Community Health Outreach Worker

Central City Concern and the City of Portland are partnering to field a Street Outreach Team which conducts direct street outreach to people living in unsanctioned encampments. As a part of the multi-disciplinary Street Outreach Team, this Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) engages directly with people experiencing homelessness to facilitate engagement with health and social services. CHOWs help people take the next step in the care continuum by assessing people’s needs in the field, identifying programs, resources, and services that will best meet those needs, and removing obstacles to accessing those programs, resources, and services. Goals include helping people experiencing homelessness enter shelter and TASS (SRV) sites; develop trusting relationships with their medical or behavioral health providers; and access food and material resources.

Location: 707 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209

Shift: Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm

Compensation: The range for this position starts at $24.52 per hour

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or GED required with 1 year of experience including work in human services, community health, social services, volunteer work, and internships.
• Must possess a current driver’s license, pass a DMV background check and be designated an “acceptable” driver as outlined in Central City Concern’s Fleet Safety Policy. Must pass an initial driver training within 60 days of being an approved driver and continued recertification training. Must have excellent reading and comprehension skills.
• Education and experience sufficient to succeed, carry out responsibilities, and demonstrate the skills and abilities as described above with experience working in community social service or
• healthcare environment.
• Must understand the causes of homelessness and poverty, the medical and psychosocial sequelae of homelessness and the systems and processes used to help complex and medically vulnerable patients secure and maintain stable housing, healthcare and other social services.
• Ability to adhere to Central City Concern’s drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy and productive work environment and strictly complies with the Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988. An employee shall not, in the workplace, unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, or use a controlled substance or alcohol.
• Must have CPR certification prior to start.
• Will be required to carry an agency cell phone for work use. Cell phone will be provided.
• Must have non-violent de-escalation training or equivalent (or complete within 60 days of hire.)
• Physical ability to bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB Test, and DHS background check.
• Must adhere to agency’s non-discrimination policies.
• Ability to effectively interact with co-workers and patients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, political affiliation, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles and sexual orientations and treat individuals with respect and dignity.
• Central City Concern is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of this particular job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work under the operational guidance of the City of Portland’s Director of Street Outreach, in cooperation with the Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) and other stakeholders to identify and engage with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who have called 311 for outreach support.
• Make initial contact with participants referred from the City of Portland and provide direct outreach activities to link participants with services requested, including available healthcare and shelter services.
• Maintain a prioritized list of participants with whom we are working to establish connections to services.
• Maintain updated participant charts that include notes on the effectiveness of contacts, interventions, and outcomes.
• Assist participants in engaging with internal and external system resources, including healthcare, shelter, and housing.
• Provide basic life skills education and survival resources to participants to support them in engaging in healthy behaviors and reducing barriers to outcomes and goals.
• Attend and participate in learning collaboratives and outreach team meetings, with the goal of identifying best practices and continuously improving the quality of outreach initiatives.
• Connect with Community Health Worker and Peer Support communities of practice.
• Complete and maintain accuracy of all required documentation inclusive of electronic documentation in a timely manner and in accordance with regulations and office standards.
• Provide transportation when necessary for patients in a CCC vehicle, taxi, or public transportation to and from program related appointments, interviews, hospitals/clinics, shelters, and other needed resources.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to CCC policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners’ and outside providers’ patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access. This includes immediately reporting any breach of protected health information or personal identification information of any person receiving CCC services by CCC or an outside provider to the CCC Compliance Department, as well as to your supervisor or their designee.
• Attend all mandatory CCC and City of Portland trainings in a timely manner.
• Follow CCC policies and procedures.
• Participate in compliance, quality assurance and quality improvement activities as directed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to adhere to trauma-informed care principles and apply Motivational Interviewing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to individuals and families of varied ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, ages and living circumstances.
• Ability to promote programs and services to the community (faith based, funders, recovery/treatment providers, culturally specific groups, elected officials, governmental bureaucracy etc.)
• Demonstrated understanding of participant care processes.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing, including in participant charts.
• Ability to manage time and meet deadlines.
• Ability to develop relationships and work courteously and effectively communicate with the City of Portland, general public, patients, medical personnel, corrections personnel, police, merchants and co-workers.
• Ability to provide effective de-escalation and care to a population of people with complex behavioral and physical health concerns.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.
• Ability to learn and apply training instruction.
• Ability to maintain strict standards of confidentiality regarding patient information.
• Ability to transport patients in company vehicle.
• Ability to handle emergent situations with skill, confidence and tact.

Benefits:  Central City Concern offers an incredible benefits package to our Regular/FT employees: 

• Generous paid time off plan which provides up to 4 weeks of PTO accrual in the first year. Accrual increases with longevity.
• Amazing 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with competitive employer match with 4.25% in the first year, 6% in the second year, and 8% in the 3rd year.
• 11 recognized Holidays PLUS 2 Personal Holidays to be used at the employee’s discretion.
• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance coverage.
• Employer Paid Life, Short Term Disability, AND Long Term Disability Insurance!
• Sabbatical Program offering extended time off at years 7, 14, and 21.

This description is intended to provide a snapshot of the work performed and is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of the position.

As an agency deeply rooted in recovery, part of our policy and commitment to a drug and alcohol-free workplace includes post-offer, pre-employment drug screens. Please note we follow Federal Guidelines regarding prohibited substances, even for those legal at the state level.  

Central City Concern is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of this job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.

Salary : $25