Prison Care Outreach Specialist, Philadelphia FIGHT

Posted by on November 07, 2010

Prison Care Outreach Specialist, Philadelphia FIGHT

Salary: $33,000
Last day to apply: December 25, 2010

Job Summary
The Prison Outreach Specialist is to respond to referrals from the Prison System, as coordinated through the Philadelphia Linkage Program (PLP). In this role, the Prison Outreach Specialist will ensure appropriate access to medical, mental health and other services during a client’s incarceration, coordinating with prison medical and mental health providers to meet clients’ needs. They will develop a discharge plan for incarcerated clients, ensuring their linkage to medical care and case management services in the community.

Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Review referrals, which are filtered through the Director of Prison Services, and arrange to visit incarcerated individuals to make linkage with HIV related services upon release.
2. Upon contact with client, perform care outreach or case management assessment. Develop action plan to address client’s needs and barriers to meeting those needs. Action plan for Care Outreach clients should include ongoing collaboration with PLP prison case manager.
3. Ensure appropriate access to medical, mental health and other services during a client’s incarceration, and as necessary, coordinate with PLP case managers and prison medical and mental health providers to meet clients’ needs.
4. Develop discharge plan for incarcerated clients, ensuring their linkage to medical care and case management services. Coordinate with PLP in this process as necessary.
5. Work with Public Defenders’ Office, the Adult Probation and Parole Office and the courts as necessary to advocate for client needs and fulfillment of discharge plan.
6. Coordinate client access to appropriate community resources upon release, including housing, drug & alcohol treatment, mental health supports and activation of public benefits.
7. Provide information and referral, including appropriate follow-up and monitoring of related activities, and reassessment as needed.
8. Engage client in basic HIV/AIDS disease management education; provide harm reduction information and strategies.
9. Provide education to PPS Correctional Staff during the month of June, during which FIGHT sponsors AIDS Education Month, a city-wide educational effort.
10. Other duties, as assigned

Record Keeping
1. Enter data into CAREWare
2. Maintain Care Outreach files for individual clients, including completed care outreach assessment, case notes, referrals and consent forms
3. Collect evaluation data for SPNS funded demonstration project
4. Provide weekly narrative case updates to Prison Services Coordinator

Ongoing Requirements
1. Attend case conference meetings with PLP staff the first Tuesday of every month.
2. Meet weekly with Prison Services Coordinator for supervision and case review.

Hours of Work
The Prison Outreach Specialist will work 40 hours per week, spending 3 days inside the jails and 2 days in the office.

Additional Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements
1. Experience working with former prisoners
2. Knowledgeable of local resources and services.
3. Proficient in Microsoft Office and essential office computer applications.
4. Sensitive to cultural, economic, gender, and sexual orientation differences.
5. Formerly incarcerated persons are encouraged to apply
6. Note: this position requires clearance from the Philadelphia Prison System to provide services inside the jails as an Official Visitor

How to Apply:
Terry Trudeau
Human Resources Director
ttrudeau@fight.org

http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/404334-287/c