Primary Duties and Responsibilities

  • Serve as a point of contact for law enforcement, healthcare and social services professionals and others making Recovery Navigation Program referrals.
  • Provide initial screening, harm reduction, immediate needs assessment to referred individuals.
  • Manage, document, and maintain information regarding referrals in the database.
  • Provide street outreach to engage referred individuals and to help facilitate client engagement with assigned case management support.
  • Provide after-hours on-call phone response to Law Enforcement referring arrest diversions to case management; this may require in-person response during 24/7 call coverage periods (in person response will be based on protocol).
  • Ensure effective and efficient communication and develop and maintain positive, collaborative relationships between all partners involved in referring and receiving referrals for RNP.
  • Engage participants on the street and at other facilities to establish a working relationship and provide ongoing case management services if desired.
  • With the participant’s input, develop and implement an individualized Service Plan which addresses the needs of the participant including food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and substance use disorder treatment if desired. Reduction/elimination of drug/alcohol use through self-change methods if desired. Update this plan periodically to reflect movement toward goals and client needs.

General Development

The Recovery Outreach Specialist will act as the point of contact for referrals to the Recovery Navigation Program (RNP). Recovery Outreach Specialists are people with a personal, lived experience of substance use disorder (“addiction”) in stable recovery who now wish to help others who are suffering. Recovery Outreach and Case Management services are performed in the field, that is, outside of an office setting. This position will provide screening, outreach, engagement, and case management to individuals referred to the program. RNP partners include social service agencies, law enforcement, prosecutors and public defenders, healthcare, and SUD treatment agencies. 

Professional and Technical Knowledge

  • High school diploma or equivalent required. Further education/training is desirable.
  • Must have competence using smartphones and be able to learn how to enter data into an electronic database daily.
  • Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license.
  • Self-motivated.
  • Able to take direction from program leadership and community partner staff in positions of authority.
  • Outgoing and able to approach strangers to provide street-based outreach and engagement services to individuals with substance use disorders and/or with criminal legal system involvement.
  • Understanding of substance use disorders and harm reduction strategies along with a demonstrated passion for serving individuals experiencing homelessness and/or behavioral health challenges.
  • Ability to effectively communicate and problem-solve under pressure in high stress situations.
  • Ability to respond non-violently to any situation.

Work Environment

  • Ability to be in rotation for 24/7 on-call response to law enforcement for arrest diversion referrals.
  • Ability to be in rotation for working weekends.
  • Ability to flex schedule when necessary to accommodate special program needs, including nights and weekends.
  • Street outreach requires the ability to easily navigate city streets on foot and tolerate a variety of weather conditions.
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