Community Support Specialist

Cleveland Animal Protective League

Job Description

Cleveland Animal Protective League is looking for a driven human services professional with case management, crisis intervention, and community relations experience to join our team!

How you’ll impact our mission?

The Cleveland Animal Protective League believes in maintaining the human-animal bond whenever possible. This is an important, new role within the organization that is focused on expanding our reach and our “More Than a Shelter” narrative to advance our animal resource center.

This role supports our Community Animal Retention Effort (CARE) with the goal of helping owners retain their pets during times of hardship.

Our strategic priorities are to expand access to care and resources for pets through community outreach, including:
• Implementing a Crisis Safety Net Program
• Expand Community Pet Clinic Access
• Reduce client barriers to accessing care
• Build strategic partnership with human social service agencies, advocacy groups, and others with shared vision

What you’ll do?

Provides support, counseling, and program referrals to clients and staff
• Provides support and counseling to clients as needed or by referral from doctors or staff, including those experiencing elevated levels of stress and emotion.
• Facilitates interactions with clients in emotionally charged situations, either in person, via email, or on the telephone in an empathetic manner.
• Consults with doctors and staff about assessment of client’s comprehension of diagnosis and prognosis of their pet(s).
• Meets with clients and provides short-term supportive counseling during end-of-life decision making, pet euthanasia, and hospitalization of pets, as well as resource support.
• Develops and expands partnerships with community organizations that provide human and pet services. (i.e., homeless shelters, free/low-cost emergency temporary boarding facilities, etc.).
• Intervenes and offers short term counseling to staff in crisis or suffering from compassion fatigue, burnout, or other situations that may impair ability to work effectively.
• Oversees Crisis Foster Boarding program, assesses clients for program eligibility and oversees the program’s case management.
• Coordinates and attends outreach events to provide support to underserved and low-income communities in need.
• Interfaces with animals of varying species, size, and temperament, both in carriers and on leashes. Handles individual animals in a safe, caring, and respectful manner.
• Assists Admissions and Humane Investigations teams with open cases and surrender, providing support to pet owners through the process.

What we’re looking for:

• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in social services practice or equivalent work experience.
• Valid, unencumbered LSW, LISW, LPC, or LPCC license.
• Experience with grief/bereavement and/or trauma.
• Highly dependable, able to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Must possess an Ohio’s driver’s license with an insurable driving record.
• Fear Free Certified or must become certified within six months of hire.

Location: 1729 Willey Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113

Link to Full Job Description: https://clevelandapl.org/about-us/employment/community-support-speciali…

This is a full time job