Community Health Worker at The Way Station Health & Hygiene Center

Description

Compensation:

• Non-exempt/Hourly
• The standard wage range for this role is $27.75 to $32.74 per hour.
• It may be possible to earn more over time up to $37.72 per hour.

Work Schedule:

• Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm
• Full-time - 40 hours/week
  

Who We Are

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center (FQHC) that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing more than 300 caring and compassionate employees, our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

What We Value

• Respect
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Innovation

We strive to demonstrate our Values in Action in all that we do. We value each individual on our team and aim to onboard a workforce of the very best talent, whose ambitions and values align with ours.

Job Summary

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. Job duties include:

1. Conducts community outreach in order to establish and sustain relationships between UCNW and identified communities to be served.

2. Provides non-clinical health information and assistance to target populations served by CHW programs.

3. Facilitates patient engagement in healthcare.

Learn more about TWS services at The Way Station Bellingham | Free Showers & Laundry.

What We Offer

• A friendly and collaborative team environment
• A competitive compensation package
• The opportunity to be part of a community wide partnership to address homelessness and ensure unhoused people have access to health care.

Generous 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 – details can be viewed at Federal Student Aid.

Requirements

• Knowledge of health insurance options including Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and managed care programs preferred.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.
  

To Apply
 

Visit our Careers Page at www.unitycarenw.org. For news on our organization & future job postings, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://bit.ly/363mfhv!

If you feel this job posting is missing any required compensation or benefit information, please contact HR@ucnw.org. Other questions can be addressed throughout the recruitment process for candidates selected to move forward.

Unity Care NW has an Employee Health Program for the safety of our patients and staff. The program requires all new employees to have up to date vaccines for influenza and strongly encourages up to date vaccines for COVID-19. More information about this program is provided throughout the recruitment process.