Food Pantry Services - Central Location

at  YMCA of Greater Houston

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.

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.

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

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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build rapport and trust in order to facilitate all-inclusive, individualized needs assessment.
• Implements curriculum within the established guidelines.
• Maintains positive relations with community.
• Address client identified barriers to self-sufficiency and assist client to overcome those barriers.
• Complete applications for Food Stamps, TANF, publically funded medical assistance (Medicaid, Gold Card), other applicable services (Children’s health insurance), etc.
• Provide orientation around public transportation, public benefit applications, healthcare system, etc.
• Identify counseling and emergency services for clients in crisis.
• Create referrals to other social service providers for additional services, such as disability services, emergency shelter, rental assistance, bill payment assistance, bus passes.
• Providing support or resources related to job readiness and employment preparation (resume writing, mock interviews, orientation around professional dress or referrals to providers).
• Provide translation, transportation and interpretation as needed to facilitate client’s access to services.
• Maintains tracking of clients served and resources provided.
• Helps to assist and maintain food pantry at Opportunity centers stocked along with tracking of families or clients served.
• Makes sound decisions in alignment with YMCA and program standards.
• Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• 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.
• Attends and participates in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff trainings.

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.

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