CEDAM’s AmeriCorps State Program

Member Position Description

Position Title: Intake & Outreach Specialist	Host Site: CLEARCorps Detroit
Position Type: Full time 1,700 hours = 40 hours per week	Site Supervisor: Diane McCloskey
Dates of Service: September 9, 2024 – August 15, 2025	Stipend: $26,000

CEDAM’s AmeriCorps Information: CEDAM’s AmeriCorps program connects local and statewide agencies to meet neighbors’ critical needs. Members create community, build capacity, and serve neighbors across Michigan. Our AmeriCorps program advances equity for Michiganders in two ways. 1. Cultivating the next generation of leaders in the community economic development field and 2. Supporting economic inclusion for Michiganders.

Organizational Information:

CLEARCorps Detroit is dedicated to creating healthy homes for children by reducing the impact of environmental hazards on the health and safety of children with specific focus on reducing the number of children poisoned by lead in Detroit and southeast Michigan. This work is done at the intersection of health, housing, environmental justice, and racial equity to ensure improved health and opportunity for children. CLEARCorps has worked in the community for more than twenty years and has been associated with the Southeastern Michigan Health Association since 2008.

CLEARCorps uses a person-centered and home-focused approach and is a conduit to healthy homes through the provision of home repair services to low-income families as well as creating community awareness, providing training, conducting research, monitoring policy, and supporting the reduction of health hazards through direct service, and collaboration with community partners through the Get the Lead Out Detroit Coalition. We believe healthy homes are only possible at the intersection of reducing health risks and improving the quality and safety of the home.

CLEARCorps is currently seeking candidates for the position of Intake and Outreach Specialist. The AmeriCorps member will report to the Executive Director and support the program intake process and community education and outreach activities. This includes the DTE Energy Efficiency Program and the Get the Lead Out Detroit Coalition.

The AmeriCorps member will be interested in helping low-income families apply for healthy housing services (in person, via phone, and email) and have a strong desire to engage with Detroit families in the community (in-home and community events) to learn how to protect their children by preventing exposure to lead hazards in the home. To learn more about lead poisoning prevention visit: leadoutdetroit.org

Role and Responsibilities:

• Be the first point of contact for low-income families seeking applications for energy efficiency and healthy home repairs to make their home more energy efficient thereby improving the health of family members and increasing financial stability with more affordable utility bills. This will include in person meetings, events, and virtual events (phone, email, social media, and web-based communication).
• Connect applicants receiving CLEARCorps services to additional community services when possible.
• Connect ineligible applicants to external services when possible.
• Provide guidance and instruction to applicants in completing applications and submitting the needed documents. This includes follow-up for missing and incomplete information, or other errors.
• Coordinate application submissions (submitted in-person, mail, fax, and email) and maintain a tracking system to send receipt and status updates of application (received, accepted, declined, wait list).
• Follow up with clients and after application is closed to collect and analyze satisfaction feedback.
• In coordination with staff, identify and attend community events to promote CLEARCorps services and Get the Lead Out Detroit lead poisoning prevention.
• Maintain a database of event information and results.
• Maintain a database of community members interested in receiving on-going information.
• Provide expedited assistance to emergency clients - families who are currently without hot water or heat in the home, who may be in danger of losing custody of their children or who are senior citizens with health issues.
• Contact families with children to present lead poisoning prevention resource program(s) to set up intake appointments, conduct surveys, and document and collect information/documents, for up to 32 hours per month.
• Participate in CEDAM AmeriCorps monthly meetings, trainings, events, data collection, reporting and additional items as needed.
• Participate in AmeriCorps & Michigan’s AmeriCorps events and trainings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Willingness and interest in working with a diverse population while modeling patience, kindness, flexibility, respect and maintaining privacy to those we are assisting in the community.
• Experience, knowledge, or interest to learn about lead poisoning prevention, healthy housing, energy efficiency, and housing repair resources for low-moderate income families.
• Ability to utilize person-centered thinking and active listening skills to assess the needs, situation, strengths, and barriers of individuals and families seeking assistance and will provide appropriate resources and/or referrals in-person, by phone or electronically.
• Strong attention to detail required to assist individuals with the completion of program applications.
• Customer service focus and patience to follow-up with individuals to assess outcomes and provide additional resources, when necessary.
• Comfortable communicating with diverse audiences at community events in a variety of Detroit venues and neighborhoods representing CLEARCorps Detroit and the Get the Lead Out Detroit Coalition.
• Proficiency in other languages a plus.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Be at least 18 years of age. Applicants must have HS diploma, GED or working toward the completion of one.
• U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• Pass the following National Service Criminal History Checks (: State of Michigan background check, State of residency (if not Michigan), FBI Fingerprinting, and State & National Sex Offender Registry
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Basic computer skills, competency in Microsoft suite (primarily Word and Excel) and the ability to learn new software quickly.

Compensation:

Members will receive a living allowance of $26,000 distributed in even increments, bi-weekly. Members will receive student loan forbearance for qualified loans, health care package, childcare assistance upon eligibility, and continual professional development. Upon successful completion of service an education award in the amount of $7,395 will be issued. Members will serve 1,700 hours for the term = 40 hours/week. CEDAM’s AmeriCorps Program is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodation will be made for interview/service as needed. All interested candidates must be available to spend 40 hours in training the week of September 9, 2024. All interested candidates should apply on CEDAM’s website by 5pm July 15, 2024: bit.ly/serveamericorps