Outreach Worker - Cayuga Centers

Cayuga Centers is hiring immediately for an Outreach Worker in the Treasure Coast & Okeechobee Counties!

Earn $48,000/annually

Location: Treasure Coast & Okeechobee Counties (Florida)

About Cayuga Centers

Cayuga Centers is an accredited non-profit, human services agency dedicated to family support and preservation, trauma-informed care, and serving vulnerable populations with the most unique needs. Founded in 1852 in Auburn, NY, we have a long history of delivering high-quality and innovative services to individuals, children, youth and families. We have offices in 10 cities and serve over 10,000 individuals and families annually. Join us!

At Cayuga Centers, we embrace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). We do this by taking a firm stance against hatred, inequality, bias, and injustice. We do this by providing our staff with the training, coaching, and resources necessary to grow and serve with cultural humility, acceptance, and understanding. We are responsive to the diverse needs of those we serve and staff, and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels respected, valued, and a sense of belonging.

Cayuga Centers is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee, prospective employee, or applicant based on race, color, creed, hair style/texture, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.

About the Program and Position:

IGNITE Youth Alliance is a mentoring program in partnership with more than 30 other community partner agencies, providing services and opportunities for youth involved in or at high risk for being involved in gangs, high-risk street activities, and community violence. Our strategies include intervention, prevention, and mental health activities to address violence in Treasure Coast and Okeechobee Counties.

IGNITE Youth Alliance is based on a national anti-violence model developed by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and supported by the National Gang Center. The program's goal is to reduce gang-related crime, risky behavior, and victimization and increase prosocial skills by providing alternatives and opportunities for youth.

The Outreach Worker reaches youth who are involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in, street violence and gangs. This position is responsible for providing street outreach services to youth, community members and families with the goal of reducing risky behavior and encouraging and engaging in positive prosocial activities.

How you get to use your skills…

• Assess referred families’ assets and needs through a non-diagnostic interview process, and work with the family to create short, intermediate, and long-term goals.

• Create a plan of action to address immediate needs, mitigate barriers to school engagement, and work toward self-identified goals.

• Maintain appropriate records and data regarding contacts, family engagement, progress toward goals, and other relevant information.

• Develop trusting relationships with families by meeting regularly in the home, community, and school settings.

• Utilize a solutions-focused approach to help families identify assets and strengths and leverage them to solve problems.

• Refer and connect families to appropriate community resources that can address their specific needs.

• Communicate with direct service providers to ensure appropriate referrals, monitor family progress, and help the family coordinate services.

• Collaborate with school-based staff to understand students’ needs, monitor student progress, and foster effective communication between school and family.

• Support families in developing school-to-home linkages, engaging with the school community, and effective communication with school staff.

• Assist with planning, organizing, setting up, and facilitating events and activities that offer opportunities to deepen bonds within families and build peer networks between families.

• Transport families, when necessary, to increase participation and engagement.

• Collaborate with intervention team members to identify and/or develop learning opportunities for families to increase knowledge and skills related to supporting youths’ success, effectively communicating with schools, and other service providers to ensure and stabilize social determinants of health.

Schedule: Exempt

Looking for an applicant who is willing to work with the youth at a time that suits the youth's needs on a flexible schedule. This is a full-time, 40-hour-a-week position that includes evening and weekend hours.

• High School Diploma and 1-2 years of experience working with at-risk youth, young adults, and gang members, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Knowledge of gangs and gang culture.

• Familiarity with the ethnic culture of the target population.

• Knowledge of local agencies’ programs and services (schools, social services, law enforcement, courts/corrections), local units of government, and grassroots organizations.

• Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Work effectively with agency staff and service providers and with gang members and their family members.

• Work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.

• Clearly communicate ideas in both written and verbal form.

• Understand and relate to the needs of project participants of diverse ethnic, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Operate a computer to enter data, write descriptions of client interactions for project recordkeeping, maintain records, and generate reports.

• Network effectively with various types of organizations, including government agencies, law enforcement agencies, schools, social service agencies, courts/probation/corrections, and grassroots organizations.

• Work effectively with community residents, diverse population groups, and youth.

• Exercise judgment regarding appropriate information sharing, confidentiality requirements, and human relations.

• Prioritize tasks and work independently in the absence of supervision.

• Ability to motivate and coach clients toward desired behavioral changes.

• Problem-solving and crisis/conflict management skills.

• Valid Florida Driver’s License - required

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to drive and operate a motor vehicle with passengers for at least four consecutive hours

• Ability to participate in physical activities with program youth, including running, jumping, bending, and twisting

• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods

• Ability to walk up and down stairs repeatedly

• 120 hours of Vacation

• 10 Holidays, 3 Personal Days, Medical Appointment Time

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Pet and Legal Insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• FSA, Transit, and Parking savings accounts

• Supplemental life insurance, critical illness, enhanced short-term disability benefits

• 401(k) match up to 6%

• Corporate Discounts Program

• Sick Leave Pool

• Identity Protection