Street Outreach
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Street Outreach
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICESGREATER ILLINOIS REIMAGINE VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICESPART-TIME STREET OUTREACH STAFF
Role and Responsibility: Part-time street outreach staff will be employed to mediate conflicts and prevent retaliatory violence between those who are at risk to commit or to become the victims of firearm violence. Street outreach workers will engage with high-risk individuals in a variety of settings, including parks, homes, street corners, community centers, schools, hospitals, etc. Street outreach efforts are typically conducted in the afternoons, evenings, or late at night. Staff will provide a high quality practical and emotional support to individuals impacted by street violence and deploy street outreach strategies through lived experience with target populations living in the community.
All project staff, including Street Outreach Staff, will ensure that programming is infused with trauma-informed principles that:• Recognize the high prevalence of traumatic experiences in persons residing and working in communities with a high concentration of firearm violence,• Include an understanding of the impact of trauma on staff and personnel working with individuals residing in these communities,• Include an understanding of the impact of trauma on brain development, physical and emotional health and the impact on the community and individuals living in the community,• Creates a safe space, provides support, and builds resiliency in individuals impacted by trauma.
Key outreach activities include:• Engagement and support of individuals and groups at highest risk of harming someone or being harmed by violence,• Reclaiming public spaces for safe activities,• Responding to critical incidents, such as shootings and homicides, to de-escalate tension and reduce/address threats of violence,• Supporting victims and their families by providing immediate basic needs services (food, clothing, etc. and providing/linking to necessary resources to address trauma, mental health, etc. to stabilize the individual/family,• Conducting proactive peace building activities such as restorative justice practices, event outings, and peace circles when applicable,• Mediating and resolving conflicts between street groups or individuals harmed by violence,• Making referrals for additional, non-emergency services and supports for the victim and family to preserve stability,• Carry a caseload with a maximum of 15 participants at any given time,• Maintain an activity log, outlining types and numbers of outreach activities conducted.
Outreach workers will be staffed to respond to shooting incidents 24 hours per day, seven days per week to receive notification of shooting incidents from the City of Rockford police department. Crisis staff must respond in person to the incident within one hour and document police department notifications, the time it was received, the response time, and the outcome.
Additionally all project staff will work with the Lead Street Outreach Staff to:• Work with the service area's Violence Prevention Coordinating Council (VPCC), formerly known as Local Advisory Council and other organizations providing violence prevention services to determine adequate coverage and response to shooting incidents referred by the police and through other reporting mechanisms.• Coordinate street outreach activities through geography, target populations, etc.• Participate in monthly and emergency meetings with other Reimagine Violence Prevention grantees/providers in the community to share knowledge and strategies of the neighborhood violence dynamic. Monthly and emergency meetings will be convened by the OFVP and/or each municipality's VPCC with the intent to facilitate a meaningful collaborative action planning across providers.• Accept and make referrals, when appropriate, to/from other Reimagine Violence Prevention, Youth Development, Youth Intervention, and Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health funded providers within each municipality.• Fully participate in community violence prevention coordination activities including but not limited to:o attending monthly and emergency meetingso sharing recommendations on how to reduce violent conflict in the neighborhoodo sharing knowledge of and strategies to address the community violence dynamic,o participate in available learning communities.
Required Experience/Qualifications:Thorough knowledge of how systemic racism and the disenfranchisement of persons living within the geographical areas carved out for the impact and purposes of this grant funded position. We would like to offer this position to those with lived experience. High School Diploma or GED not required but preferred. Additionally, preference given to candidates with experience in social/human services field with experience working in case management, community engagement, social service, grassroots organizations, or the equivalent. Training in multiple community areas will be provided with this position. Familiar and comfortable with the use of technology and programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs and email. Possession of a valid Illinois driver’s license.
Supervision Received Get Connected Part-time Outreach Staff will report to the Get Connected Lead Outreach Staff person.
Grant Funding Advisement:This position is 100% funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Gun Violent Prevention. Grant funding for the current grant period expires on June 30, 2024. Acceptance of this position shall not be construed as a guarantee of employment beyond the grant-funded period.
Role and Responsibility: Part-time street outreach staff will be employed to mediate conflicts and prevent retaliatory violence between those who are at risk to commit or to become the victims of firearm violence. Street outreach workers will engage with high-risk individuals in a variety of settings, including parks, homes, street corners, community centers, schools, hospitals, etc. Street outreach efforts are typically conducted in the afternoons, evenings, or late at night. Staff will provide a high quality practical and emotional support to individuals impacted by street violence and deploy street outreach strategies through lived experience with target populations living in the community.
All project staff, including Street Outreach Staff, will ensure that programming is infused with trauma-informed principles that:• Recognize the high prevalence of traumatic experiences in persons residing and working in communities with a high concentration of firearm violence,• Include an understanding of the impact of trauma on staff and personnel working with individuals residing in these communities,• Include an understanding of the impact of trauma on brain development, physical and emotional health and the impact on the community and individuals living in the community,• Creates a safe space, provides support, and builds resiliency in individuals impacted by trauma.
Key outreach activities include:• Engagement and support of individuals and groups at highest risk of harming someone or being harmed by violence,• Reclaiming public spaces for safe activities,• Responding to critical incidents, such as shootings and homicides, to de-escalate tension and reduce/address threats of violence,• Supporting victims and their families by providing immediate basic needs services (food, clothing, etc. and providing/linking to necessary resources to address trauma, mental health, etc. to stabilize the individual/family,• Conducting proactive peace building activities such as restorative justice practices, event outings, and peace circles when applicable,• Mediating and resolving conflicts between street groups or individuals harmed by violence,• Making referrals for additional, non-emergency services and supports for the victim and family to preserve stability,• Carry a caseload with a maximum of 15 participants at any given time,• Maintain an activity log, outlining types and numbers of outreach activities conducted.
Outreach workers will be staffed to respond to shooting incidents 24 hours per day, seven days per week to receive notification of shooting incidents from the City of Rockford police department. Crisis staff must respond in person to the incident within one hour and document police department notifications, the time it was received, the response time, and the outcome.
Additionally all project staff will work with the Lead Street Outreach Staff to:• Work with the service area's Violence Prevention Coordinating Council (VPCC), formerly known as Local Advisory Council and other organizations providing violence prevention services to determine adequate coverage and response to shooting incidents referred by the police and through other reporting mechanisms.• Coordinate street outreach activities through geography, target populations, etc.• Participate in monthly and emergency meetings with other Reimagine Violence Prevention grantees/providers in the community to share knowledge and strategies of the neighborhood violence dynamic. Monthly and emergency meetings will be convened by the OFVP and/or each municipality's VPCC with the intent to facilitate a meaningful collaborative action planning across providers.• Accept and make referrals, when appropriate, to/from other Reimagine Violence Prevention, Youth Development, Youth Intervention, and Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health funded providers within each municipality.• Fully participate in community violence prevention coordination activities including but not limited to:o attending monthly and emergency meetingso sharing recommendations on how to reduce violent conflict in the neighborhoodo sharing knowledge of and strategies to address the community violence dynamic,o participate in available learning communities.
Required Experience/Qualifications:Thorough knowledge of how systemic racism and the disenfranchisement of persons living within the geographical areas carved out for the impact and purposes of this grant funded position. We would like to offer this position to those with lived experience. High School Diploma or GED not required but preferred. Additionally, preference given to candidates with experience in social/human services field with experience working in case management, community engagement, social service, grassroots organizations, or the equivalent. Training in multiple community areas will be provided with this position. Familiar and comfortable with the use of technology and programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs and email. Possession of a valid Illinois driver’s license.
Supervision Received Get Connected Part-time Outreach Staff will report to the Get Connected Lead Outreach Staff person.
Grant Funding Advisement:This position is 100% funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Gun Violent Prevention. Grant funding for the current grant period expires on June 30, 2024. Acceptance of this position shall not be construed as a guarantee of employment beyond the grant-funded period.