ROOTS Community Health Worker

POSITION SUMMARY

The Reaching Out on the Streets (ROOTS) Program aims to reduce the prevalence of homelessness by addressing the social determinants of health, opening opportunities for personal agency, and intervening in critical moments of crisis to reduce criminal legal interactions, increase access to services, and reduce fatal overdoses. The staffing and organizational plan consists of both site and outreach workers who work citywide to help unhoused and unstably housed people to be healthy and safe while homeless through case management, referrals to services, addressment of daily living needs, criminal justice navigation, and follow-up care coordination. 

Our staff will facilitate non-coercive service connection based on the client’s priorities; staff use of motivational interviewing, unconditional positive regard, assertive engagement, trust and reciprocity to build relationships and meet client goals. 

Primarily-street based, the ROOTS Community Health Worker will support the ROOTS Outreach Specialist and other outreach staff to address client needs. The successful incumbent will work diligently to ensure that clients establish service connections and receive care. This will include, but is not limited to: accompanying clients to appointments, coordinating transportation, distributing basic needs supplies, and facilitating connection to teams and internal resources. Current ROOTS sites are located in the Northside, Downtown and East Liberty, respectively in Police Zones 1, 2, and 5. 

Department:  Office of Community Health & Safety
Salary:  $53,380 per year. 

 

• WORK EXPERIENCE: The application must clearly show two (2) years of full-time experience in Social Services, Criminal Justice, Healthcare Street Outreach, or a related field. (Less than full-time experience will be calculated on a pro-rated basis.)  
• EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show a high school diploma or equivalent. A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Direct Care, Criminal Justice, or Human Development is preferred.

POSITION DUTIES

• Supports the ROOTS Outreach Specialist in liaising with clients and addressing client needs.
• Assesses and responds to needs of clients by providing referrals to services, and escalating client needs to other staff or leadership where appropriate.
• Fosters trust with potential and current clients to achieve individual and program goals.
• Facilitates transportation needs such as public transit or ridesharing.
• Maintains case load in conjunction with street outreach efforts.
• Distributes and tracks use of harm reduction and basic needs supplies, including but not limited to hygiene supplies and winter clothing.
• Addresses daily living needs such as bathing, eating, and temporary shelter.
• Establishes supportive relationships with people experiencing homelessness to assist them with housing needs, and co-occurring mental health, drug and alcohol, and physical health needs. 
• Ensures coordination of follow-up care to facilitate secure service connections. 
• Attends weekly case conferencing with Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to coordinate care for clients.
• Supports assessment and team interventions and makes appropriate referrals when necessary, in regard to mental and behavioral health crises.
• Utilizes drop-in centers to provision services and address unmet needs for clients.
• Facilitates connections with internal resources such as benefits coordination and legal navigation.
• Encourages cultural competence among healthcare professionals serving vulnerable populations. 
• Accompanies clients to appointments and engages in patient advocacy to ensure successful outcomes. 
• Documents service encounters, client information, and outcome tracking in relevant software using proper case management protocols.
• Provides support to one ROOTS site but supports other sites throughout the City of Pittsburgh as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.