Residence Requirements:

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS:  CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one present vacancy at the Erie County Department of Senior Services.

Examples of Duties:

An Outreach Aide-Senior Services develops and provides information and technical assistance on behalf of the Department of Senior Services;

 Works with community agencies and organizations in the preparation of programs and meetings to increase community involvement in the department's programs and services;

Assists in the preparation of written material on word processing programs;

Schedules and participates in meetings with staff and community agencies regarding the department's program and services and other topics as required;

Assists in the collection, analysis, and preparation of data, using appropriate software;

Promotes interest in program activities in the community;

Serves as liaison to community agencies, elderly, caregivers, and department staff on behalf of the department's programs and services;

Provides technical support to conferences, forums, using computers, projectors, equipment, etc.;

Prepares routine correspondence;

Provides information over the phone, or in person, regarding agency and community programs.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

A.  Completion of 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university and one year of experience in preparing, distributing, and live presentation of outreach materials to the public; or:

B.  Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and three years of experience in preparing, distributing, and live presentation of outreach materials to the public; or:

C.  An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
Eligibility for New York State driver's license required at time of application, with possession of the license mandatory at the time of appointment. This position requires substantial travel, and candidates must demonstrate ability to meet the transportation demands of the job in carrying out their responsibilities in any location to which travel is required, including some locations not accessible by public transportation.

Notes:

NOTES: 1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements. 2. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Subjects of Examination:

Subjects of examination: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Characteristics, issues, and problems relating to the elderly

These questions test for knowledge of the characteristics of the elderly, the issues of concern to them, and the causes and implications of significant problems facing them. The questions may cover such areas as housing, economic security, employment, long-term care, health care, recreation, social support, nutrition, and mental and physical functioning.

2. Educating and interacting with the public

These questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individuals and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

3. Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

4. Working with people in human services situations

These questions test for a knowledge of general techniques used to deal with common client behaviors such as fear, hostility, shyness, resistance, defensiveness, withdrawal, anxiety and confusion.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.