Outreach Worker Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the outreach worker job description, including the key tasks, duties, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements that you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the outreach worker role by most employers and recruiters.

What Does an Outreach Worker Do?

Outreach workers are versatile professionals who wear many hats while performing their duties every day.

Their main objective is to identify and engage those persons or groups that would stand to benefit from a host of social services, health care resources, and community programs.

The outreach worker job description typically entails identifying and engaging the target population, assessing needs, and providing information and assistance to access available resources.

It also involves conducting educational workshops, collaborating with other professionals involved, and accurately keeping records of outreach activities.

Other roles that they may handle include advocacy for change in policy, organizing community events, grant writing and fundraising, informational materials development, and crisis intervention where necessary.

Outreach workers typically report directly to a program manager or coordinator within their organization, including a non-profit, government agency, healthcare facility, educational institution, social service provider, community center, or religious organization.

The normal entry point for an outreach worker would be a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, or a related field.

However, certain positions are also available to the high school graduate with applicable experience in some cases.

Many organizations train on-the-job, while others may require specific certifications, depending on the focus area.

The role and importance of outreach workers, however, vary from country to country, but there is complete unanimity over the fact that they are an integral part in the reduction of social inequalities and making sure that some sections of the community do get access to basic services.

In developed countries, outreach workers deal mostly with specific groups of people: the homeless, at-risk youth, and immigrant communities.

However, in developing nations, outreach workers can play a broader role in public health initiatives, education, and community development.

Typically, employers look for outreach workers possessing the following desirable qualities: strong communication and interpersonal skills; cultural sensitivity; empathy; problem-solving and organizational skills; flexibility; and deep knowledge of local resources.

Although, there is no specific national oversight of outreach workers in the United States, depending on their arena, their activities could be covered under a host of State and local regulations.

For instance, outreach workers working in health care settings are required to follow HIPAA regulations, and those involved with children would be bound by child protection laws.

Organizations like the National Outreach Conference provide professional growth and networking for outreach workers across many sectors.

Outreach Worker Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The outreach worker’s job description usually consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Identify the target populations in need of different kinds of services 
• Needs assessment for individuals or communities
• Information can be given regarding available resources and services
• Help clients access and coordinate with public agencies and other social service providers for the provision of information
• Developing and maintaining relationships with community partnering agencies and service providers
• Organize and conduct educational workshops and awareness programs
• Home visits for the purpose of assessing the living conditions and providing support
• Advocate with agencies, service providers, and others to serve clients with needs
• Keep accurate, dependable records and case files current
• Prepare and submit regular reports for outreach activities and outcomes
• Attend evidentiary team meetings and case conferences
• Prepare and develop knowledgefer service program and information materials to community
• Provide emotional support and respond in times of crisis
• Participate in work of regular and overnight street outreach activities regarding homeless or at-risk people
• Collaborate with other professionals and health care services to support preventive care programs and screenings
• Help clients fill out applications and forms to obtain service
• Refer clients to the proper resources and follow up on their progress
• Attendance at health fairs and other forms of community outreach to help promote services
• Participate in writing grants and organizing fundraising events to assist and further outreaches
• Develop and maintain a modern resources database of community services and programs
• Conduct outreach in any possible way, including the use of social media and community forums
• Offer language and cultural mediation services, as needed
• Use program evaluation for support and make recommendations for any necessary modifications based on feedback from the clients
• Arrange for appropriate and necessary transportation for clients to obtain services
• Keep abreast of changes in policies, laws, and regulations that are related to client populations.

Outreach Worker Job Description for Resume

If you a have worked before as an outreach worker or are presently working in that role and are making a resume or CV, then you can apply the sample outreach worker job description provided above in making the Professional Experience part of your resume.

You can express the duties and responsibilities that you have carried out as an outreach worker in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the above outreach worker job description example.

This will show to employers/recruiters that you have been effective performing the functions of an outreach worker, which can hugely boost your chances of being hired for the new position, especially if it requires someone with some outreach worker job experience.     

Outreach Worker Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

If you are seeking the job of an outreach worker, here are important skills, knowledge, and abilities you may be expected to meet to be hired, which are also needed for success on the job:

• very good verbal and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to establish rapport with diverse populations
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to varied backgrounds and lifestyles
• Empathy with active listening
• Knowledge of community resources that are available within the local community and how to link consumers with appropriate social services
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Organizational skills with attention to detail
• Able to work independently and as a member of a team
• Skills in the use of computer systems and databases for record-keeping purposes
• Time management skills with the ability to set priority
• Conflict resolution/de-escalation techniques
• Basic counseling skills in motivational interviewing
• Knowledge of crisis intervention
• Familiarity with the principles of case management
• Understanding of the confidentiality and privacy regulations
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Flexibility, adaptability to changing situations
• Physical stamina for fieldwork and community outreach activities
• Stress Management and self-care skills.
• Basic principles of public health and social determinants of health
• Trauma-informed care approaches
• Current local laws and regulations as they pertain to social services
• Experience working with challenging behaviors and high-risk populations
• Principles of harm reduction – substance-use-related outreach
• Second language skills – desirable in most settings.

Outreach Worker Employment

There are over 10,095 outreach workers currently employed in the United States, according to data on the Zippia website.

The number of women outreach workers is 6,986 while that of men is 3,109.

Employment by Industry

Also, according to the report at Zippia, the top industries that employ outreach workers in the U.S. include:

• Health Care: 3,230
• Non Profits: 2,221
• Government: 1,413
• Professional: 707
• Education: 606.

Employment by State

The States with the highest employment for outreach workers in the U.S. include California and Texas, with 5,724 and 3,263 employments respectively.

Outreach Worker Salary

The average outreach worker salary in the United States, according to data on Zippia is $37,639 per year.

Salary by Company

The top five paying companies for outreach workers, alongside their respective industries, according to Zippia, are as follows:

1. Columbia University

• Industry: Education/Research
• Average Outreach Worker Salary: $50,853

2. City of Baltimore

• Industry: Government/Public Services
• Average Outreach Worker Salary: $49,450

3. Deschutes County

• Industry: Government/Public Services
• Average Outreach Worker Salary: $46,846

4. Mental Health Partners

• Industry: Healthcare/Mental Health Services
• Average Outreach Worker Salary: $43,946

5. Temple University

• Industry: Education/Research
• Average Outreach Worker Salary: $43,805

Salary by State

The highest paying States for outreach workers in the U.S. include Washington and Idaho, with average salary of $46,263 and $45,318 per year respectively.

Conclusion

This post provides in-depth guide to individuals interested in the outreach worker career.

They will be able to learn about the typical duties and responsibilities that the role commonly performs, to decide if that’s what they want to do.

It is also useful to recruiters and employers in making a detailed and effective job description for the outreach worker role for their organizations.