Integrated Benefits Outreach Volunteer: Help Connect to Eligible Seniors

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A recent report suggests that over 5.2 million eligible older adults nationwide could be eating more nutritiously were they connected to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly "food stamps"). Many seniors served by DFTA-funded senior centers need help with accessing SNAP, Medicare Savings Program (MSP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC) and Medicare Part D, Medicare Buy-in Programs, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE), Medicare "Extra Help", and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

The Integrated Benefits Program, launching in the spring of 2015, aims to significantly increase the enrollment of seniors into benefit programs with the help of volunteers stationed at DFTA-funded sites. Volunteers will be assigned one or more of the following boroughs to cover: Manhattan, Queens, Bronx or Brooklyn. Outreach Volunteers will be positioned in the community to meet and speak with potential program clients to introduce them to the Integrated Benefits program and how it could offer them assistance.

If you enjoy talking with people and encouraging them to learn about opportunities to help better their circumstances, consider becoming an Outreach Volunteer.

Tasks:

• Help grow the Integrated Benefits Program by reaching out to eligible seniors and community partners
• Serve as a liaison to the general public
• Identify and meet with community partners to develop outreach opportunities
• Participate in community events to promote the program and interact with seniors
• Travel throughout assigned coverage areas in one or more of the following boroughs: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens

Requirements:

• Be a self-starter and creative thinker
• Have an open and optimistic attitude
• Possess excellent written and interpersonal skills
• Ability to comprehend and clearly explain complex benefits information to community partners and older adults
• Have strong organizational and strategic planning skills, with the ability to fully execute plans
• Be detail-oriented
• Willingness to work within assigned communities in Manhattan, Queens, Bronx and/or Brooklyn
• Attend a DFTA Volunteer Information Session

Skills Preferred:

• Ability to speak languages other than English is highly desired, but not required
• Prior outreach experience is highly desired, but not required
• Prior sales and/or marketing experience desired, but not required

Training:

• Attend a free, comprehensive training on program support provided to qualified applicants in May and June 2015
• Be mentored by a DFTA staff person or assigned AmeriCorps manager

Time Commitment:

• Volunteers serve flexible days Monday-Friday, and flexible hours between 9:00am-4:00pm
• A minimum 2-days, 10-hours per week required
• Minimum one year commitment strongly requested
• Position starts in early June 2015