"Community Outreach Worker"

Community Outreach Worker

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Job Description Summary

Cure Violence is a strategic evidence-based public health approach to reduce and prevent shootings and killings in areas with a high prevalence of gun violence. Skilled outreach workers are a key ingredient to the success of this initiative and are instrumental to facilitating both community norm change, and positive behavior change among high-risk individuals. For this initiative, outreach workers will implement the program with fidelity in concentrated areas of violence in West/Southwest Philadelphia. The Community Outreach Worker will obtain and provide case management for a caseload of 15-20 adults and young adults that are at high risk for violence, oversee the activities of street outreach and violence interruption as they work to detect and interrupt violence, mentor at-risk individuals towards prosocial paths and away from street violence and anti-social networks, change attitudes and social norms that promote violence in vulnerable communities. This position will plan and oversee community outreach events that occur in the neighborhoods targeted in the planning process. This is a grant-funded position until 2028, with possible extension. The duties of the Outreach Worker include working a set eight hour shift for a total of 40hrs weekly between 7am - 8pm, Monday - Friday, with weekends as needed.

This is a non-traditional work setting doing street outreach. It will require working in inclement weather and exposure to potential violent environments (school and community.

Valid PA Driver License required.

This is a Full-Time grant funded position with the Penn Injury Science Center's Penn Community Violence Prevention Initiative (PCVP).

Job Responsibilities

• Work individually and as a team to identify high-risk individuals.
• Provide frequent contact, support, and mentorship to a caseload of high-risk individuals and link them to opportunities and assistance programs in the community. Work closely with partnering schools and adhere to identified guidelines.
• Conduct outreach to the community (as a team member) to build strong relationships with residents, businesses, and community groups.
• Advocate for individuals through court testimonies, when necessary.
• Attend and assist in organizing community events and partnerships, including with schools.
• Timely documentation of all activities and prevented violence using designated tracking software to maintain accountability, support data reporting requirements, and facilitate presentations and publications.
• Work closely with other outreach workers, supervisors, managers, and directors internally to identify and diffuse 'hot spots' for violence and prioritize individuals with the highest need for intervention.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

High School Grad/GE Degree, and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Bachelor's degree preferred. Candidate must have at least one-year experience working with target population and experience or training in crisis intervention. Must have excellent communication skills (written and verbal). Proven community organizing abilities. Extensive knowledge of West/Southwest Philadelphia and other high-risk neighborhood. Proven ability to document programmatic activities. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Working knowledge of all applicable computer software.

Position contingent upon funding.