Job Description
Organizational Summary:
Us Helping Us is a mission-driven nonprofit known for its work at the intersection of culturally appropriate service delivery, community education and mobilization, advocacy, and research. For the past 30 years, Us Helping Us has provided innovative services, programs, and activities to improve the health and well-being of racial, sexual, and gender minorities, especially Black sexual minority men, people with HIV (PWH), and persons with substance use and mental health disorders. As it exists today, Us Helping Us offers various clinical, behavioral, and social services in a trusting, affirming, and inclusive environment. Importantly, Us Helping Us is a multi-service organization that is client-centric and provides coordinated, compassionate services that assist clients in realizing their full potential. We are currently hiring for a Community Health Worker who bridges the gap between community and healthcare systems, exchanges information with a diverse team concerned with a client’s healthcare and is committed, customer-oriented, and independently motivated person with the necessary skills to fill this position.
Position Summary:
The Community Health Worker will use their unique position as a well-trained community member to provide trust-based information peer education and diagnostic testing for a variety of infectious and chronic diseases (for example, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease). Our clients represent diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ and heterosexual youth and adults of color (e.g., Black, Latino/a, African/Caribbean descent, Asian origin), and present with behavioral vulnerabilities, including sexual health concerns, depression, anxiety, substance (ab)use, and various traumas. Thus, the Community Health Worker will also assist clients navigate through the often complex healthcare system. This includes transporting clients to clinical appointments, providing health insurance navigation services, assisting clients with prescription pick-ups, performing home visits, and making applicable referrals to medical, behavioral and social support services.
Reporting to the Community Health Manager, the Community Health Worker will have the following primary responsibilities:
- Build trust with and educate community members about health conditions and factors that contribute to the disproportionate rates among racial/ethnic minority communities.
- Review local surveillance data and perform targeted community-based education and mobilization activities, including integrated HIV/STD testing as well as other health screenings (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure, etc) as appropriate. .
- Assess clients’ medical, behavioral and social service needs and link them to the appropriate internal and external services.
- Identify and link people who are not engaged in medical care, including HIV care, by utilizing health outcome data and information about missed appointments.
- Work closely with Case Managers to ensure the implementation of Individualized Service Plans that address client’s unmet needs, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, domestic violence counseling, housing assistance, and education and employment services.
- Follow-up with clients to ensure attendance at appointments, receipt of and adherence to prescribed medication(s), and/or address any barriers that may impact engagement in care.
- Perform required entry of client-level data and documentation of services, including HIV/STD results, linkage to appropriate medical care, and referrals to behavioral and social services.
- Meet regularly with an interdisciplinary team to discuss successes, challenges, and innovative approaches to address client's needs and to improve core organizational services.
- Partner with research studies to assist with participant recruitment.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Excellent interpersonal, team building and problem solving/decision-making skills. Team player attitude, focus on client-centeredness, and excellent customer service skills are key.
- Effective communication skills (written and verbal), active listening and and organizational and stress management skills.
- Sensitive to others' needs and feelings, especially LGBTQ youth and adults; honest and ethical; reliable, responsible and dependable; and will to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Plan and organize work in an effective and timely manner and, in a team environment, maintain a flexible schedule in accordance to program and organizational needs.
Required Experience and Education:
- A high school diploma or GED is required. Preference will be given to individuals with a state-recognized certification as a community health worker and/or in phlebotomy or BA in Public Health.
- At least two (2) years of experience in facilitating HIV prevention and treatment services.
- Have a valid driver's license with no DUI or major moving violation in the past 5 years. Regular travel within the greater Washington, DC area is required for this position.
- Experience working with racial minorities and LGBTQ+ youth and adults.
- Bilingual English/Spanish and/or other languages strongly preferred.
- Commitment: Passion for the mission of the organization, including a strong commitment to working to improve the health and quality of life of LGBTQ+ youth and adults, people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases, and behavioral health disorders.
- Knowledge: Must have demonstrated knowledge of the DMV and the ability to review surveillance data to identify local communities with the greatest need. Intermediate computer skills, including the use of Microsoft Office and electronic health record systems (e.g., eClinicalWorks).
- Skills: Demonstrated ability to conduct sensitive, empathetic interviews and conversations that respect the dignity and diversity of our clients. Ability to engage clients in a supportive and empowering way. Ability to help manage conflict. Ability to maintain client records and information in an accurate, timely, and confidential manner.
- Personal qualities: Sound judgment, ability to work independently (with limited supervision), but cohesively, with medical and social service providers and ability to work effectively in a busy and ever-changing environment.
Specifications:
- The annual salary is $52,500 -$67,500 (based on experience) plus a generous benefits package, including annual leave an 80/20 employer/employee-paid health/dental/vision insurance, federally observed holidays.
- This is a full-time position (working a minimum of 40 hours per week) and requires regular evening and weekend commitments.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. with a valid work permit required.
- Must submit to a background investigation and drug test.
- Us Helping Us has a smoke-free environment and non-smokers are preferred. Excellent personal hygiene is a must.
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Us Helping Us is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, language, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran with a disability.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $52,500.00 - $65,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you hold a BA or 5 years of relevant community health worker experience in the sexual health field?
- Do you have a drivers license and able to drive a mobile health unit?
- Are you willing to work 80% providing community-based services outside of an office environment to vulnerable populations.
Work Location: In person
