Street Medicine Peer Support

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department•Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, WA

About The Position

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is hiring a Street Medicine Peer Support Worker, classified as a Health Promotion Technician, for its Street Medicine Program in the Strengthening Families Division. This is a full-time, 1.0 FTE project position currently funded through September 29, 2027. The starting hourly wage is $29.23–$31.30, with a full salary range of $29.23–$39.55. The position includes insurance, retirement plan options, leave accruals, annual cost-of-living salary increases, employee programs, and other benefits. The role provides administrative and hands-on support for community-based health outreach and education, primarily serving people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma. The worker engages directly with the unsheltered community, distributes essential supplies, connects people to services, assists with health insurance enrollment, and supports community partnerships. The position also involves preparing and maintaining outreach vehicles and supplies, collecting program data, and helping coordinate events. Work requires a compassionate, trauma-informed approach, flexibility, and the ability to work in varied settings and weather conditions. The position works semi-independently under close supervision and follows established instructions and procedures.

Requirements

Associate’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications.
One year of experience in community health, a medical office, or a community-based organization, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid driver’s license and an acceptable driver’s abstract before employment.
Ability to obtain Certified Peer Support certification within the first eight months. Eligibility requires personal lived experience in houselessness, mental health or substance use recovery, or being the parent or legal guardian of a youth who has received behavioral health services.
Ability to obtain WA Healthplanfinder Navigator Certification within the first eight months.
Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, databases, and virtual meeting software.
Skill in marketing principles and presentation techniques for culturally diverse audiences.
Attention to detail, accuracy, proofreading, and strong organizational skills.
Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential data and use discretion when sharing information.
Effective listening, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including adapting communication to the audience and asking clarifying questions.
Self-reflection, personal accountability, resilience, flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to learn and model agency values and ethical standards.
Ability to use restorative practices and conflict resolution, collaborate with partners and underserved communities, and communicate across cultures with humility and openness to feedback.
Ability to work outdoors in varied weather and settings, maintain situational awareness, and work effectively with distressed, dissatisfied, inebriated, emotional, or angry individuals.
Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects up to 50 pounds; walk or traverse up to one-half mile while transporting supplies; and perform occasional overhead reaching and frequent stooping.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle locally in varied lighting and weather conditions, including large vehicles such as a cargo van and RV.
Ability to travel locally or regionally, typically 80% of the time.
Ability to participate in emergency preparedness activities and perform assigned emergency-response duties, potentially at different times, locations, and working conditions.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in Spanish or another language widely spoken in Pierce County.

Responsibilities

Provide administrative and on-the-ground support for community-based outreach and education activities.
Collect participant details, service needs, resource-distribution information, and other program activity data; enter, track, and report it accurately and promptly.
Set up safe, organized outreach stations and ensure materials and supplies are accessible.
Distribute resources such as food, hygiene products, clothing, and healthcare materials to people experiencing homelessness.
Engage with people using a respectful, empathetic, trauma-informed approach.
Assist individuals with online health insurance applications through WA Healthplanfinder and help them navigate enrollment.
Safely operate and maintain the cargo van and RV, transporting team members, medical supplies, and outreach materials to service locations.
Prepare, pack, organize, count, and replenish outreach supplies and maintain accurate inventory records, including for supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
Clean and disinfect outreach vehicles and keep them sanitary and ready for use.
Assist with scheduling, coordination, setup, and logistics for outreach, community events, and education activities, including invitations, advertisements, meeting spaces, and note taking.
Attend community events and assist Health Promotion Coordinators with distributing informational materials.
Coordinate with department staff and community partners to gather and maintain program data.
Help develop and maintain accurate, culturally appropriate resources, training, and promotional materials.
Work with administrative staff to monitor and maintain program-specific supply inventory; use a purchasing card to make assigned program purchases.
Participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Claiming Program if required.
Follow safety procedures, report unsafe conditions, operate equipment and vehicles safely, and participate in emergency preparedness activities; perform assigned emergency-response duties when needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.