Occupational Therapist-Programming Specialist

Stephen Center has served homeless and low-income individuals in Omaha since 1984 with the mission to partner with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty.  The Pettigrew Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing offerings provide safe and secure housing while individuals and families complete an assessment of permanent housing options. All Stephen Center residents have access to dual diagnosis support services via the HERO addiction/recovery program. 100% of Stephen Center shelter supportive housing participants are living in poverty.  Housing transition support identifies poverty barriers that may impact one’s ability to achieve or maintain permanent housing through case management, life skills, and behavioral health services. Stephen Center serves approximately 250 people daily in all programs.

Purpose:

The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides person-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based occupational therapy services across Stephen Center’s continuum of care, including residential recovery, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing programs.

This position supports individuals and families experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders by addressing functional barriers to independence, health management, recovery engagement, parenting capacity, and long-term housing stability. The OT plays an integral role in helping clients move from crisis response to sustainable, structured, and meaningful daily living.

Consistent with Stephen Center’s mission and CARF accreditation standards, this role emphasizes:

• Individualized assessment and service planning
• Measurement-informed care and data-driven outcomes
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Cultural responsiveness and inclusion
• Risk awareness and safety practices
• Continuous performance and quality improvement

In addition to direct clinical services, the Occupational Therapist contributes to recovery programming, family-centered initiatives, life skills development, and academic partnerships that strengthen community impact and workforce development.

Key Responsibilities

Person-Centered Assessment & Service Planning

·Conduct comprehensive occupational profiles and functional assessments to identify client strengths, needs, preferences, and barriers to community integration.

·Develop individualized, measurable, and time-sensitive goals aligned with client-driven service plans and housing stability objectives.

·Development and facilitation Integrate trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices into evaluation and intervention.

·of groups focused on, but not limited:

o   Empowerment & Self-Identity

o   Routines & Structure

o   Wellness & Coping Skills

o   Community & Social Engagement

o   Creative Expressions

·Ensure services uphold client dignity, rights, choice, and autonomy in accordance with organizational policy and accreditation standards

·Adhere to the principles of Trauma Informed Care to assure a safe treatment program.

Clinical & Recovery Programming Duties

·Collaborate with the HERO Clinical Director in the facilitation and development of evidence-based occupational therapy recovery groups [KLW1] focused on:

o   Relapse prevention and recovery-supportive routines

o   Emotional regulation and coping strategies

o   Executive functioning and habit formation

o   Health, wellness, and self-management

·Provide psychoeducation on sensory processing, stress response, trauma impact, and behavioral patterns.

·Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to support discharge planning and continuity of care.

·Participate in performance measurement discussions and contribute to outcome tracking and program evaluation.

·Create and maintain a work environment focused on problem-solving and conflict resolution.

·With the leadership team, participate in the development, review, and revision of program courses.

·Participate in statistical and program evaluation reports.

·Effectively responds to client/consumer needs and problems, initiates and maintains positive interactions, timely responses to phone calls, e-mail, and other requests.

Functional Skill Development, Housing Stability & Family-Centered Services

·Provide individual and group occupational therapy interventions to strengthen Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), including financial literacy and budgeting, time management, organization, and household maintenance.

·Support community reintegration through transportation training, community resource navigation, and development of sustainable daily routines.

·Adapt environments, routines, and interventions to promote accessibility, reduce barriers, and enhance long-term independence.

·Develop and facilitate parenting and family-based groups focused on establishing healthy routines, developmentally appropriate expectations, emotional regulation within family systems, and household organization.

·Address the occupational needs of children and adolescents related to education participation, social engagement, and meaningful leisure activities.

·Provide accessible programming, which may include evening or weekend sessions based on client and program needs.

·Support measurable family stabilization and housing outcomes aligned with agency performance indicators

Academic Partnership, Professional Practice & Quality Compliance

·Supervise occupational therapy students (COTA, Level I, Level II, and OTD Capstone) in accordance with university, licensure, and accreditation standards.

·Model ethical clinical practice, professional boundaries, and adherence to state licensure requirements.

·Engage in ongoing professional development to ensure implementation of current evidence-based and trauma-informed practices.

·Maintain accurate, timely, and objective documentation in compliance with CARF standards, state licensure regulations, and organizational policies and procedures.

·Participate in performance improvement initiatives, risk management processes, incident reporting protocols, and outcome measurement activities.

·Contribute to data collection, outcome analysis, and policy review efforts to support continuous quality improvement.

·Adhere to HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality regulations, ensuring all protected health information, substance use treatment information, and agency business remain secure and confidential.

·Respond effectively and professionally to client needs, maintaining timely communication via phone, email, and other methods while fostering respectful and positive interactions.

Interpersonal Relationships

·Exhibits enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility, and spirit of cooperation in the work environment.

·Maintains effective interpersonal relations with consumers, peers, subordinates, upper management, visitors, and the general public. Using language and behavior to promote dignity and respect.

Position Requirements:

·Ability to recognize, assess, and determine treatment needs.

·Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, with responsibility to exercise substantial discretion and independent judgement.

·Understanding of and ability to work with people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

·Proficiency with PC applications, including Microsoft applications and EHR’s.

·Strong organizational and time management skills, as well as attention to detail.

·Ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks and balance long and short-term projects simultaneously.

·Ability to work with staff quickly, accurately, and effectively in a dynamic work environment.

·Knowledge of Recovery-Based, Stages-of-Change, Motivational Interviewing,

·Cognitive-Behavioral, and various evidence-based, and culturally competent treatment.

·Ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local standards

Required Qualifications

·Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate (OTD) in Occupational Therapy.

·Active Nebraska Occupational Therapy License (or eligibility).

·Knowledge of trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented systems of care, and community-based practice.

Preferred Qualifications

·Experience in behavioral health, substance use recovery, or community mental health.

·Experience working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

·Experience supervising students or serving as a fieldwork educator.

·Familiarity with accreditation standards (CARF or similar).

Work Environment

·This position operates within residential recovery, shelter, and community-based housing environments. Flexibility in scheduling may be required to meet program and client accessibility needs, including limited evening or weekend programming. Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

·Standing - Periodically

·Sitting - Periodically

·Kneeling –  Periodically

·Pushing/Pulling– Periodically

·Lifting up to 20 pounds - Periodically

Great health benefits:

Salary: $75,000-$90,000

Medical

Dental, Vision, STD are covered 100%

Salary: Based on Experience

Other Benefits include:

SIMPLE IRA with 3% match

Paid PTO

Complimentary Life Insurance, Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance

11 paid holidays

Free Planet Fitness membership to 36th & L location-$120 value!

Free on-site lunches

Monthly employee engagement activities, recognition opportunities and more!!

Stephen Center offers competitive salaries and a full array of benefits commensurate with NAM Guidelines.

Stephen Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Thank you for your interest in Stephen Center!