Community Outreach Worker

Downtown Dog Rescue is seeking a Part Time Community Outreach Worker: To provide street outreach and access to services to homeless people with pets in the South Central and South East areas of Los Angeles. The Community Outreach Worker engages and builds rapport with people with pets, who are chronically homeless, and/or are exhibiting mental health symptoms. Additionally, they will serve as a case navigator and assist to coordinate care through potential barriers to the participant’s goals and/or well-being. The position helps clients with pets by connecting them to both human and pet health resources, and working closely with other staff to support client needs. This will include transporting pets and people to services. You would spend almost 100% of your time working in the field and driving. This is not an office position. Benefits and Perks: : ● - $18-$20 per hour: ○ Flexible work schedules ○ Professional Development Trainings and Opportunities ○ Dynamic, mission-driven culture and supportive leadership. We support you in supporting others ○ Part-time Responsibilities: : ○ Transport people and pets to services ○ Assist with client intakes, and other essential client services. ○ Assist in assessments for referral to the Coordinated Entry System to link people to community and county health services, housing programs, and medical services ○ Connect participants to veterinary services, deliver pet food and supplies, as well as facilitate connections to agencies such as LAHSA that will assist with, housing, documents (ID, SS card, etc), substance recovery, physical health care, benefits, employment, advocacy, and other essential services. ○ Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to develop a better understanding of the participants’ goals for their pets and themselves. ○ Support Counselors’ requests for pick up and drop offs of clients’ pets at veterinary appointments. ○ Be willing to assist in making follow up calls to clients requesting services, or in need of an appointment. Qualifications: : ○ Must possess 1 year of field experience working with serious mental illness, individuals with a dual diagnosis and/or the homeless population. ○ Bilingual Spanish preferred. ○ Must have working experience working with pets, including but not limited to bottle baby kittens and puppies, cats, dogs of all sizes, including large dogs and pets with behavioral issues including aggression towards other animals and people. ○ Must be able to comfortably pick up 50lbs ○ Must be familiar with pet equipment including collars, leashes, muzzles, and crates and carriers. ○ Must be comfortable working out in the field which includes meeting clients with pets living in tents, trailers, and their vehicles. ○ You would be driving your own vehicle, have proof of a valid and current California Driver’s License and current insurance along with a clean DMV record required. ○ Experience working in an animal shelter, doggy daycare, or animal hospital is a plus.