Food Pantry Services - Central Location

JOB SUMMARY

Y Outreach Supportive Services is a unique department of the YMCA of Greater Houston and seeks to meet the needs of Houston's diverse and immigrant communities. We provide a comprehensive program that focuses on building human assets and fostering self-sufficiency. Case Workers play an integral role in helping community members gain access to a wide range of social support services with the goal of becoming self-sufficient. Collaboration and the ability to work with diverse populations (social, cultural, economic, etc.) is essential.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Build rapport and trust in order to facilitate all-inclusive, individualized needs assessment.
2. Implements curriculum within the established guidelines.
3. Maintains positive relations with community.
4. Address client identified barriers to self-sufficiency and assist client to overcome those barriers.
5. Complete applications for Food Stamps, TANF, publically funded medical assistance (Medicaid, Gold Card), other applicable services (Children's health insurance), etc.
6. Provide orientation around public transportation, public benefit applications, healthcare system, etc.
7. Identify counseling and emergency services for clients in crisis.
8. Create referrals to other social service providers for additional services, such as disability services, emergency shelter, rental assistance, bill payment assistance, bus passes.
9. Providing support or resources related to job readiness and employment preparation (resume writing, mock interviews, orientation around professional dress or referrals to providers).
10. Provide translation, transportation and interpretation as needed to facilitate client's access to services.
11. Maintains tracking of clients served and resources provided.
12. Helps to assist and maintain food pantry at Opportunity centers stocked along with tracking of families or clients served.
13. Makes sound decisions in alignment with YMCA and program standards.
14. Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
15. Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
16. Meets timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance. Example includes but are not limited to Kronos Workforce Ready for review and approval of time sheets.
17. Attends and participates in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff trainings.

Outcomes
Case Workers are directly responsible for approximately 30 client's monthly and managing client data on a weekly basis.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Associates Degree or 2 years college.
2. At least 21 years of age.
3. Excellent customer service skills; conflict resolution skills preferred.
4. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse prevention trainings.
5. Social work experience preferred.
6. Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
7. Previous experience with diverse populations.
8. Bilingual preferred.
9. Excellent written and verbal English communication skill including being comfortable speaking in public.

YMCA Competencies (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y's values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person's point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to resolve routine problems. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to be sensitive and alert to the needs, feelings, and safety of others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, and/or feel objects, tools, and/or controls. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Possess adequate vision and hearing to safely monitor environment and effective communicate with members.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

HOURS

Flexible with scheduling and available to work operational hours of the YMCA, which may include day, evening, weekends, and/or holidays, based on the program needs.

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.