REENTRY PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: 5224 Russellville - Russellville, AR 72802Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $20.80 - $20.80 HourlyJob Shift: Day This position's primary responsibility is to assist people with disadvantages, with a focus on justice-involved and veteran populations, in becoming self-sufficient by providing leading-edge services that create solutions and change lives. To fulfill this, the Reentry Program Specialist will assist participants in the reentry and Transition Employment Opportunity (TEO) Program, a 16-week, paid program for people with military service and felony backgrounds, in obtaining and maintaining soft skills and on-the-job experience. During the program, the Reentry Program Specialist will provide intensive case management, teach relevant curriculum, conduct one-on-one meetings, and serve as a support system for the participant, with the end goal of securing gainful employment. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Provide intensive case management services that assist clients in identifying, pursuing, and achieving personal, educational, vocational, and life-skill goals that support successful community reintegration, employment, and long-term self-sufficiency; utilize case management systems and data tracking tools to monitor client outcomes, employment placements, credential attainment, service delivery, and program performance measures. Conduct intake and enrollment activities, including needs assessments, career assessments, employability evaluations, interest inventories, and financial self-sufficiency assessments. Develop and maintain Individual Service Plans (ISPs) that identify client goals, barriers, action steps, and measurable outcomes. Provide career navigation and career coaching services that help clients identify career pathways aligned with their interests, abilities, transferable skills, and local labor market opportunities. Assist clients in establishing short-term and long-term career goals. Deliver workforce development and employment services, including resume preparation, employment applications, interview preparation, mock interviews, job search assistance, digital literacy support, workplace readiness training, and job retention strategies. Design, coordinate, and facilitate educational, workforce development, and training programs based on client needs. Training topics may include life skills, financial literacy, career development, job retention, parenting skills, workplace professionalism, personal safety, digital literacy, occupational skills training, and career pathway exploration. Develop and maintain relationships with employers to identify employment opportunities, coordinate hiring activities, facilitate client placement, and support successful employment outcomes. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with probation and parole officers, courts, correctional facilities, workforce agencies, educational institutions, housing providers, veteran organizations, mental health providers, substance abuse treatment providers, faith-based organizations, employers, referral sources, and other community partners. Provide information, referrals, and coordination for services not directly provided by the agency, including housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, education, workforce training, behavioral health, recovery services, legal assistance, and public assistance resources. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with family members, residential providers, employers, referral sources, funders, and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure participants have access to necessary resources and support services. Monitor client progress and provide ongoing coaching, encouragement, accountability, and follow-up services to ensure active participation in program activities and continued progress toward established goals; provide crisis intervention, problem-solving assistance, and barrier-reduction services to promote participant engagement, stable employment, successful community reintegration, and overall well-being. Facilitate discharge planning, transition services, job retention support, and follow-up activities to ensure successful long-term outcomes after program completion. Coordinate workshops, weekly soft skills classes, peer mentoring activities, staff trainings, hiring events, job fairs, and community outreach efforts that increase awareness of services and expand opportunities for clients. Complete timely and accurate case notes, client records, assessments, service documentation, activity logs, outcome reports, and other required documentation in accordance with agency, funding, and accreditation requirements. Maintain compliance with all agency policies, client confidentiality requirements, HIPAA regulations, funding source requirements, CARF standards, professional ethical guidelines, professional boundaries and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, trauma-informed practices, and participant-centered service delivery. Perform any other related duties as required or assigned. QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Education High School Experience 3 years related experience and/or training. Management Experience Not Applicable Skills • Communication Skills • Mathematical Skills • Critical Thinking Skills • Contact Management • Software Databases • Payroll Systems • Presentation/PowerPoint • Spreadsheet • Word Processing/Typing • Supervisory Experience • Planning, organizing, and project management skills. • Decision Making Required Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record Preferred Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Bachelors degree Mental Demands CLOSE MENTAL DEMAND. Operations requiring CLOSE AND CONTINUOUS ATTENTION for control of operations. OPERATIONS REQUIRING INTERMITTENT DIRECT THINKING to determine or select the most applicable way of HANDLING SITUATIONS regarding the organization's administration and operations; also, to determine or select material and equipment where highly variable sequences are involved. Analytical Ability / Problem Solving MODERATELY STRUCTURED. Fairly broad activities using moderately structured procedures with only generally guided supervision. Interpolation of learned things in somewhat varied situations. Responsibility for Work of Others Depending on the role, this position may include responsibility for leading or supervising the work of others in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. When applicable, responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems. 5-8 Working Conditions Periodically exposed to such elements as noise, intermittent standing, walking, pushing, carrying, or lifting; but none are present to the extent of being disagreeable. Physical Demand SEMI-REPETITIVE, LOW PHYSICAL: SEMI-REPETITIVE type work which requires PERIODS OF CONCENTRATION FOR VARIED TIME CYCLES as prescribed by the tasks. Additional Information • Minimum of 3+ years of experience in public service or social services. • Willingness to learn and respect the needs of persons with mental illness or a disability. • Knowledge of the criminal justice system or experience working with ex-prisoners or addiction and recovery. • Knowledge of veteran support services or experience working with veterans. • Ability to access department of corrections facilities or military installations throughout the designated region as required. • Good organizational skills, time management skills, and the ability to prioritize. • Good written and oral communication skills. Ability to speak effectively before groups. Ability to work effectively with people of diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, from individuals who are justice-involved and veterans to public officials. • Knowledge of client privacy rights and HIPAA requirements. Must be able to accept and follow oral and written instructions and materials. Awareness of the need for confidentiality, professional ethics, and code of conduct. • Ability to travel throughout the designated region as required. • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license, successfully pass a motor vehicle record (MVR) review and criminal background check prior to employment, and maintain eligibility under Goodwill Industries of Arkansas' background screening and driving standards throughout employment.