Visiting Extension Outreach Assistant, Health and Community Wellness

About the Role

The Visiting Extension Outreach Assistant, Health and Community Wellness, serves as a full-time 12-month academic professional with the primary responsibility for planning, developing, and delivering educational programs supporting the mission of University of Illinois Extension.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics, public health, community health, human services, social work, family and consumer sciences, or a related field (degree must be completed by hire date)
• Experience collaborating with community partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with University of Illinois Extension
• Experience working with underserved communities
• Experience assisting with public benefit programs (e.g., SNAP, WIC, or other food safety-net programs)
• Experience delivering educational programs, workshops, or group facilitation
• Experience using mobile devices for data reporting, communication, and educational assistance
• Valid driver's license

Responsibilities

• Map local food access gaps and identify community partners, including food pantries, schools, and health clinics, to target outreach for the Find Food IL Navigator program
• Build relationships with community organizations serving households at risk of food insecurity to expand referral networks
• Conduct screenings with individuals and families to identify likely eligibility for food benefit programs such as SNAP and connect them with referral and application assistance
• Connect households to local food resources based on their specific circumstances and needs
• Deliver presentations to community partners and at outreach events to raise awareness of available food benefit programs
• Work as part of a team to develop community-specific educational resource materials to support program outreach and delivery

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to use various methods (phone, email, and text) to communicate with participants
• Ability to interact and engage with individuals from different backgrounds
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Basic ability to collect, document, and report program data

Program Planning, Development, and Delivery

• Plan and develop an outreach and education strategy by identifying geographic areas and community partners who serve households at risk of food insecurity
• Develop educational resource materials to support program outreach and delivery
• Deliver resources, educational materials, and assistance for food benefit program applicants to address immediate household food access needs, including screening, educating on applications, and providing assistance based on household needs
• Develop community-specific educational resource materials based on information from community technical assistance network meetings
• Deliver educational sessions and presentations to partner organizations to market the program

Evaluation

• Collect information from potential applicants for reporting
• Use technology to maintain files to document progress and referrals
• Evaluate and document changes based on the education and assistance provided
• Enhance competency in subject matter areas by seeking professional development opportunities
• Use evaluation findings to develop and modify program resource materials and improve educational delivery strategies to improve program quality
• Share principles of evidence-based best practice with peers

Organizational Requirements

• Gather program participant demographic information to ensure compliance with civil rights reporting requirements
• Comply with all reporting deadlines and requirements (e.g., plans-of-work, activity and impact reporting)
• Perform other duties that contribute to the mission of University of Illinois Extension programming, as assigned
• Local, regional, statewide, and (limited) interstate travel required

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Work performed both within an office and outside in the communities served
• May be exposed to hot or cold weather, noise, allergens, and uneven ground
• Ability to move, transfer, and/or transport items that may occasionally weigh up to 40 pounds and frequently weigh up to 20 pounds
• Twisting, pushing, and pulling movements
• Some work required during evenings and/or weekends
• Employee must have capability to travel and is responsible for securing personal transportation

Pay and Appointment Information

• Salary range: $48,000 to $68,000 (final offer determined through consideration of internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints)
• These are temporary, full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenured academic professional positions
• These positions may become non-visiting at a later time dependent upon funding and/or programmatic needs
• Not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization
• 11 full-time positions available
• Hybrid work options available, but onsite work is required in the following counties: Will and Kankakee; Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Stark, and Knox; Peoria, Fulton, Tazewell, and Mason; Ford, Iroquois, Champaign, and Vermillion; Logan, Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin, and Montgomery (2 positions); Madison and St. Clair; Bond, Fayette, Marion and Jefferson; Jackson, Williamson and Franklin; Union, Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac; Richland, Lawrence, Wabash, Edwards, Wayne, Hamilton and White