Outreach Worker

Job Details: Job Location: SRP 2 [Bronx] - Bronx, NY, Position Type: Full-Time Non-Exempt, Salary Range: $27.48 - $27.48Hourly, Title: Outreach Worker/Bronx Intake Worker

Unit: Court Advocacy

Reports to: Director of Community Outreach

Status: Full-Time; Regular; Non-Exempt

Salary Range: $27.48 per hour (approximately $50,000 annually)

Location: Hybrid; 29-76 Northern Blvd, LIC, NY 11101 (Queens service center location), 3230 3rd Avenue, BX, NY, 10451 (Bronx service center location), 625 West 140th Street, New York, NY 10031 (Manhattan service center location), plus various probation locations across the four boroughs; 265 E. 161st Street, Bronx, NY, 10451

Days/Hours: 9AM – 5PM

This position is represented by OPEIU Local 153

Organization Overview

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for almost 60 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with over $100 million in annual budget with approximately 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, an arts program, lifetime aftercare, policy and advocacy through our David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, and research through our Center for Research, Inquiry and Social Justice. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 20,000 people a year. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

Position Summary

Responsible for successfully conducting outreach (including disseminating outreach materials) at a variety of community-based and government agencies throughout the five boroughs.

This position will also be working alongside both judicial and non-judicial members of the Bronx Criminal Court (BCC) and will be responsible for screening women at the point of arraignment to identify those in need of mental health services and/or treatment as well as those who may be victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and/or domestic or sexual violence, and connecting them to problem solving court and services as appropriate.

Core Competencies

Mission and Fit

Embodies Fortune’s mission and contributes effectively to advancing it. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Attention to Detail

The Outreach/Bronx Intake Worker must demonstrate competency to develop systems and processes to organize and keep track of information or work progress; is routinely conscientious, thorough, accurate and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; and recognizes trends, detects inconsistencies, and determines essential details.

Collaboration

The Outreach/Bronx Intake Worker must collaborate and coordinate with Fortune staff and stakeholders to provide support to participants in need of more intensive services. Additionally, the Outreach Worker must collaborate with external partners (NYSDOCCS/Parole, Department of Probation) in linking referrals to wraparound services at the Fortune Society

Case Management

The Outreach/Bronx Intake Worker should have experience providing individualized case management services, including needs assessment, service planning, and resource linkage for diverse populations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Present on Fortune’s wrap-around services at a variety of community-based and government agencies and at forums including health fairs, community events, farmer’s markets, etc.;

Handout printed materials to individuals and groups at presentations;

Liaise with referral sources, promoting Fortune services;

Accept and engage with new client referrals;

Connect incoming clients with Fortune’s wrap-around services, including linkages to benefits such as SNAP;

Conduct screenings of women arraigned in the Bronx Criminal Court (BCC) to identify potential participants so their case(s) may be referred to the appropriate problem-solving court for further screening and assessment;

Flag the cases of those women who are appropriate candidates for a mental health court, human trafficking intervention court, drug court, or other problem-solving court;

Serve as a resource for judges and court personnel in the BCC on questions related to mental health services and treatment for women;

Serve as a liaison between the BCC and Bronx problem-solving courts;

Follow a weekly field schedule and provide daily and accurate reports of areas covered;

Find/research outside organizations to network within order to schedule presentations;

Maintain electronic and hard copy filing system;

Attend and participate in scheduled staff activities, meetings and trainings;

Engage in his/her own ongoing professional development;

Complete Data Entry and ensure detailed documentation is completed correctly;

Perform other duties or tasks as assigned.

Qualifications: Qualifications

Ability to obtain and maintain required clearance and access to New York State court facilities, including an Office of Court Administration Secure Pass where applicable as per contractual obligations;

High school diploma/equivalent and/or some college preferred;

Bilingual in Spanish a plus;

Able to work effectively both independently and collaboratively;

Must be team player and work colleagues to address programmatic challenges as they arise;

Clear and concise communication skills, verbal and written;

Strong Time Management Skills;

Strong Microsoft Office and database entry skills;

Strong computer skills, text messaging, e-mailing and internet navigation.

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Travel Requirements

Travel as required (with printed material) to conduct outreach throughout the five boroughs AND working out of our main office, Long Island City.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.