Community Health Worker

Job Description

Position Title:Community Health Worker

Timeframe: Full or Part-time, 20-40 hrs/week, flexible days/hours - $20/hour/starting

Reports to: OSCI Program Manager

Position Details: Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection (OSCI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving the SCI community in Oregon and SW Washington. This Community Health Worker (CHW) position is based in Portland to provide client support and community outreach services in the tri-county area with particular outreach to marginalized communities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Perform community outreach and engagement activities that build connections and capacity among people living with paralysis. This includes planning, coordinating and facilitating community-based activities that create connections and provide resources and services in a safe, accepting environment for participants to connect, learn, and recreate.
• Provide client-support to newly injured people with spinal cord injury or those who need support adjusting to paralysis. This includes social support, health system navigation, and patient advocacy. Additional duties include assessing clients’ involvement in services, identifying barriers to care and readiness to access care, including client knowledge of insurance eligibility status, underlying health conditions, and offering information required for treatment or services.
• Provide health education, materials and conduct outreach to inform individuals and families about topics referring to local resources and supportive services for people living with paralysis.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships and partnerships with multiple community partners, in particular those that serve marginalized communities.
• Host in-person and online educational forums, meet-ups, support groups, and outings that strengthen community and build self-efficacy and sense of belonging.
• Maintain detailed documentation regarding community engagement, assessment and referral activities. Maintain a high level of confidentiality in accordance with program ethics and related health laws, such as HIPAA. Collect information and data using the highest degree of confidentiality and professionalism. Submit reports in a timely manner.
• Maintain a high level of communication and coordination with OSCI colleagues and local community partners.
• Contribute to the overall team effort by completing other duties as assigned.

Required experience and skills:

• Minimum 3 years of lived-experience with Spinal Cord Injury or paralysis
• Experience conducting community outreach and/or health education
• Computer skills, including Google suite, Microsoft, and Zoom
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Bilingual desired but not required, Spanish speaking preferable
• Comfortable hosting/facilitating online Zoom/Google Meet group educational sessions
• Self-starter, works well independently and as a team member
• Prior experience serving the disability community
• Ability to drive or use transportation throughout the Portland metro area for community visits

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred but not required)
• Certified Community Health Worker (or complete 90 hours training within 6 months of hire with financial support from OSCI)

To Apply:

Please submit a complete application with a cover letter and resume through Indeed. Applications will be screened, followed by an in-person interview.

Benefits: Full-time position includes $500/mo for health insurance stipend

If you have lived experience and are interested, but aren’t sure if you have the right background or experience, please do apply. As a successful applicant, you will receive training and supportive supervision throughout the duration of this work. You will be oriented to the organization and the goals and objectives of the scope of work. We work as a team.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance

Medical specialties:

• Public Health

Schedule:

• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Do you have the ability to drive or use transportation throughout Portland metro area for community visits?

Experience:

• Community Outreach and/or Health Education: 1 year (Preferred)
• disability community: 1 year (Preferred)
• living with Spinal Cord Injury or paralysis: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: Remote