Community Outreach Specialist, Crisis Counseling Program

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD ("The HARRIS CENTER") is looking for a Community Outreach Specialist to join our CCP team!

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Join us as a Community Outreach Specialist and play a pivotal role in the lives of those affected by disasters. In partnership with our Community Engagement Coordinators, you will reach out to and build lasting relationships within diverse population groups across Harris County. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in faith-based settings, schools, community organizations, apartments, and businesses, ensuring effective delivery of our Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) services.

Your Role in Action:

• Community Relationship Building: You will actively forge and sustain cooperative relationships with community, daycare, faith-based, and school groups.
• Crisis Support Services: You are on the front lines providing critical crisis counseling to children and adolescents, offering parent education, and supporting families dealing with grief and loss.
• Resilience Promotion: Employ evidence-based strategies to foster resilience and promote successful coping in individual, group, and family settings.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Deliver culturally sensitive education and training to deepen understanding of trauma effects on young children and their families.
• Educational Outreach: Lead engaging training sessions that address disaster responses, the creation of safe environments, the building of community within classrooms, and healthy coping mechanisms for life-changing events.
• Documentation Excellence: You will be responsible for meticulous entry of service documentation into the DTAC system, adhering to strict timelines and accuracy standards.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Social Sciences. Alternatively, any degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours in social science courses.

Experience:

• Experience in community outreach, crisis counseling, or related fields is highly valued.

Required Knowledge, Skills/Abilities:

• Exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively at all levels within the organization.
• Team player with a cooperative spirit and a commitment to high-level customer service.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.

What else you should know:

• This role is designed for those who thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and are passionate about making a tangible impact in the community.
• This role requires travel throughout Harris County and flexible working hours; travel is estimated at 80%.
• Important Notice: This position is funded through a specific grant and is subject to the availability of these funds. The employment term is tied to the duration of the grant, which is expected to be one year.
• This posting is associated with position #7157.

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching - a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provided care to over 96,000 people in fiscal year 2023!

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.