Community Health Worker at The Way Station Health & Hygiene Center

Unity Care NW•Bellingham, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Make a difference by serving our unhoused neighbors at The Way Station Health & Hygiene Center in downtown Bellingham! Individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to become ill, have greater hospitalization rates, and die at a younger age than the general population. The Way Station provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with a range of health and social services to assist in improving their health outcomes and aiding their transition to sustainable housing. The Way Station serves people in need of showers, laundry, medical and behavioral health care, case management, and other services provided by partner organizations including respite care. The Community Health Worker (CHW) will work with targeted populations to increase patient engagement, reduce Social Determinants of Health barriers, and improve health outcomes specifically for unhoused individuals utilizing Way Station services.

Requirements

Strong verbal and written interpersonal communication skills, including motivational interviewing.
Ability to work independently and be self-directed while embedded in the community.
Ability to de-escalate clients and manage occasional crisis situations.
Ability to understand and respond effectively and with sensitivity to special population groups, including those defined by race, ethnicity, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, economic standing & others.
Possesses a basic level of written and verbal communications skills, computational and computer skills and mathematical knowledge at a level typically acquired through completion of a general studies high school program.
Able to use Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
Able to learn & use UCNW’s Electronic Health Records system, payroll system, training systems & other software used in this role.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of health insurance options including Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and managed care programs preferred.
Experience working in a community health center and familiarity with social services in Whatcom County, or equivalent relevant lived experience.
Experience mobilizing resources for low-income or underserved populations.

Responsibilities

Conducts community outreach in order to establish and sustain relationships between UCNW and identified communities to be served.
Provides non-clinical health information and assistance to target populations served by CHW programs.
Facilitates patient engagement in healthcare.

Benefits

Medical, dental, & vision insurance
401(k) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year of eligibility
6 paid holidays
Generous paid time off of 108 hours accrued in Year 1 gradually increasing to 196 hours per year over 10 years
Paid sick leave
Other paid leaves for Bereavement, Jury Duty & Bone Marrow/Organ Donation
Life/AD&D insurance
Variety of optional insurances including Supplementary Life/AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, and Travel as well as Identity Theft Protection
Flexible Spending Account
Self-funded Health Savings Account on Base Medical Insurance Plan
Employee Assistance Program
Alternative transportation incentives
Healthy Living reimbursement
Unique programs including Medical Hardship Payroll Loans, Employee Referral Bonus, and Will preparation services
Employment at UCNW counts towards eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness