Gender Health & Wellness Navigator

Description

Job Summary: Working under the direction of both the Director and the Manager of Gender Health & Wellness Programs, this position plays a critical role in the healthcare team by facilitating the navigation of Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) clients through appropriate agency programs and to our external referral network, thereby playing a vital role in assisting healthcare providers in delivering quality, gender-affirming care. The navigator, as an integral part of the healthcare team, engages in community outreach to educate about the program and advocates for comprehensive healthcare access. The chosen candidate will be a valuable resource and advocate for TGI patients, both current and prospective, ensuring that all quality metrics, including those related to gender-affirming care, are met during their visit. Serving as essential intermediaries between clients and the healthcare team, navigators are instrumental in addressing disparities related to race, gender, sexuality, and other factors, thus ensuring equitable healthcare access for all individuals. This position strengthens the Gender-Diverse Health & Wellness Program and the linkage to care team by fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare that includes the provision of gender-affirming services, reinforcing the navigator’s key role in promoting overall wellness and health equity within the healthcare team.  

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• For anyone seeking gender affirming care, regardless of where they are in the process, provides education and linkage to care. 
• Identifying and connecting individuals seeking gender affirming care who are not currently receiving the necessary medical and social support services. 
• Review the care plan with the provider and ensure all pt questions are answered as a team. 
• Go over any quality measures such as education for increased BMI, tobacco cessation, diet, and exercise for hypertension and/or elevated PHQ testing. 
• Following completion of the Promotes model training, this position will engage and build relationships with a select impacted community and community partners in the context of gender affirming care. 
• Provides client referrals to outside entities or support service programs as appropriate. 
• Establishes positive community relations in the context of gender affirming care. 
• Delivers information about health and wellness in ways that the community can easily understand and provides information on services provided by the healthcare provider. 
• Responsible for promoting a collaborative and effective working environment in gender-affirming care. 
• Linking and engaging individuals seeking gender affirming care in medical and psychological capacities. 
• Assisting individuals seeking gender affirming care in adhering to their care plan. 
• Explaining health benefits and other types of available assistance to individuals seeking gender affirming care 
• Modeling commitment to continuous quality improvement by engaging in quality improvement initiatives and projects, such as identifying and addressing gaps, and by identifying, developing, and testing new practices for improving the outcomes of patients in gender affirming care. Participates in all appropriate staff meetings or other activities as needed. 
• Ensures the privacy and security of PHI (Protected Health Information) as outlined in DAP Health’s policies and procedures relating to HIPAA compliance, including attending annual compliance training. 
• Coaching clients in ways that are culturally appropriate to facilitate positive behavior change in the context of gender affirming care. 
• Developing trusting and caring relationships with clients. 
• Communicating with clients to provide or collect information related to their gender affirming care needs. 
• Motivating clients by using motivational interviewing and other behavior change techniques. 
• Addressing client needs, especially around social determinants of health (SDoH) as they relate to their care. 
• Completes other related assignments to help meet the department's goals in gender affirming care. 
• Perform other job-related duties assigned in gender-affirming care. 

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Previous professional, lived, or volunteer experience working in gender affirming care. 
• Experience in public health, community building or other health education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Highly skilled interpersonally with excellent teamwork and relationship skills.
• Highly skilled in interpersonal communication, including resolving conflict.
• Able to sufficiently engage members in a variety of settings, including on the phone, at member’s homes, in hospitals and other settings.
• Knowledge of the community the navigator will be working in, especially non-professional resources, and their reputation in the community.
• Ability to develop relationships with community members and leaders, including in the faith-based community.
• A high degree of skillful decision making and judgement, in an autonomous position, including knowing when to consult with the team, supervisors, and experts.
• Able to develop effective relationships with team members, working out in a community-based setting when needed.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to mental health conditions and co-occurring disorders.
• Awareness of the impact of unmitigated bias and judgement on health commitment to addressing both.
• Understanding of, and a commitment to, high performing team practices.
• Ideal candidate will have interest in and competence in cultural differences, the transgender and gender diverse community, the minority health model, sexual practices, and a demonstrated competence in working with the above-mentioned community. 
• Knowledge of the medical aspects of gender affirming care, including Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy and gender affirming surgical interventions.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS disease, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) (Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis) and HCV, to include diagnosis, prevention, risk-reduction strategies, as well as familiarity with Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP). 

Additional Requirements: (Licenses/Certifications)

• Valid CA Driver’s License with a clean driving record and access to a reliable vehicle and up-to-date auto insurance 

Salary : $23 - $24