Outreach Associate Jobs in Independence, MO (NOW HIRING)

If you're looking to do truly life-changing work, consider joining our team! Synergy Services employs compassionate individuals committed to strengthening people, families, and our community through prevention, crisis care, shelter, counseling, advocacy, and education. Before you apply, take a few minutes to visit our Employment Page to explore all of our current opportunities, watch our recruitment video, and get a feel for the culture, mission, and people that make Synergy Services such a rewarding place to work: https://www.synergyservices.org/about-us/employment/
Position: Youth Street Outreach Specialist
Program: Street Outreach
Status: Full-Time, Hourly
Description:
The Street Outreach (SOS) team provides community-based outreach and case management to homeless youth throughout Greater Kansas City. The team provides basic necessities and assists the young person in reaching educational, vocational and housing goals.
Provides a continuum of services, opportunities and supports for runaway, homeless, and street youth up to age 21 in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Youth will be provided services, opportunities and supports including but not limited to assistance with meeting medical and dental needs, housing such as shelter and transitional living programs, educational materials, counseling, referrals, and transportation to appointments. Will provide youth basic necessities such as bottled water, blankets, first aid kits, snacks, and some clothing. Promotes the program in the community, at events and in groups for youth. Will provide youth chances for exploration, practice, reflection, expression, creativity, group membership, and contribution & service through the arts, recreation and education. This advocate will also be the point person and transportation for Youth 4 Change KC groups, and Transformation groups (a total of 4 monthly meetings).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

• Responds to hotline calls from street youth.
• Coordinates resources and services for street youth.
• Ability to assess environmental safety and situational danger while implementing safety protocol.
• Plan and conduct groups, activities and workshops to teens on Synergy's Youth Campus and in the community (e.g. youth-serving agencies, libraries, schools, etc.)
• Carry on-call cell phone for on-call rotation for the Safe Place Program.
• Participates in required staff development training and staff meetings.
• Attends community youth oriented agency meetings.
• Performs presentations to schools, youth-serving agencies, libraries in the community.
• Documents and follows all protocol per the Street Outreach Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), completing all logs and paperwork required for the program. Must be organized and have excellent follow-through with paperwork and requirements.
• Meets multiple times per week with youth on the street at designated locations to establish rapport.
• Assist youth in locating assistance for shelter/housing, medical needs, clothing needs, resources, food, etc. Must possess broad knowledge of community resources.
• Facilitates transporting youth to appointments, group, or shelter.
• Sorts and maintains organization of all donations and Street Outreach supplies.
• Maintains all daily contact and logs and chart order for youth.
• Must have good attendance for shift, meetings and be able to keep appointments on time.
• Practices expected follow-up on requests, tasks, client needs.
• Initiates needed tasks for completion.
• Maintains client confidentiality and professionalism.
• Networks with community and other organizations for resources.
• Communicates consistently and regularly with Manager, other agency and community staff.
• Be able and willing to work in all types of weather conditions.
• Participation in Performance and Quality Improvement activity is required by each employee.
• Serves as point person and transportation for Youth 4 Change KC and Transformations.
• Provides groups and tabling on nights and weekends as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Associate's degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. An Art and/or Recreation background in curricula, program planning and implementation experience is preferred. Bachelor's degree in social services field preferred and/or Youth Development/Human Services Certification. Prefers experience in working with street youth.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
The employee in this position must have CPR/First Aid Certification, and have a valid Class E Drivers license.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
The employee must be able to use general office equipment, type and perform Data Entry/10 key, and have the ability to use computer software, including Windows, Word for Windows, and Access.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Must be able to walk long distances, be able to withstand and work or adjust activities in varied weather conditions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.
Must have ability to work a flexible schedule when needed/requested and meet all on-call rotation responsibilities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes, airborne particles, or communicable diseases. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to the risk of violence and secondary trauma.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be at least 20 years of age, pass a background check and Family Care Safety Registry screening, fingerprint screen, drug screen, physical and have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. Position requires CPR, Med Tech Certification and Chauffeur's License within 30 days from the date of hire.
Non-Discrimination:
Synergy Services is an EEO employer. We firmly support the principle and philosophy of equal employment for all individuals, regardless of age, race/ethnicity, religious creed, ancestry, color, sex, disability (including pregnancy), national origin, marital status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic testing and screening information, covered veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local laws.
Benefits:
All full-time positions are eligible for generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid vacation and holidays, sick days and personal holidays and a 401K Plan with Employer Match. Some regular part-time positions are eligible for partial benefits.
Synergy Services is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of belonging and representation. We feel our staff, interns, and volunteers are among our most valuable assets. We embrace and encourage the differences in life experiences, knowledge, self-expression and unique capabilities that our staff, interns and volunteers bring to their work at Synergy. These aspects strengthen our agency, community, and our work with clients.