programs specific to the individual’s needs. The Peer/Outreach Navigator (PON) will assist the veteran in areas of need within the community environment based on a recovery model. This position will conduct groups based on living skill needs. The PON will complete all needed documentation to support the conversation or activity with the veteran. The PON will support the VFWP by going to outreach events and promoting wellness among veterans.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

NOTE: These job duties are not all-encompassing of the responsibilities and duties (or other terms) that are required of the employee and may change at any time with or without notice.

• Assisting and coaching individuals throughout the recovery process post trauma, helping them gain skills, access resources, and regain the confidence to function in society.
• Facilitate group sessions in an open and welcoming environment.
• Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities and provide other opportunities to practice social skills.
• When appropriate, provide direct peer counseling based on own lived experiences with mental illness and recovery.
• Help participants understand and employ recovery strategies.
• To provide training in the use of personal and community resources.
• Link clients to other external sources of help, when needed.
• Assist the person served in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends and/or significant others.
• To advocate on behalf of persons with behavioral health problems to protect the client’s rights and to assist in reducing associated stigma.
• Attend Agency staff meetings, Case Conferences and Individual and Group Supervision.
• Participate in staff training and development.
• Responsible for achieving the goals assigned and must be prepared to provide corrective action plans for the same upon request from the supervisors.
• May participate in preparing documents, reports, literature, or presentations.
• Must understand the nuances of the veterans’ community and are expected to always demonstrate sensitivity and patience with the clients.
• Confidentiality of client information, donors, team members and the AGIF-NVOP.
• Responsible for being sensitive to the needs of program participants and must always treat clients with respect and professional care.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have a Peer Support Certificate or willing to obtain one in the first 30 days of employment required.
• Must have lived experience in the military and other life events required.
• Credentialed social worker or any licensed mental health provider (LMHP) or counselor with proof of completed military cultural competency (MCC) training preferred; or
• Credentialed pastoral counselor with proof of completed military cultural competency (MCC) training preferred.
• Experience collaborating directly with people in a service-oriented field preferred.
• Awareness of the importance of recovery in living with a mental illness or addictions problem.
• HIPPA certified
• CPR certified
• Must have access to reliable transportation
• Must have a current, valid Texas driver’s license at all times
• Must always have applicable automobile liability insurance
• Must pass drug testing and background check
• All personnel of the organization must be bondable

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and policies regarding social service provision, reporting requirements, data practices and client rights (i.e., HIPAA).
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural differences and special needs of various marginalized groups, and ability to consult with other providers regarding these.
• Familiarity with the Bexar County community.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional work relationships and therapeutic, supportive relationships with clients.
• Proficient and accurate in data entry.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology
• Ability to prioritize workload and meet strict deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare and write reports, summaries of work/work projects.
• Strong personal motivation with ability to work with little supervision and attention to detail while working in a deadline driven environment.
• Ability to think creatively, highly driven, self-motivated, highly organized.
• Utilization of general office equipment (i.e., scanner, fax machine, etc.)
• Computer literate in using Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

BENEFITS

• Retirement Program
  • Employer matching
• $500 monthly allowance company-provided for:
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 12 hours (monthly) of PTO (after completed probationary period)
• 14 Paid Holidays
• 5% salary increase after completing probationary period

It is the policy of the Company to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that protects applicants and employees from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training classification and other aspects of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, (including pregnancy), disability, age, national origin and genetics. It’s also the policy of the Company to hire individuals solely upon the basis of their qualifications and ability to do the job to be filled. The American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program (NVOP) is committed to assuring equal opportunity and equal access to services, programs and activities for individuals with disabilities. It is the policy of NVOP to provide reasonable accommodation to a qualified individual with disabilities to enable such individual to perform the essential functions of the position for which the individual is applying and for which the individual is employed.Additionally, it is the policy of the NVOP to provide reasonable accommodation for religious observers. The policy applies to all employment practices and actions. It includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, job application process, examination and testing, hiring, training, disciplinary actions, rate of pay or other compensation, advancement, classification, transfer, reassignment and promotions.