Outreach Worker Job at Roseland Ceasefire Project Inc in Calumet Park

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

Roseland Ceasefire has over 13 years of experience in delivering services to the far south Chicago and South Suburban Cook County. RCF has been instrumental in developing a Stop The Violence Campaign through safe and thriving communities. Our experience with restorative justice has been with our re-entry program, referrals for victims of trauma, group counseling with victims, perpetrators and their families bringing them together to discuss their feelings on how to heal the community after violent incidents.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The Outreach Worker operates as a part of a Neighborhood Safety Team that includes other outreach workers, case managers, and community engagement/safe spaces staff.

The Outreach Worker works to gain trust of the community and the highest risk individuals to help prevent shootings and retaliatory violence, and to provide linkages and robust accompaniment to pro-social alternatives including activities, jobs, education, case management, and social services. As a member of a team, the Outreach Worker is responsible for reaching out to the highest risk individuals in the community and working with them to prevent violence by

· Mediating conflicts

· Modeling pro-social behaviors

· Engaging them in positive activities and accompaniment through the case management process.

Client Outreach:

 Work with outreach colleagues and supervisor to identify potential participants who are the highest risk individuals, and the people who know them.

 Carry a caseload of 7 high-risk clients;

 Develop and maintain supportive and effective relationships with client caseload;

 Work to intervene in circumstances in which violence is likely, including possible retaliation;  Work to understand why a shooting happened, including developing strategies to be better informed to help prevent future escalation of conflicts;

 Work as a member of a team, communicating all relevant information to team members and supervisors instantly;

 Ensure that information about potential participants is clearly identified and communicated to relevant staff and Outreach Supervisor;

 Develop and deliver one-to-one support sessions and facilitate circles with clients to support participants in resolving conflicts and adopting pro-social behaviors.

 Provide linkages and support for individuals to enhance their use of opportunities and programs in the community (job programs, GED, drug treatment, mentoring, etc.)

 Provide client accompaniment to court, social services, etc.

 Violence Prevention Services/Shooting responses

 Participate, as necessary, in organizing responses to shootings and increasing visibility when shootings/killings take place (developing networks with other outreach programs to coordinate an inclusive and strategic response);

 Investigate causes of shootings/killings to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups and provide documentation;

 Identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence (conducting line of sight surveys with residents and key stakeholders to identify areas frequented by high-risk clients) and provide documentation;

 Strategize with outreach team and supervisor to develop ongoing strategies to respond to conflicts and violence, noting important anniversary dates or other key events.

 Community Outreach, through various canvasing activities.

 Outreach to the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with youth, residents, businesses, and community groups; ·

 Work closely with referring partners and any other stakeholders to ensure that goals are met;

 Maintain positive relationships with stakeholders;

 Respond to shootings in other communities, when necessary, working with relevant outreach programs.

 Meetings & Documentation

 Attend weekly staff meetings; meet with supervisor as needed;

 Document shootings and other acts of violence prevented and conflicts mediated;

 Document all shootings and retaliations;

 Document detailed client case notes and other items as assigned;

 Participate in all mandatory trainings and undertake any training and professional development as and when required to ensure effective work

 This position is subject to additional responsibilities and program engagement activities as needed to meet the program needs

· Job Skills and Requirements

 Firsthand knowledge of the community

 Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;

 Ability to work one-on-one and in groups with high-risk individuals to resolve conflicts and promote pro-social behaviors;

 Willingness to work on the street and in other unstructured situations;

 Willing to work on call, late nights and on weekends;

 Firsthand knowledge of the community and knowledge of current street conflicts required.

 Familiarity with computers such that employee can complete required research, data entry; tasks, communicate via email, and complete basic word processing tasks as needed;

 Experience with or training in crisis intervention, restorative justice practices, or trauma-informed

 Emotional maturity; good judgment; integrity; tolerance of differing points of view and beliefs; commitment to nonviolence.

 Must have a working cell phone at all times

Qualifications:

 High School Diploma/GED required. Bachelor’s degree preferred or significant experience  Working with high-risk, street-involved individuals

 Firsthand knowledge of the community and knowledge of current street conflicts required  Experience or training in crisis intervention preferred

 Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma informed practices

 Experience working on a team

 No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic Violence  Valid Illinois driver’s license, insurance, and good driving record

 Passing a drug test