Outreach Specialist

About the Organization:

New Moms strengthens families by partnering with young moms as they progress toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. New Moms is a nonprofit organization with an $8 million budget and a staff of over 60. At New Moms, young moms, 24 and under, take powerful first steps toward economic mobility and family well-being. Our 2-Generation approach puts families experiencing poverty in control of their goals and unleashes their potential. New Moms’ headquarters is located on the west side of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. Our East Garfield Park location includes all Workforce Development programming as well as our social enterprise, Bright Endeavors, which provides paid transitional jobs for young moms. We also have an office in Oak Park serving the near western suburbs.

Our Commitment to Equity:

New Moms prioritizes racial equity as a strategic and organizational imperative. Strong candidates will be committed to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values into their work goals and will be evaluated on their impact.

About the Job:

The Outreach Specialist is an integral member of the Family Support team in Chicago who works to support all outreach efforts to ensure New Moms programs are at full capacity. This position will lead efforts on outreach including community canvassing and fairs in the Western Suburbs. This position is also responsible for managing intake and inquiries for New Moms programming, as well as assisting participants and community members with transitional housing registration process. The Outreach Specialist will champion all New Moms values including our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in both strategic planning and performance. This position is located at the main Austin location and spends considerable time in the western suburbs. Starting Salary: $40,000 - $42,000

Key Job Responsibilities:

Outreach for Family Support and Job Training (75%)

• Lead community outreach efforts in Oak Park and the other seven near west suburbs under the guidance of the Director of Family Support, Western Suburbs, through canvassing, attending fairs and other activities that promote awareness of New Moms programming for a minimum of 10 hours a week
• Responsible for returning all voice messages, emails or website intakes within 48 business hours and tracking and completing eligibility screening; Answer questions about program services for potential participants for programs to ensure program capacity is maximized; Provide program referrals to ineligible individuals
• Support Job Training orientation by providing referrals and screenings; Attend Job Training orientation monthly (greet candidates, sign them in, and take Zoom attendance); Document efforts
• Track and maintain New Moms linkage agreements and ensures we have sufficient linkages in key areas of services at least two times a year
• Communicate efforts for outreach, housing, and job training effectively and timely, including updating progress on projects with supervisor and collaborators
• Work independently to complete job duties, including meeting deadlines, planning ahead for events, and being on time

Transitional Housing Registration (15%)

• Assist current participants and community members with registering in the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) portal and Coordinated Entry Assessment; with completing New Moms paper-based applications to be waitlisted for New Moms housing over the phone, virtually or in-person in the office
• Maintain a tracking log for Chief Program Officer or their delegate to ensure an active and eligible waitlist is available for CHA at all times

Cross-coverage (5%)

• Provides coverage for fulfillment of essentials and boutique items, Chicago outreach efforts, and retention calls/documentation as determined by supervisor

Other (5%)

• Represent New Moms in a positive and constructive manner in all interactions with participants, staff, and in all public forums
• Upholds the New Moms’ Executive Skills Coaching approach which is grounded in racial equity
• Assures that voicemail greeting for office phone/NM issued cell phone is set up and current
• Regularly participates in agency and program staff meetings, as well as professional group seminars or conferences to enhance professional knowledge and job skills
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• One or more year of experience in related field preferred
• A graduate of New Moms non-residential programs preferred
• Cross-cultural experience to effectively match resources to participants’ needs
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking
• Basic computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft Office programs, email, and data entry
• Ability to handle multiple projects or assignments concurrently
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team approach model and conduct oneself professionally at all time
• Valid driver’s license, with safe driving record and valid insurance
• Access to a reliable car required (2-3 work days per week require community driving)

COVID-19 Notice:

• New Moms employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption through the Director of HR.
• This is an on-site position with a primary office at our Austin and Oak Park location. This position is not eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

New Moms’ Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; matching on retirement savings up to 3%; 15 paid holidays; and generous paid time off. We also offer several unique benefits to New Moms: discounts on Bright Endeavors products, free optional spiritual direction services, and half days on Fridays in the summer. Our Flexible Work Options policy allows for staff to work some hours remotely once training is complete. For licensed employees, you will receive over 20 free CEU's during onboarding and an additional 1.5 free CEU's/month throughout employment. We promote professional development and provide time for you to attend other external trainings opportunities as well.