Outreach Specialist (Bilingual Preferred)

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is the state’s largest hunger relief organization and one of the leading food banks in the Feeding America Network. In additional to vital hunger relief programs in our 21-county service area, we also operate Fresh Connect Central, a regional produce cooperative for Feeding America, serve as a contract reclamation site for Kroger Central Division, and are a staging site for FEMA disaster response.
The Outreach Specialist will play a crucial role in coordinating services and community resources for eligible neighbors to improve food security, financial stability, and overall well-being. All responsibilities shall be consistent with Gleaners Food Bank’s mission to be a leader in the fight against hunger.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Utilize a neighbor-centered approach that aims to assess, plan, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the services provided to individuals and families in need of support and assistance.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of the interventions and review the progress made towards achieving the neighbor’s stated goals.
• Develop and document a neighbor centered support plan outlining the specific actions and interventions that will be implemented to address the neighbor’s needs.
• Conduct an initial assessment of the neighbor’s situation gathering income, household size, expenses, and other relevant information to determine eligibility for federal assistance programs, including but not limited to, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Medicaid, and CCDF (Child Care and Development Fund)
• Work directly with neighbors to assist them in applying and obtaining SNAP and other public assistance programs, including but not limited to the submission of documentation, attending benefit enrollment interviews, and serving as authorized representatives.
• Follow procedures for maintaining strict neighbor confidentiality, accurate case notes, and completion and submission of metrics and required reports.
• Employ culturally competent and empathetic communication skills during each client interaction.
• Coordinate and facilitate referrals to service providers for neighbors based on individual needs, including but not limited to, food, utility assistance, public assistance, housing, education/training, employment, mental and physical health, transportation, and child care.
• Work with Network Service Managers and community partners to identify high-volume locations for conducting SNAP outreach.
• Assist with educating community partners, neighbors, volunteers, and staff about SNAP and its importance to neighbors & the community.
• Maintain a database of neighbors screened and conduct follow up to track neighbors post-screening
• Other duties as assigned.
• Skills/Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities an individua needs in order to perform this job successfully.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma required.
• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university strongly preferred
• One or more years of experience in related field (such as community organizing, customer service, case management in a nonprofit setting, or social work) is required
• Bilingual preferred

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