Community Outreach Worker in Bennington, Vermont at United Counseling Service of Bennington County Inc

The Community Outreach and Engagement Worker is responsible for providing community outreach, engagement, and retention support services to individuals experiencing substance use disorders. The position supports and strengthens implementation of community referral pathways to increase treatment engagement, retention, and recovery outcomes.

This position is designed to support underserved and high-risk populations with lower interaction with Vermont’s system of care, including individuals involved in the criminal justice system, individuals experiencing homelessness, and persons with co-occurring disorders. The Community Outreach and Engagement Worker will report to Assistant Director of Outpatient Services. The Community Outreach Worker will work collaboratively with UCS’s SUD Case Manager, Same Day Access Teams, UCS Emergency Services, and other members of the Outpatient program. The Community Outreach Worker will at a minimum attend local, regional, and state partner stakeholder meetings; scheduled and organize community partner and stakeholder meetings, represent UCS for the purpose of raising awareness both directly and indirectly of services available to individuals with substance use disorders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Outreach and Community Engagement

• Conduct outreach activities in community settings including shelters, police barracks, social service agencies, recovery centers, healthcare settings, and other community locations.
• Develop and maintain collaborative referral relationships with community organizations and service providers.
• Engage prospective clients and assist individuals and families in accessing treatment and recovery supports.
• Identify and reduce barriers to treatment engagement and continuity of care.
• Provide assertive outreach to individuals who miss appointments or disengage from services.
• Support successful transitions between levels of care and recovery support services.

Client Engagement and Care Coordination

• Provide outreach, engagement, and support services to individuals seeking or in need of SUD treatment and recovery services.
• Interest/proficiency in working with individuals recently released from incarceration, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other marginalized populations.
• Educate clients on available treatment and recovery options, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, peer recovery supports, and harm reduction services.
• Utilize motivational interviewing and trauma-informed approaches to engage clients in a respectful, culturally responsive, and nonjudgmental manner.
• Assist clients with accessing services including primary care, mental health treatment, social services, insurance resources, housing supports, transportation, employment services, community supports and residential treatment programs.
• Coordinate referrals and facilitate timely access to treatment and follow-up care with internal teams and community providers.
• Maintain ongoing communication with clients through phone, text, email, or in-person contact to encourage engagement in treatment and reduce barriers to care.
• Coordinate with clinicians, case managers, probation/parole staff, hospitals, recovery coaches, and other providers.
• Support client engagement in treatment planning and recovery goals.
• Provide advocacy and recovery-oriented support services.

Documentation and Record Keeping

• Complete documentation in a timely, accurate, and professional manner in accordance with agency standards.
• Utilize electronic health record systems, including My Avatar, for client documentation and reporting requirements.
• Maintain program data and assist with collecting and reporting required program metrics and outcomes.
• Maintain confidentiality of all client, agency, and program information in accordance with HIPAA and agency policies.
• Assist with maintaining and updating community resource directories and public-facing program information as assigned.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation in accordance with agency, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements.
• Collect and report program outcome data including outreach contacts, engagement efforts, retention activities, and contingency management participation.
• Assist with quarterly grant reporting and performance measure tracking.

Team Participation and Administrative Responsibilities

• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, training, and interdisciplinary care coordination activities.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external providers to improve continuity of care and client outcomes.

Support agency access and intake functions as requested.

• Participate in professional development activities and maintain knowledge of current best practices in substance use disorder treatment and recovery services.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS / EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

COMPUTER SKILLS (1):

Proficiency is required in a Windows Operating System to include competency in Microsoft Office programs Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Additionally, proficiency is required with day-to-day information entry and retrieval in the Agency’s electronic medical record system, employee electronic expense tracking system, and electronic payroll self-entry system.

LANGUAGE SKILLS (2):

Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats with clients, staff, community partners, and stakeholders. Ability to respond to common inquiries, concerns, or complaints from clients, regulatory agencies, and members of the public. Ability to prepare clinical documentation, reports, and professional communications related to complex or sensitive topics.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE (3):

• Minimum of Associate degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Health Sciences with background in substance use disorders.
• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance.