School Outreach Officer I at Josephine County, OR

About the Department

Under the supervision of the Prevention and Treatment Services Manager, the Outreach Officer serves as a catalyst in the community for partnership development and coalition building. Responsible for activities to achieve the goals of the County's Prevention Plan that includes Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Prevention and Problem Gambling Prevention. The primary focus is to be a resource and to coordinate, mobilize, and sustain community prevention efforts.

The Outreach Officer will also perform casework and supervision of non-adjudicated youth. Primary duties include the investigation, evaluation, counseling, mentoring and guidance of youth.  An employee in this classification is responsible for performing casework and for the preparation of related records and reports. Employees in this class are required to exercise independent judgment in applying policies and procedures to well-defined situations.

Position Duties

(Illustrative Only. Any single position in the classification will not necessarily involve all of the listed duties below and other positions will involve duties that are not listed. These duties represent the essential functions needed of persons in this classification.)

• Receive and evaluate referrals of truancy and behavioral issues. 
• Conduct investigations into the juvenile's background and family situation that includes contacts with other agencies, law enforcement officials, schools, parents or guardians. 
• Work with school districts to develop partnerships at all levels (k – 12) in coordinating local prevention strategies at individual school. 
• Provide support, both crisis and other for families and juveniles individually.  Facilitate education or cognitive-behavioral groups for juveniles and parents. 
• Collaborate with other community groups and organizations, including but not limited to, schools, community corrections, juvenile justice and other related organizations.  Perform education and outreach to potentially at-risk populations for alcohol and drug abuse in order to educate those groups around substance abuse treatment and recovery topics tailored to the individual groups' needs. Educate the broader community on these issues as well as begin the process of promoting potential initiation and engagement in treatment services within these populations. 
• Confer with staff members, schools, law enforcement agencies and social service agencies regarding juvenile treatment programs and general casework action. 
• Refer juveniles to treatment programs, mental health services, shelter care, and other agencies. 
• Support Probation Officers for youth placed on formal probation or Formal Accountability Agreements. 
• Partner with healthcare providers and other social service partners, who provide screening for the presence of behavioral health conditions, to facilitate access to appropriate services. 
• Implement local Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and environmental strategies within the county. Communicates and interprets Federal, State, and Local ATOD data. 
• Provides supports around prevention efforts by acting as a conduit for coalitions and community groups to join local efforts. Encourages shared responsibility for local community outcomes. 
• Provide direct mentorship to county sponsored youth groups to strengthen youth leadership skills through projects and activities based on the Search Institutes' 40 Developmental Assets, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), and Institute of Medicine (IOM) models. 
• Other duties as assigned by the Prevention and Treatment Services Manager.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Knowledge Of: Principals of substance abuse prevention, coalition building, assessment, planning, capacity and community development, systems development, program evaluation and community organization. Human service delivery as it relates to children, youth and families, federal, state and local regulations relating to fiscal and social services along with community resources and programs.

Ability To: Establish and maintain records, reports, statistical data, effectively coordinate a variety of established policies and procedures, establish new policies when applicable, use initiative and judgment in completing tasks and responsibilities, Involve individuals and community partners and community at large to achieve objectives.

Skill In: Community partnering with both youth and adults, facilitation, convening, network building, resource development, managing performance measurement systems, leadership, public speaking skills and the ability to communicate verbally and in writing with a wide variety of people. Gathering assembling, analyzing and disbursing data for system planning and development.

Guidelines: Work is performed within federal and state laws, regulations and ordinances that govern children and youth services, County and Juvenile Justice Policies and procedures. Employee uses initiation and judgment in choosing between alternative guidelines and is involved in assisting the Prevention Program in establishing new policies and procedures.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

Bachelor's degree and two years related experience and/or training; Possession of or ability to obtain within one year, accreditation as a Certified Prevention Specialist. Two years of relevant experience in alcohol, other drugs, and problem gambling prevention work, or any satisfactory combination of education, experience, and training which demonstrates the knowledge, abilities, and skills.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 
Within one year of employment, provide documentation of successful completion of the Certified Prevention Specialist exam. Possession of valid ODL, proof of auto liability insurance, and safe driving record.

Other Qualifications

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Those employed in this position may be subject to pre-employment drug testing/physical examination and a background investigation, including criminal background investigation. Conviction of a crime will not necessarily disqualify an individual for this classification. Must pass and maintain Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) security clearance.