Disaster Assistance

Emergency Shelter Information Points

Employment Opportunities

"Bringing People and Services Together"

What is Information and Referral?
One of the greatest barriers to people accessing services is their lack of information about what services exist. Most of the calls to 232-HELP/211 come from people who do not know what services they need. They have a problem and want to know who can help them. The Information and Referral (I&R) Specialist's job is to assess the situation and determine the most appropriate service available given the caller's problem, transportation, financial means, etc. More often than not, related problems surface and additional referrals are made. In many cases they save the caller a tremendous amount of time by being able to tell them what types of information an agency requires to be eligible for services (e.g., birth certificate, social security number etc.)

If you are interested in a career with a company that cares for its clients and its employees, we invite you to consider 232-HELP/211.

232-HELP/211 is a private non-profit organization that connects people with services in a ten-parish area. Several of the programs at 232-HELP/211 have served the Acadiana area for 40 years. Please visit our website: http://www.232-help.org.

!!! Part-Time Help Needed !!!

J Invaluable introduction to social services in Acadiana

J Great resume builder

J 20 hours a week (days and hours to be mutually determined)

Please bring the following:

a Resume

a Letter of recommendation from Professor or former Employer

You may:

Call our office for appointment: Phone (337) 232-4357 ask for Linda

Fax your information to us: (337) 232-1960

Email us: Linda@232-help.org

We are located at: 439 Heymann Blvd (in the Oil Center)

Deadline: April 23, 2008

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JOB TITLE: Information & Referral Specialist (position not available, but ongoing acceptance of applications)

REPORTS TO: Executive Director and Assistant Administrator

PURPOSE:

This position provides facilitative communication (active listening skills), crisis intervention, and information and referral services on health and human service programs to inquirers; linking them to appropriate resources, and advocating on the consumer’s behalf when necessary.

The Information & Referral Specialist is responsible for providing confidential, appropriate, unbiased health and social service information, referral and advocacy to the general public by telephone; performing preliminary screening for eligibility for public and community services; assisting callers with access issues; and tracking gaps in services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Information and Referral and Crisis Intervention
Excellent communication skills, including ability to respond to callers with patience, objectivity and a nonjudgmental attitude
Answer incoming phone calls to provide information and referral service activities including intake, assessment and referral.
Provide advocacy for consumers when needed by interacting with clients and agencies in resolving problems and providing information.
Computer literate - access, retrieve, and input information from an automated database/client information system.
Demonstrated ability to problem-solve.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, community resources.
Ability to work well in a team, good interpersonal skills, and positive attitude
Ability to multi-task.
Ability to work on-call and, during times of disaster, ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Customer service, call center, or social services experience a plus.
Multilingual; French/Spanish desirable but not necessary.
Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA:

This position requires a minimum of an Associates degree or a combination of education and experience may be substituted for a degree. This position requires computer skills (MSWord, Windows, etc.), ability to communicate effectively, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, and time/ stress management skills as this can be a high stress position.

JOB TITLE: Information and Referral Specialist/Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordinator (PAP) (position not available, but ongoing acceptance of applications)

REPORTS TO: Executive Director and Assistant Administrator

PURPOSE:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

A. The Information and Referral Specialist component seeks to identify clients’ needs and link clients with available resources in the community:

Excellent communication skills, including ability to respond to callers with patience, objectivity and a nonjudgmental attitude
Answer incoming phone calls to provide information and referral service activities including intake, assessment and referral.
Provide advocacy for consumers when needed by interacting with clients and agencies in resolving problems and providing information.
Computer literate - access, retrieve, and input information from an automated database/client information system.
Demonstrated ability to problem-solve.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, community resources.
Ability to work well in a team, good interpersonal skills, and positive attitude
Ability to multi-task.
Ability to work on-call and, during times of disaster, ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

B. The PAP component seeks to actively work with clients in securing long-term prescription medication through participating pharmacies who provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine:

Meets with clients, who have qualified for PAP, and assists them in completing applications
Determines appropriate pharmaceutical program for individual client’s needs
Ability to understand written guidelines and procedures
Ability to ensure that patient enrollment is completed timely in all programs (re-enrollment may be every 3 months)
Maintains adequate reporting on number of clients assisted and number of applications completed/submitted
Works professionally and efficiently with outside agencies participating in the PAP program

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA:

Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology or related field or equivalent experience.
At least one year of experience in call center, crisis hotline or information and referral service.
Demonstrated knowledge of health and human services in the Acadiana Region.
Ability to accurately assess client needs.
Sensitive and able to manage individual diversity issues presented by callers.
Ability to meet with and be sensitive to the needs of the poor, uninsured, elderly, handicapped and chronically ill
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
Ability to work independently and in a team setting.
Must have excellent organization and communication skills.
Must be able to work in a busy environment.
Must demonstrate above average computer skills.
Previous medical records experience a plus.
Must be willing and able to meet AIRS certification standards.

JOB TITLE: Information and Referral Specialist/Disaster Manager (position not available, but ongoing acceptance of applications)

REPORTS TO: Executive Director and Assistant Administrator

PURPOSE:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

A. The Information and Referral Specialist component seeks to identify clients’ needs and link clients with available resources in the community:

Answers incoming telephone calls
Collects caller data and enter data into database
Assesses needs of callers and refer callers to appropriate resources
On-Call duties, and during disaster, ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays

B. The Disaster Manger component assimilates, reports on, and compiles information concerning emergency disaster preparedness from as many reliable sources as possible and integrate same into the Agency for effective and rapid mobilization of resources to community agencies and residents/evacuees.

Activates information exchanges with United Way, DPSS, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Emergency Food & Shelter Programs, Regional Food Banks, and other agencies as assigned by VOAD, AIRS Standards and key Emergency Responders
Establishes ad hoc links with key agencies not in pre-established communications tree.
Gathers the human and materiel resources necessary to carry out disaster tasks; build an appropriate structure for disaster work; begin to gather and disseminate disaster information.
Provide to the community I&R services, broadly defined, that can help to effect full recovery; recoup extraordinary expenses to the greatest possible extent; and define and explore new possibilities for disaster recovery and assistance.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA:

Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology or related field or equivalent experience.
At least one year of experience in call center, crisis hotline or information and referral service.
Demonstrated knowledge of health and human services in the Acadiana Region
Ability to accurately assess client needs.
Sensitive and able to manage individual diversity issues presented by callers.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
Ability to work independently and in a team setting
Ability to attend disaster-related meetings and coordinate information into usable agency resources
Must have excellent organization and communication skills
Must be able to work in a busy environment.
Must demonstrate basic computer skills.
Must be willing and able to meet AIRS certification standards.

TO APPLY: Send resume and cover letter to:

Sharon Bourgeois

Executive Director

232-HELP/211

Post Office Box 52763

Lafayette, LA 70505

232-HELP/211 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm with 24 hour on-call services (staff rotation) for emergencies. We are located at 439 Heymann Blvd in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Southwest Louisiana Education and Referral Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 52763
Lafayette, Louisiana 70505
(337) 232-4357
Fax (337) 232-1960
439 Heymann Blvd
Lafayette, Louisiana 70503
Email: help@232-help.org

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