Community Outreach Manager - St. Clair County, IL

Who is Alpharus Health?

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to helping people build healthier lives. For nearly 60 years, we have provided substance use and mental health treatment that helps individuals, families, and communities find healing, hope, and lasting wellbeing. Our mission is simple: We help people build healthier lives. By combining clinical expertise with a person-centered approach, we help people build the skills, resilience, and support systems needed to create meaningful, lasting change. 

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll be working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth. When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Promotes and oversees Alpharus' Community Outreach & Recovery Support (CORS) Program and its services to the St. Clair County community. Ensures the program supports access to resources for homeless and housing insecure individuals in the community while professionally representing the program to partners, stakeholders, community members and staff.

Community Outreach Managers are responsible for:

• Manages services and initiates corrective actions to ensure program and contractual compliance, and service delivery objectives are met. Conducts comprehensive assessments; monitors operational trends and deficiencies to recommend improvements.
• Oversees partnerships with Continuums of Care (CoCs) and other community providers to increase services for the priority population, including ensuring that individuals served have access to the coordinated entry system for services.
• Collaborates with harm reduction providers to reduce risk of overdose and negative outcomes among people who use drugs.
• Assists Executive Director with developing a coordination plan to ensure that CORS staff understand how to refer individuals to services provided by community partners.
• Acts as Alpharus Health's liaison to the State Agencies for program matters and contract accountability.
• Assists Executive Director with planning and monitoring program budgets and expenditures and refining program policies, standards, and services.
• Approves recommendations for community engagement and referral plans.
• Serves as resource to staff in resolving most complex case problems; conducts staff meetings to review program outcomes and progress.
• Serves as program liaison with partner/community organizations, criminal justice and social service agencies to maintain and foster cooperative working relationships. Schedules and conducts presentations to support program outreach and public relations initiatives.
• Hires, coaches, evaluates, and manages program staff. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or substance abuse counseling or a related field, Master’s degree preferred.
• 5 to 7 years’ experience with managing program operations, including at least 2 years of concurrent supervisory experience.
• Peer Support Workers (PSW) or Person with Lived Experience (PLE); CRSS certification a plus.
• Experience with street outreach in positions that demonstrate increasing responsibility.
• Well versed on the local community dynamics in the Metro East region, OUD/SUD, Social Determinants of Health, community partnerships.
• Strong leadership and management skills, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of harm reduction and trauma-informed care, and good organizational and administrative abilities.
• Valid driver’s license in good standing, automobile insurance, and reliable automobile to travel to various locations to supervise and meet with staff.
• Comprehensive knowledge of conflict resolution, intervention techniques, and confrontation skills
• Familiarity with the social, cultural, and economic make-up of the service area and have ability and willingness to work with diverse populations.
• Possess the mental resolve to deal with complex, highly emotional and/or stressful situations.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to walk and move about the community or facilities to perform outreach activities with the identified population.
• Ability to utilize trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches.
• Ability to engage and connect with individuals from historically disenfranchised communities/groups and provide strong patient advocacy skills.
• Ability to train and administer basic first aid treatment.
• Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data.
• Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises.
• Ability to drive a motor vehicle and maintain valid license and good driving record.

Work Environment:

• Primarily works in a normal office or clinical environment but required to join CORS Program staff in the field on a regular basis.
• Occasional exposure to contagious diseases, but potential for harm is limited if established safety and infection control precautions are followed.
• May be exposed to inclement weather when traveling to various locations.  Some exposure to hazards when driving, but potential for harm is limited if safe vehicle operation procedures are followed.
• Will be in the field doing direct outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity (including: encampments, public transit hubs, homeless shelters, day labor sites, food pantries, etc.)
• May be exposed to working in high-risk, low resource communities with individuals who are vulnerable for homelessness and substance use, comfort ability in such environments is essential.
• Schedule may vary depending on population needs and may include some evening hours.

Benefits at Alpharus:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match 
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Alpharus
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

• 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
• 9 paid company holidays
• Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year
• eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training
• Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Alpharus Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.