Illinois Outreach & Engagement Associate

Health Resources in Action, Inc. (HRiA) is a non-profit organization working to improve and reimagine public health. We connect, consult, and collaborate to solve complex challenges of access and equity in our health and social systems. Together with our partners, clients, and collaborators, we create actionable solutions so that all people can thrive.

In 1957, The Medical Foundation (TMF) was created to primarily fund biomedical research in Massachusetts. Since then, we’ve been on a journey of evolution. We changed our name to Health Resources in Action (HRiA) to reflect our impact in the field of public health. Today, HRiA works with individuals, organizations, and communities to drive a policy and systems change approach to advance health and racial equity.

HRiA seeks sustainable solutions for complex problems using an anti-racist approach. We aim to be adaptable and flexible in meeting clients and partners where they are, offering our decades of knowledge and resources to collectively realize our dream of equitable, sustainable health for all. The foundation of this work is centered on our values:

• Health and racial equity by identifying and addressing the root causes of health inequities, intentionally working to shift narratives and power imbalances and disrupt all systems of oppression.
• Leading with heart by demonstrating our passionate commitment to our work, continuously challenging ourselves with humility and vulnerability while pursuing and holding ourselves accountable to our mission.
• Collaboration by intentionally and respectfully leading, partnering, and following to strengthen relationships, uplift different voices and build trust.
• Innovation by driving toward new strategies, questioning norms, and continuously learning and evolving to support the needs of our clients and communities.

HRiA offers exciting, engaging, and challenging employment opportunities for facilitators, trainers, researchers, analysts, policy specialists, grant managers, and more. People come to HRiA because of our commitment to advancing health equity and inspiring work; they stay for our wonderful clients, partners, and dedicated and dynamic staff. With our growing portfolio of high-impact work, person-centered policies, and generous benefits, our team continually invests in making HRiA a great place to work. Our diverse staff of over 270 people hail from 30+ states, with a homebase in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood.

HRiA’s core services include: (1) public health services (PHS), (2) capacity building assistance (CBA), (3) research and evaluation, (4) health and racial equity, and (5) grantmaking for biomedical research and community health initiatives. As part of the PHS cluster, HRiA manages a statewide substance use helpline in Vermont and statewide substance use and problem gambling helplines in Massachusetts and Illinois. The helplines comprise state-specific websites and online portals, as well as a single, centralized contact center that manages calls and chats from residents of all three states, as well as live SMS texting for Illinois. The helplines operate 24/7/365 and connect consumers with comprehensive, accurate, and current information about and referrals to treatment, harm reduction, prevention, and recovery services available in their states. Learn more about HRiA and our helplines below:

• HRiA: hria.org
• IL Helpline: HelplineIL.org
• IL Problem Gambling Helpline: AreYouReallyWinning.com
• MA Substance Use Helpline: HelplineMA.org
• MA Problem Gambling Helpline: GamblingHelplineMA.org
• VT Helplink: www.VTHelplink.org

Position Description

The Southern Illinois Outreach and Engagement Associate (Associate) will help build awareness and increase use of the Illinois Helplines for substance use and problem gambling by engaging communities and conducting outreach throughout Central and Southern Illinois with service providers, coalition members, people using substances and/or gambling, people in recovery, allies, family and loved ones, young adults, and other constituents and priority populations. The position provides an opportunity to envision and implement engagement across a diversity of communities in the Central/Southern portion of the state, partner in championing Helpline marketing efforts, and engage with members of the community through in-person and online meetings and events. IL Helpline outreach efforts have focused primarily on substance use in the past, and we are excited for the Associate to deepen engagement within problem gambling spaces while bringing geographic connection to Central and Southern Illinois.

The Associate will apply their community engagement expertise while gaining a deeper understanding of substance use, problem gambling, and related treatment and harm reduction systems and services, through internal and external stakeholder interactions, and outreach implementation. The Outreach Associate will be a member of the newly formed Helpline Engagement Team, to be led by the Associate Director, Community Engagement.

This is an exempt, full-time position with a salary range of $54,000-$61,000, based on skills and experience. The Outreach & Engagement Associate may work remotely while engaging in frequent in-person outreach activities. Frequent travel within Central/Southern Illinois is required along with occasional travel to Northern Illinois and the Boston office. Travel is paid and/or reimbursed through HRiA. The preferred candidate will be based in Southern Illinois. 

Benefits

HRiA offers strong benefits to its employees, including:

• Competitive salaries
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• Flexible summer hours
• Vacation starting at 4 weeks
• 13 paid holidays, and office closure at the end of December

Duties & Responsibilities

Project Work

• Implement and co-develop outreach strategies, including support and growth of the Helpline Champions program, proactively identifying potential partners, presenting/tabling at community events, and other strategies.
• Build strategic relationships to promote and improve Helpline services, particularly within rural communities.
• Contribute to the development of appropriate content for presentations and promotional materials for use with a variety of audiences.
• Conduct presentations for partners, clients, staff, and others as appropriate.
• Participate in strategic meetings across the state and collaborate with partners and other stakeholders in spaces relevant to substance use and problem gambling.
• Share outreach connections and learnings appropriate with internal team members.

Thought Leadership

• Offer subject matter expertise to the content development and implementation of IL Helpline marketing campaigns, print materials, video development, websites, and more.
• Continue to build and share knowledge and expertise in substance use disorders, problem gambling, recovery pathways, harm reduction approaches, etc., particularly with the lens of health and racial equity.
• Suggest ideas/improvements through participation in Helpline and HRiA teams and committees.
• Consistently attend and actively participate in Helpline meetings and other activities to develop skills and make suggestions for project enhancements.

Management

• Contribute to vision and goals to enhance the efforts of the Illinois Helpline.
• Engage with clients and represent the IL Helpline among all levels of stakeholders.
• Support and enhance Champion involvement in collaboration with Outreach Manager.
• Participate in hiring processes for new staff as needed.
• Assist in the training and mentoring of new staff, Champions, and others as needed.

New Business Development

• Maintain updated resume and bio for use in new business proposals.
• Support business development by connecting external stakeholders with Helpline leadership as appropriate.
• Assist with subject matter guidance and technical components of new business proposals as needed.

Candidate Qualifications

• The preferred candidate will be based in Southern/Central Illinois.
• BS or BA with at least three years of relevant experience, or at least five years of experience in the field of substance use disorders/gambling disorders and/or community engagement.
• Experience within community engagement, street outreach, and/or managing volunteer engagement.
• Strong commitment to health and racial equity.
• Lived experience with substance use disorder and/or problem gambling is strongly preferred.
• Two years of recovery from a substance use or gambling disorder is preferred for candidates in recovery.
• Openness to harm reduction principles and approaches; respect for those who use substances and experience problem gambling; appreciation for the many ways people enter into and sustain recovery from substance use disorders and process disorders.
• Relationships within the substance use and/or problem gambling communities in Illinois preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Skilled and comfortable with public speaking.
• Commitment to building and maintaining trusted relationships with community members across IL, including service providers and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• High level of self-motivation, with a demonstrated ability to commit to and complete high-quality products and projects.
• Respectful of cultural differences and value diversity of thought, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Bilingual (primarily in English/Spanish) preferred.
• A valid driver’s license and access to an automobile is required.
• Ability to work virtually with a strong and stable internet connection.
• MS Office proficiency: strong PowerPoint (or other presentation software) skills preferred.
• Flexibility and a sense of humor.

Procedure for Candidacy

HRiA is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced staff. The organization encourages multiple perspectives and experiences, supports a multicultural environment, and strives to hire and retain a diverse work force that reflects the populations we work with and the communities where we work. Diversity is a core value of HRiA resulting in culturally competent services, materials, resources, and programs. Our hiring and business practices appreciate the strengths offered through different backgrounds.

HRiA is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume online at hria.org/about/careers