Outreach Worker Job at Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region in Albany

Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region is one of the area's leading social services organizations with a mission to promote healthy families, improving communities and providing education and employment, as a means to change generations. Founded in 1912 as a settlement house, Trinity is dedicated to the well-being and success of the Capital Region and of all our employees. By joining Trinity, you'll be joining one of the most respected organizations in the Capital Region and making a difference in people's lives every day.

Trinity is currently hiring a full-time Outreach Worker, within our 518 SNUG Program. SNUG is a strategic public health strategy to reduce and prevent shootings and killings in and around Albany and other communities with a high burden of homicide. Skilled outreach workers are a key ingredient to the success of this initiative.

What will you be doing as an Outreach Worker?

Stopping shootings by doing all that is required individually and, in a team, to prevent all shootings in the neighborhood assigned, including:

• Getting to know all the highest risk persons and the people who know them.
• Communicating to members of the community that SNUG is here to stop shootings and that they should inform the program when shootings or other violence might happen in order to intervene.
• Working to intervene in circumstances in which violence is likely, including possible retaliation.
• Working to understand why a shooting happened and to determine why it is that the team were not informed-developing strategies to be better informed the next time.
• Working to gain trust of the community and the highest risk persons so that they know why SNUG is present; namely to help prevent shootings and violence, and to help high-risk persons in any way possible.
• Calling for assistance when situations require it.
• Anticipate and be responsive to Outreach Supervisor's requests and needs.
• Continuously keep Outreach Supervisor informed as to what is going on (this includes: what is going right, what is going wrong and anticipating what might go wrong).
• Work as a member of a team- work together to ensure that shootings are reduced.
• Participate in all required training, planning and supervision sessions.
• Outreach to the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with youth, residents, businesses, and community groups.
• Identify youth who are gang members and those at-risk for joining gangs and intervening in their lives through case management to aid in solving current problems and preventing future ones.
• Serve as linkages and support for individuals to enhance their assistance and use of opportunities and programs in the community (job programs, GED, drug treatment, and mentoring).
• Advocate for youth through court testimonies, when necessary.
• Participate, as necessary, in organizing responses to shootings and increasing visibility when shootings/killings take place (developing networks with other outreach program workers to coordinate an inclusive and strategic response).
• Investigate causes of shootings/killings to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups (working with the community, outreach programs to gain information that may be helpful in preventing additional killings) and provide documentation.
• Identify and defuse "hot spots" for shootings and violence (conducting eyeball surveys with residents to identify areas frequented by potential offenders) and provide documentation.
• Document shootings and other acts of violence prevented.
• Respond to shootings in other communities, when necessary.
• Document detailed client case notes and other duties as assigned.

What are your skills and experience?

• Experience working with at-risk youth and gang members.
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience or training in crisis intervention
• Adherence to substance abuse policy.
• Knowledge of target communities
• Valid New York State driver's license, insurance, and good driving record

Salary: $27.47/hour

In addition to a competitive salary, you will enjoy many unique benefits, including 14 paid holidays, access to health insurance at the start of your first full month of employment. Plus, you'll immediately start accruing sick days and personal time the moment your employment begins. Trinity is devoted to our employees - and we want to see you succeed in your career.