REACH Responder (Public Health Specialist)

Full-time position available with the Health Department, Behavioral Health & Injury Prevention Division located at 2400 Troost Ave
Salary Range: $22.61-$34.48/hour
Normal Work Days/Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. *Occasionally works non-traditional working hours, including on-call shifts, weekends, and evenings
Application Deadline Date: April 15, 2025


Responsibilities

The REACH program is a pre-arrest diversion initiative operating within the Prospect Avenue Corridor, spanning from 27th Street to 45th Street. This program offers low-level offenders an alternative to incarceration, connecting them to community resources and long-term case management instead. Through REACH, the Kansas City Health Department aims to improve public order by creating new systems of care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, extreme poverty, or substance abuse.

• Responds to calls for service from law enforcement partners and community members, aiming to divert potential clients from incarceration into community support networks.
• Spends an allotted amount of time in the Prospect Avenue Corridor and frequently engages in outreach events.
• Works unusual hours and comfortable working with individuals from marginalized communities, including those suffering from addiction and homelessness.
• Responds to urgent calls for service from law enforcement partners and community members.
• Quickly identifies client needs and responds accordingly.
• Offers support and community resources to clients struggling with mental health challenges, substance abuse, homelessness, and more.
• Connects individuals to existing community resources to prevent future challenges, providing emotional support, advocacy, and resource.
• Supports law enforcement in reducing non-emergency deployments.
• Maintains required records and prepares assigned reports, collecting and maintaining documentation of all contacts and progress with participants, patients, and visitors.
• Works with confidential information and data needed to carry out responsibilities, adhering to strict local, state, and federal confidentiality policies.
• Engages with city residents, visitors, and community stakeholders to address challenging client behavior.
• Assists in neighborhood canvassing, personal visits, social service agency outreach, house meetings, and phoning.
• Provides basic information to the public and community organizations concerning specific public health problems, needs, and concerns.
• Delivers speeches and assists in writing reports and articles to stimulate public interest.
• Disseminates information to the community regarding special public health programs.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

REQUIRES an accredited Bachelor's degree; OR an equivalent combination of qualifying education and experience. Must pass a preemployment drug screen and post offer physical examination as prescribed by the City.


Other Information

URGENT!!! CRITICAL RECRUITMENT INFORMATION

Applications and/or resumes are evaluated on the information received by the application deadline. Please ensure that your application or resume clearly demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying, this includes providing all relevant educational dates and a detailed description of relevant work experience, including months/years of employment. Applications and/or resumes may not be considered if information is incomplete.

In order for a resume to be used in lieu of an application the resume must have been submitted online via the City's Applicant Tracking System.

Positions requiring a high school diploma/GED certificate must be obtained from a school/program accredited by the Department of Education and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

The minimum education requirement for positions that allow for experience equivalency for an accredited degree is a high school diploma. Unless otherwise specified, an accredited degree must be obtained from a college or university listed with the U.S. Department of Education and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
For positions with a salary grade of EX6 or higher that require an accredited degree, qualifying professional experience must be obtained AFTER the accredited degree is obtained.
Successful completion of a pre-employment criminal history/background check is required for all positions. Some positions require a post offer drug screen and/or physical.

If appointed, non-residents must obtain residency inside Kansas City, Missouri's city limits within nine months.

The City of KCMO is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The City is committed to providing a workplace environment for its employees and citizens free from discrimination based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For more information, please see our EEO Policy

The City of KCMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 816-513-1908 or send an e-mail to accommodations@kcmo.org .

If claiming military veterans' preference points, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 or a DD-256 (for reservists). To claim veterans' points you must have served 180 days of regular active duty service and be discharged or released under honorable conditions during peacetimes or 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. (DOD) 38 U.S. Code • 4211).

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• City of Kansas City

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