Youth Outreach Worker

S.H.I.F.T (Support and Hope for Individuals and Families Today) -Outreach Program is a street and community outreach program that connects unsheltered individuals, couples, and families to urgently needed services, supports and treatment. It also provides emergency assistance to those at-risk of homelessness as well as those that are experiencing food insecurity (housed or otherwise).

The Outreach Program follows a housing-focused, harm reduction, trauma-informed street outreach service delivery model, working towards preventing homelessness by assisting unsheltered individuals, couples, and families to access and navigate urgently needed supports and services. The program provides supplies to meet the basic needs of identified individuals experiencing homelessness, at-risk of homelessness and/or experiencing food insecurity throughout South Simcoe.

The Youth Outreach Worker reaches youth (aged 16-24) directly where they are at, employing harm reduction strategies to engage and encourage participants to access appropriate referrals, while providing for their basic needs, including food and necessary items for self-care. This may include provision of warm and/or frozen meals, sandwiches, personal hygiene items and supplies, blankets, clothing and footwear, seasonally appropriate items, and support accessing local services.

The Youth Outreach Worker works in collaboration with the general Outreach Program staff. The Outreach Program operates 7 days per week, with the Youth Outreach Worker working 3 days a week. Locations/scheduled stops take into consideration the need within each of the communities that make up South Simcoe. The Youth Outreach Worker will work as part of a team of two, or more, individuals during all interactions with participants. The team will visit identified and referred individuals and/or perform outreach expeditions, throughout South Simcoe and the surrounding communities, to provide food, clothing, harm reduction materials, toiletries, and basic needs items as well as blankets, and seasonally appropriate materials. Where approved, the Youth Outreach Worker my perform presentations and provide supports at local high schools, often in partnership with other agencies. In addition, the Youth Outreach Worker will work to build collaborative relationships with local service providers to foster appropriate referrals and engagement with youth living in South Simcoe.

The Youth Outreach Worker works under the direction and supervision of the S.H.I.F.T Outreach Coordinator and Executive Director. The Youth Outreach Worker will complete tasks required for the seamless functioning of the program, which include (but are not limited to):
1. Perform participant intake, case management and ongoing monitoring of needs and interactions.
- Receive details regarding agency referrals (electronically) and self-referrals (via phone).
- Perform initial health screens, as necessary.
- Conduct assessments to understand the needs, strengths, and goals of the youth being supported.
- Develop individualized case management plans in collaboration with the participant, setting achievable goals.
- Maintain and safeguard sensitive and confidential information of participants.
- Document and monitor participant interactions (both case management and distributed goods) and needs through both onboard documentation (electronic or hard copy) and electronic data and monitoring via HIFIS.
- Build rapport and trust with youth who are experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness and/or food insecurity.
- Employ a strengths-based approach to empower youth in their journey towards stability.

2. Uphold appropriate and thorough communication with colleagues, Outreach Coordinator and Executive Director as well as relevant community partners and stakeholders.
- Remain up to date regarding Outreach Program operations, policies, and procedures.
- Provide daily reports to the Outreach Coordinator, via established reporting documentation.
- Communicate shift change information from/to incoming staff at every shift change and maintain appropriate documentation of the same.
- Maintain accurate and thorough mileage reports daily.
- Utilize the support and supervision of the Outreach Coordinator and/or Executive Director as necessary.

3. Maintain safety and required health precautions with participants and co-workers.
- Perform a basic cleaning of the vehicle daily, and a more thorough and complete cleaning of vehicle weekly Utilize safe approach techniques to engage with participants to provide food, clothing, personal items, and other needs.
- Keep the Outreach vehicle and S.H.I.F.T building/space free and clear of debris and clutter.

4. Oversee and organize usage and Outreach Program supplies.
- Ensure that the Outreach vehicle is adequately stocked with an outreach kit - that includes: Materials available for donation for all participants, according to their specific needs; Harm reduction materials, such as condoms and