What does an outreach worker do?
An outreach worker is responsible for supporting community events and relief efforts to assist citizens with their needs, providing them resources, and facilitating lifestyle programs. Outreach workers coordinate with participants, suppliers, and sponsors for funding and promotions. They also manage the budgeting and allocation of resources for the programs, ensuring that the activities adhere to the state regulations and community benefits. An outreach worker must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing progress reports and transactions.
Outreach worker responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real outreach worker resumes:
- Review and research leads regarding personal injury cases by obtaining information from the Medicaid recipient's attorney and insurance adjuster
- Provide information and referral to patients regarding community resources and needs indicate, and advocate eliminating barriers to care.
- Provide resources for the community regarding health care issues and rehabilitation.
- Conduct client interviews clients to gather information, assess need, and determine appropriate Medicaid category of eligibility.
- Assist patients in application process for medical programs and screen for appropriate medical coverage eligibility available through state programs.
- Deliver direct services to children with autism by executing individualize plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
- Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.
Outreach worker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Outreach Workers are proficient in Social Work, Autism, and Patients. They’re also known for soft skills such as Time-management skills, Instructional skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Outreach Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Social Work, 13%
Assisted Social Worker in group and /or family interventions designed to improve psychological functioning.
- Autism, 9%
Delivered direct services to children with autism by executing individualized plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
- Patients, 8%
Assisted patients in application process for medical programs and screened for appropriate medical coverage eligibility available through state programs.
- Crisis Intervention, 8%
Promoted to a position as assistant coordinator with the Illinois Crisis Intervention Service for runaway minors requiring intervention.
- Substance Abuse, 7%
Provided a therapeutic environment where participants can dialogue safely about mental health and substance abuse.
- Community Resources, 6%
Established and maintained collaborative working relationship with community resources; attends and participates in appropriate coalition and other community resource meetings.
Common skills that an outreach worker uses to do their job include "social work," "autism," and "patients." You can find details on the most important outreach worker responsibilities below.
Time-management skills. One of the key soft skills for an outreach worker to have is time-management skills. You can see how this relates to what outreach workers do because "social and human service assistants often work with many clients." Additionally, an outreach worker resume shows how outreach workers use time-management skills: "maintained a caseload of five patients while working under strict deadlines. "
Compassion. For certain outreach worker responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "compassion." The day-to-day duties of an outreach worker rely on this skill, as "social and human service assistants often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what outreach workers do: "maintain a compassionate and enthusiastic environment for patients and staff. "
Problem-solving skills. While "problem-solving skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to outreach worker responsibilities. Much of what an outreach worker does relies on this skill, seeing as "social and human service assistants help clients find solutions to their problems." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of outreach workers: "linked clients to community services and opportunities * provide intervention and conflict resolution in potentially violent circumstances. "
The three companies that hire the most outreach workers are:
- Vinfen47 outreach workers jobs
- Volunteers of America Los Angeles8 outreach workers jobs
- VIP Community Services
6 outreach workers jobs
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Compare different outreach workers
Outreach worker vs. Family specialist
A Family Specialist performs social work for families in need. They are focused on helping individuals and families to improve their lives.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an outreach worker are more likely to require skills like "autism," "patients," "outreach services," and "community outreach." On the other hand, a job as a family specialist requires skills like "foster care," "child abuse," "social services," and "child development." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Family specialists earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $55,461. On the other hand, outreach workers are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $53,625.family specialists tend to reach higher levels of education than outreach workers. In fact, family specialists are 7.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Outreach worker vs. Housing specialist
A housing specialist is responsible for determining the eligibility of individuals on housing opportunities, coordinating with non-profit organizations to request financial assistance, and negotiating terms for housing purposes. Housing specialists analyze the property market conditions, including social services offers and its qualification requirements, to inform the clients of housing support programs and other alternatives. They also prepare cost analysis reports to identify financial needs and check the availability of resources with minimal restrictions. A housing specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling clients' account statements and assisting them for approval.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real outreach worker resumes. While outreach worker responsibilities can utilize skills like "autism," "patients," "outreach services," and "community outreach," housing specialists use skills like "landlords," "veterans," "rehabilitation," and "customer service."
Housing specialists earn a higher average salary than outreach workers. But housing specialists earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $52,680. Additionally, outreach workers earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $53,625 annually.housing specialists earn similar levels of education than outreach workers in general. They're 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for outreach workers in the next 3-5 years?
Virginia Schwindt
MSW Field Director/Associate Professor, Union University
Outreach worker vs. Advocate
An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause. Most of the duties will vary depending on the line of organization or duty involved; however, an advocate must have extensive knowledge or background on the subject matter. Furthermore, an advocate must be present at gatherings regarding the cause, assist in the negotiation and mediation processes involving contracts and legal documentation, provide or convey accurate information, and defend what they represent.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an outreach worker is likely to be skilled in "social work," "autism," "outreach services," and "child care," while a typical advocate is skilled in "cpr," "customer service," "developmental disabilities," and "cleanliness."
Advocates earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $40,536. Comparatively, outreach workers have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $53,625.When it comes to education, advocates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to outreach workers. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Outreach worker vs. Family support specialist
A family support specialist is an individual who provides counseling and rehabilitation services to families who are facing crises so that their lives can be improved. Family support specialists conduct interviews with members of a family to determine areas that need support such as anti-social behavior, bullying, or domestic violence. They collaborate with healthcare and social professionals to evaluate caseload needs. In cases of relevant child protection, family support specialists are also required to attend court sessions.
Types of outreach worker
Updated January 8, 2025
