Education Specialist (Community Health Worker) presso King County, WA

About the Department

Community Health Services assures the provision of clinical health care services in King County through policy and planning work with partners and through the direct provision of clinical services. Community Health Services include parent-child health services, preventive and primary care services, oral health, homeless health care, youth health services, integrated behavioral health services, outreach, WIC, refugee services, Access and Outreach, Black Community Equity Team, Children's health services, Dental clinics and other resources, Sexual and reproductive health, Emergency Medical Services, Food insecurity screening, Health insurance, Health services for the homeless, Immunization, Public Health Centers, Resources for child care facilities, School health and Teen health, and pharmacy services. 

The First Steps program serves individuals and families with diverse backgrounds and needs at a variety of Public Health and community locations, including client homes. The program functions as a multidisciplinary team comprised of Dietitians, Public Health Nurses, Community Health Workers, and Social Workers. The First Steps program provides health education, case management, referrals, and service linkages to qualifying individuals with Medicaid coverage to promote pregnancy, birth, and early childhood health outcomes.

The CHW is a vital part of the First Steps Team. The CHW collaborates and coordinates with nurses, social workers, nutritionists, interpreters, and other CHWs to deliver health education and preventative services to pregnant and post-pregnant individuals, infants, and their families from a broad range of cultures, communities, backgrounds, experiences, and resource needs. including people experiencing homelessness and mental illnesses. This position supports and advances the Community Health Services Division's values for fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective, and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance, expanding opportunities to seek input, listen, and respond to clients.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week). Workdays and hours will vary based on business needs. Currently 8:00-5:00 Monday - Friday.

Onsite Work

This position’s main sites are Midway and Federal Way Public Health Centers (PHC). However, the candidate will also work at other Public Health Center sites, based on business need. Midway (PHC) is located at 26401 Pacific Highway South Des Moines, WA 98198 and the Federal Way Public Health Center is located at 33431 13th PL S, Federal Way, WA 98003. The candidate must have the ability to travel to sites throughout King County.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Position Duties

• Approach all services and interactions with clients, the public, and co-workers from a foundation of equity and social justice. 
• Provide First Steps – Maternity Support Services & Infant Case Management (MSS/ICM) – to pregnant and post-pregnant individuals, and infants representing a diverse client population according to program policies.
•  Provide services in Public Health clinics and at alternate sites as desired by client, such as client home, libraries, or other community locations. 
• Work closely in conjunction with WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) services. 
• Engage and screen clients for social, medical, nutritional, and psychological determinants of health, status, and history. 
• Provide accurate health and safety information using established messages on topics such as, but not limited to, birth control methods, breastfeeding/chest-feeding, and car seat safety. 
• Listen to and support clients. Adapt health information based on clients’ priorities, cultural beliefs, and value systems. 
• Refer clients to other team members for care based on individual need. 
• Use multiple computer programs in the provision of client-centered services, including electronic charting. 
• Maintain information on community resources. Inform clients of available resources and make referrals. Coach clients in how to access community resources, including Medicaid-reimbursable services. 
• Provide services to at least 8 clients per day. Document these services in compliance with detailed program requirements & timelines. 
• Communicate clearly and effectively with clients and coworkers, verbally and in writing, and with the assistance of in-person and phone interpreters, as needed. 
• Ability to work with a variety of computer programs, including but not limited to, Microsoft Suite – Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. 
• Ability to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

Ideal Candidate:

• High school diploma or equivalent, to fulfill Washington Health Care Authority’s First Steps requirements for Community Health Workers.
• A minimum of 1 year of health care or social services experience. 
• Ability to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation. 
• Ability to travel in a timely manner within King County to locations that may have limited access to public transportation. 
• Experience providing health and/or human services to pregnant/post-pregnant individuals and infants’ caregivers. 
• Fluency in other language(s), in addition to English.

Desired Candidate:

• Bilingual and/or bicultural, English/Spanish or other language commonly spoken by our clients, 
• Experience with Epic health electronic record system 
• Experience directly providing health and social services to pregnant and parenting individuals and infants

Other Qualifications

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

This position is open to both internal and external applicants

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

(Please note: Cover letters (remove if not applicable), resumes (remove if not applicable), and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR (if applicable).
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.
• If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Union Membership

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Contact

For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at [email protected]

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