Position Title: Program Director- VIPS Street Outreach
Department: Violence Prevention
Reports to: Vice President of Violence Intervention and Prevention
Direct Reports: Street Outreach (North Lawndale, Roseland, Riverdale, Burnside, and West Pullman)
Position Objective and Summary:
The Program Director- VIPS Street Outreach, is responsible for the overall administration of the program area as it relates to all Street Outreach Activities for the each of VIPS services areas (West & South Side of Chicago. This includes providing strategic and long-term program planning, implementation strategies, consultation and direction to other program administrative personnel. Works with counterparts to create continuity, consistency and uniformity of the organization’s mission for the program.
The Program Director- VIPS Street Outreach provides guidance to the Program Managers, and VIPS Street Outreach Workers to ensure that they are completing assigned tasks and ensure safety for program participants and families.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Monitoring Service Delivery
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Supervise a team of VIPS Street Outreach Workers daily and ensure the team is fully engage with program participants
- Provides supervision to Street Outreach Program Managers to set weekly goals, to review progress and address any issues.
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Regular communication with community organizations, law enforcement, houses of worship, and residents to determine potential conflicts and other safety related issues.
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Ensure safety of students by identifying potential conflicts and working collaboratively with community resources to mediate them.
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Attend community meetings and events to represent the program in conversations relevant to student safety.
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Respond to any concerns reported by families and students.
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Build relationships with community residents and community-based organizations by increasing their awareness of the program and engaging them when possible.
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Provide program implementation guidance to North Lawndale partner organizations implementing the Peace Hub model.
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Promote the work of UCAN in the North Lawndale, Roseland, Riverdale, Burnside, and West Pullman community to engage and collaborate with residents and other community organizations.
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Actively work to address levels of violence in the North Lawndale, Roseland, Riverdale, Burnside, and West Pullman community.
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Participate in the implementation of a data management system.
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Work with UCAN Quality Improvement and external collaborators to develop best practice standards within the program.
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Complete and submit all required weekly/monthly documentation.
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Basic understanding of the effects of trauma and operate from that perspective when interacting with youth and families.
Developing and Leading Employees
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Orients and trains new employees according to program and department guidelines to ensure all new employees are ready and able to perform as necessary.
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Makes work assignments and provides appropriate level of direction.
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Sets and evaluates clear and collaborative individual performance goals for employees.
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Provides regular individual supervision and performance feedback to employees.
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Coaches and mentors employee development around professional interests and career goals.
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Recognizes and rewards employee performance, initiative and decision-making.
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Completes meaningful Performance Reviews for all employees and submits as required.
Quality and Accountability
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Uses UCAN AAA processes to ensure quality and accountability in the work done by team.
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Ensures contract and/or funder performance requirements are met and reports results as necessary.
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Follows all applicable regulatory standards, including but not limited to: COA standards, IDCFS licensing regulations, IDCFS policy and procedure, CPS/ISBE policy and procedure, and Medicaid procedures.
Networking and Team Building
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Acts as a liaison.
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Builds strong interpersonal relationships with team and among the team members.
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Facilitates regular and productive team meetings and encourages team member participation.
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Coordinates services with multiple UCAN programs to ensure appropriate services for clients and teamwork between programs.
Professionalism and Work Conduct
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Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
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Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients and staff.
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Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled.
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Understands and supports UCAN’s standard of cultural proficiency and strives to meet it.
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Responds to clients and their families, UCAN staff, DCFS, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their need.
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Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.
Education/Job Experience/Certification:
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B.A in Social Work or human service work preferred or a minimum of 3 years supervisory experience required.
Special Knowledge and Qualifications:
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Understands trauma-informed practice.
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Understands Positive Youth Development.
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Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
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Effective verbal and written communication skills.
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Working knowledge of the child welfare system.
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Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
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Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.
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Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.
Position Status: (Full Time, Exempt)
Work Environment: This position requires work off-site and in the community. This position requires evening and weekend work hours.
Work Conditions: This position may require work on weekends and evenings.