Bilingual Public Health Worker Sr. - Public Health

Marion County • Salem, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Marion County Health and Human Services is seeking a Bilingual Public Health Worker Senior to join their team. This role focuses on making a positive impact in the community by helping to slow the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The ideal candidate will be bilingual in Spanish and English, experienced in case management, collaborative, flexible, and possess excellent communication skills. The position involves client-centered counseling, interviewing individuals diagnosed with reportable STI/HIV, performing rapid testing, and offering free STI testing at community events. The role assures the health and social service needs of a specific population are met through community outreach, agency visits, and direct contact with allied health providers, assisting with case management and providing health education. This position is on-site and not remote.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or GED.
• Associate degree in social sciences, a health occupation, mental health or related field, with two (2) years experience in community health, medical, mental health, or alcohol/drug services or other related fields.
• OR Four (4) years in community health, medical, mental health or alcohol/drug services or related advocacy, health education or other related fields with the culture of the population being served.
• OR Any satisfactory combination of work, education, training, or experience relevant to the position, as determined by Marion County.
• Fluent bilingual Spanish/English skills are required.
• Finalist will be required to pass a verbal and written Standardized Language Fluency Assessment as part of the hiring process.
• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history.
• If personal vehicle is used, must possess and maintain proof of personal automobile liability insurance, at a minimum, in the amount required by Oregon Law [ORS Chapter 806].
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check.
• Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits).
• Must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
• Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana.
• Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.
• Knowledge of the culture of the clients being served, and language, for bilingual positions.
• Knowledge of social services and community resources.
• Skills and ability to communicate clearly and effectively with clients, staff and the public.
• Possess good decision making and advocacy skills.
• Practice successful negotiation and persuasion skills.
• Match resources with needs.
• Develop meaningful therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Relate well to a wide variety of people of varying ages, socioeconomic backgrounds and needs.
• Apply concepts of cultural sensitivity.
• Exercise independent judgment and make decisions within established policies and procedures.
• Prepare and present effective written and verbal reports.
• Relate effectively with community agencies and resources and to function as a team member.
• Act in a professional manner and maintain professional working relationships.
• Operate effectively computer software and other office equipment.
• Possess strong coping skills necessary to deal with frustrating situations or difficult clients.
• Work hours conducive to reaching the identified population, which may include evenings and weekends.
• Operates a motor vehicle.
• Drives to homes to visit clients and outreach events.
• Sees using depth perception.
• Stands; sits; moves about the work area.
• Bends forward; reaches overhead.
• Lifts up, pushes, pulls up to 30 lbs.
• Moves carts weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Carries items weighing up to 30 lbs. for up to 60 feet.
• Operates a keyboard.
• Speaks clearly and audibly.
• Reads a 12 pt. font.
• Distinguish colors and shades.
• Uses depth perception.
• Hears a normal level of speech.
• Works in areas that may be exposed to weather, heat, cold, humidity, dust, chemicals, smoke, noise, exposure to cleaning disinfectants, and works in areas that may be uneven.
• This position may be exposed to screeching or crying infants or children in homes.
• There is the potential to be exposed to mold, dust, and smoke in client homes.
• Will need to drive to testing event, errands for business needs and training off site.
• Necessary to distinguish shades to determine color for patient testing.
• Applicants are eligible to use Veterans’ Preference when applying with Marion County in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235 and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015.
• Applicants with a disability may request reasonable accommodation, through Human Resources, in any step of the process to assist them in demonstrating their qualifications to perform the duties of the position for which they are applying.

Nice To Haves

• May assist with Spanish interpretation, and translation.
• May assist in covering Public Health Worker duties in clinic (packing specimen, phlebotomy, collecting specimens, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Provide client-centered counseling on reducing risks of acquiring STIs.
• Interview individuals diagnosed with reportable STI/HIV to identify others at risk for infection.
• Perform Rapid HIV/Syphilis testing and phlebotomy.
• Offer free STI testing at events throughout the community.
• Assists with case management functions in partnership with a health professional.
• Provides information and education on health-related issues.
• May act as an interpreter for clients.
• Actively participates with HSSS team activities to prevent new STI/HIV infections.
• Focuses on STI/HIV case investigation, outreach testing, case finding activities, clinic procedures, daily huddle and HIV Case Review sessions.
• Performs Disease Surveillance Investigation and Partner Services for HIV/STI Statewide Services (HSSS).
• Initiates investigation within 48 hours of assigned case and elicits contacts.
• Effectively utilizes telephone calls, text messaging and letters to confidentially locate individuals with a reported STI or HIV diagnosis.
• Gathers, assesses, and reviews client and community information using various investigation procedures including interviewing or datamining.
• Identifies, locates, notifies & refers for examination and/or treatment sex partners of persons infected with a sexually transmitted infection(s) including field visits to confidentially locate individuals with a reportable STI/HIV.
• Assesses and prioritizes intervention activities.
• Maintains field supplies and complies with field safety plans.
• Conducts investigations using various investigation methodologies, including field visit investigations and investigations using electronic tools.
• Documents intervention activities in a timely manner per local protocol.
• Maintains confidentiality of sensitive client and protected health information.
• Verifies the client’s identity during client encounter or prior to disclosing confidential information.
• Notifies and educates clients concerning test results, disease exposure, and provides client-centered counseling on reducing risks of acquiring STI’s in the future.
• Conducts comprehensive interviews employing effective communication skills.
• Ensures and promotes a confidential environment for client communications.
• Informs clients of the importance of seeking care and refers them appropriately to community or medical resources.
• Makes appointments for sex partners to be seen at a county health department clinic, if appropriate.
• Collaborates with clients to gather information on environmental risk history, risk reduction plan, third parties at risk, or venues where the client or others may have been exposed to disease.
• Identifies client barriers to needed interventions to conduct partner/contact notifications, and/or coordinates solutions to those barriers.
• Verifies that clients received testing, adequate treatment and follow-up services as appropriate.
• Effectively utilizes ORPHEUS database for casework and surveillance.
• Accurate completion of HSSS entries of required data into ORPHEUS.
• Updates and maintains case tracking sheet in Excel.
• Assists with HSSS Coordinator with OHA Not in Care list for appropriate follow-up to link cases back into HIV care.
• Determines disease intervention time frames, procedures and objectives.
• Recognizes or addresses gaps in information elicited and conducts client interviews to collect necessary information.
• Participates in HSSS ORPHEUS data audits.
• Reviews available case information and conducts case analysis meetings to determine case priority level and/or additional steps for intervention with Program Supervisor and Health Officer.
• Performs Rapid HIV/Syphilis testing and treatment follow-up services in accordance with local Standing Order and protocols.
• Assists RN to collect lab specimens, blood draw, urine, swabs.
• Performs Phlebotomy, completes lab paperwork and charting in a timely manner.
• Provides health education to clients concerning HIV/STI information and prevention, test results, and client-centered counseling on reducing STI/HIV risks per local protocol.
• Utilizes a variety of communication strategies to engage the target population.
• Assists clients with forms (consent, HIPAA, demographics, history, ROI) as needed.
• Checks temperatures every hour for Rapid HIV/Syphilis test kits and Rapid HIV/Syphilis test controls.
• Helps assure that outreach materials and supplies are stocked, ready for outreach events and updated.
• Assists in driving the mobile outreach van.
• Assists with cleaning and maintenance of mobile outreach van.
• Drives to outreach service locations, attends meetings, participates in health fairs, runs errands for supplies, lab specimens or for special projects.
• Tracks and reports data to meet program requirements to inform decision makers and other stakeholders.
• Enters data into CDC program Evaluation Web, a federal HIV testing database.
• Conducts monthly outreach supply inventory, tracking and documentation for test kits.
• Assists with condom distribution by making pre-packed supplies and condom orders.
• Receives lab reports of STI’s/HIV that require public health follow-up with RN or provider that require coordinating follow-up per standing orders.
• Implements activities planned by program coordinator for HIV/STI Statewide Standard (HSSS) Program and Clinic services to develop, implement, and maintain a data-driven, culturally appropriate community outreach plan to at-risk populations and the agencies/providers serving them.
• Participates in the development and implementation of new models of health promotion including but not limited to effective behavioral interventions for community and individual behavior change.
• Shares mission and values with collaborating organizations, the community, and advocates for needed services and future direction of services.
• Stays current on HIV prevention and interventions; meets performance standards and deadlines set forth by county program and partnering agencies regarding quantity, timeliness, and quality of work.
• Maintains clinical records in accordance with Federal, State, County Health, and program requirements under the direction of the facilities clinical supervisor.
• Periodically flexes schedule to provide services outside of normal Monday-Friday 0800-1700 business hours.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
• May be required to flex time or work additional hours on weekends or evenings to accommodate business needs.
• May assist with Spanish interpretation, and translation.
• May assist in covering Public Health Worker duties in clinic (packing specimen, phlebotomy, collecting specimens, etc.).
• In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work.
• Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties.
• Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule.
• Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.

Benefits

• Eligible for overtime.
• Marion County is a qualifying public employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Full-time employees working at the County may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance on Direct Student Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree