Community Health Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Gainesville, TX

13d • Onsite

About The Position

As a member of the Public Health Nursing Team performs routine (journey-level) public health work including being the first point of contact in the clinic and provides the initial impression of the clinic to clients and customers under moderate supervision of the Regional Nurse Manager, Nurse Supervisor with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Provides administrative support for the field office including referral for services not provided by DSHS, maintenance of confidential records and files, communication with customers and clients about the available programs and services, completion of monthly reports, data entry and provision of excellent customer service. Schedules customers for eligible appointments in a timely manner in collaboration with clinic team members. Provides vaccine management. Actively participates in population-based initiatives including, but not limited to planning and developing public health education program activities and assistance to program staff and community organizations as well as communicating approved health messages, recording, and reporting clinic and community activities as well as evaluation processes. Will be certified as a Community Health Worker and Child Passenger Seat Technician within six months. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions. Member of the Incident Command Structure in response to public health emergencies. Must comply with HHS, DSHS, Texas Department of Public Safety applicable policies/procedures/standards. Must be able to reliably work in office Mon.-Fri., 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Requirements

• KNOWDEDGE OF: Administrative practices and procedures; Texas laws and statues related to public health; Social, economic, and public health issues.
• SKILL IN: Providing clerical support; Using office equipment, desktop/laptop computer equipment and software (such as Microsoft Suite applications, Internet Explorer, GoToMeeting, Teams, Micro-soft Forms); Data entry; Providing great customer service; Oral and written communication that is culturally sensitive; developing and conducting group and individual education; Conducting outreach to disproportionate populations.
• ABILITY TO: Work as part of a team; Effectively communicate within a team and with external clients and customers; Maintain confidentiality; Implement administrative procedures; Prioritize workload and meet deadlines; Interpret public health laws and regulations; Analyze and evaluate public health needs; Complete and maintain certifications (Community Health Worker, Child Passenger Safety Technician); Meet travel demands associated with the position; Work reliably in-office Monday- Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Certified Community Health Worker (CHW). If not a certified CHW, will be required to complete certification within six months of hire.
• Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). If not a certified CPST, will be required to complete certification within six months of hire.
• Must have a valid class C Texas driver's license or equivalent from another state.

Nice To Haves

• Spanish Speaking Perferred

Responsibilities

• Serves as the initial contact for clients/customers.
• Maintains a resource list to link customers to personal health services unavailable through DSHS.
• Evaluates the needs of the customer and may assist them to make an appointment for direct services or with a referral resource.
• Assists client to complete required information for clinic services.
• Maintains records/files per current State and Regional record policies and standards.
• Supports the implementation of the One Record Project in Public Health Region 2/3 by purging, reformatting, and creating new records.
• Maintains confidentiality of clients based on HIPAA standards.
• Effectively communicates to clients and customers available programs and services.
• Aware of public health laws/regulations/policies that protect health and ensure safety.
• Supports e-travel requests and reports for reimbursement.
• May work with Regional Administrative Services as the local point of contact for building needs.
• Supports the administration of direct services such as, but not limited to, immunization, tuberculosis (TB) case management and STD/HIV.
• Schedules eligible clients for vaccine administration on-site and at planned off-site clinics.
• In collaboration with the Public Health Nurse (PHN), schedules TB and STD/HIV clients for clinic services.
• May provide Directly Observed Therapy for TB clients under the direction of the PHN.
• Maintains clinic/office supply levels via completion and submission of accurate monthly inventories.
• Submits clinic results monthly to the Clinic Monthly Activities Report.
• Completes financial screening, collects fees, compiles monthly fiscal report per regional and state polices and standards.
• Actively supports regional population-based initiatives in the field office with clerical support and provides approved health messaging to clients and customers in the clinic and the community.
• Participates with local stakeholders to plan and conduct community events promoting regional or local public health programs and initiatives, creating awareness of public health problems and acts as a resource for public health education programs.
• Collects data for planning and evaluation of public health education programs.
• Maintains active knowledge about the community's health status.
• Provides reports and evaluation of population-based services.
• Will be certified as a Community Health Worker and Child Passenger Seat Technician and must maintain certification throughout employment.
• Serves as a trained provider for Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) in order to respond accurately to inquiries and interpret rules, policies and procedures for the community stakeholders including school nurses, daycares, and parents.
• Completes required monthly/weekly/daily reports for vaccine management and reporting.
• Participates as an active partner in vaccine management including vaccine ordering, ImmTrac2 entry, inventory, cold chain management and reporting of vaccine utilization and loss.
• Participates in regional assignments/duties/special initiatives.
• May be required to work other than normal business hours in order to respond to public health emergencies; actively participate and/or serve in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response/recovery/Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation-requirescompletion of at least ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 and may require an alternative shift pattern assignment and/or location.
• Maintain compliance with DSHS Policy, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures and Standards, and a current valid Texas Driver’s License.
• Compliance with DSHS Immunization Policy required: serologic evidence of immunity to, or documented evidence of vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), Tdap, and annual vaccination against influenza and hepatitis B.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

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