Community Engagement Assistant

Harbor Health Services is an innovative, growing, mission-based organization that lives, serves and collaborates with our community members to achieve our mission to help individuals reach their full potential through access to local, affordable services that promote health. Harbor provides medical, behavioral health, dental, and support services to more than 34,000 patients in Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod. Harbor Health also operates two Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Mattapan and Brockton, providing comprehensive healthcare, transportation and social services for more than 450 frail elders who continue to live with dignity and independence in the community and a Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. To help further the mission of Harbor, we are looking for a talented Community Engagement Assistant to join our team at the Daniel Driscoll Neponset Health Center at Minot St.

Harbor Health offers an excellent, comprehensive benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, & Disability insurance, 403b Savings Plan, Generous Paid Time Off plus 11 additional Holidays and much more!

Role:

The Community Engagement Assistant plays an important role as a member of the Community Programs team, helping to implement community-facing programs and events in the communities Harbor serves in through our community health centers in Dorchester, Plymouth, Hyannis, and Dennis.

The Community Engagement Assistant helps to operate health-focused prevention programs, including the weekly food pantry on Tuesdays at Daniel Driscoll-Neponset Health Center and THRIVE sexual and reproductive health clinics. This role also supports Harbor Health’s sponsorship and health-focused outreach efforts at community events with staffing and active engagement of community members.

Responsibilities:

• Assists in operating the weekly food pantry at Daniel Driscoll-Neponset Health Center on Tuesdays between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM
• • Unloads food and other items, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, navigating narrow passageways, and adjusting to weather conditions.
  • Greets food pantry clients in a friendly and pleasant manner, while navigating cultural and language differences.
  • Records client attendance in a database.
  • Assists new clients in filling out registration form and captures demographic data.
  • Packs bags of food to be distributed using nutrition guidelines.
  • Assists in tracking of inventory and placing orders.
  • Assists in data collection and reporting for grant funders and other stakeholders.

• Participates in seasonal community assistance programs at all Harbor community health center locations including but not limited to holiday food access.
• Provides application assistance to Food Pantry/food access clients, including SNAP (must complete training provided by Harbor Health and/or outside providers).
• Assists in operating weekly THRIVE sexual and reproductive health clinic at Daniel-Driscoll Neponset Health Center, quarterly pop-up clinics at other Harbor community health center locations and occasional pop-up clinics at other community events and locations.
• Administers rapid HIV testing, HIV/STI risk assessment, and family planning counseling (must complete training provided by Harbor Health and/or outside partners).
• Assists in event planning preparations and set up, including preparing materials, activities, and giveaways.
• Staffs Harbor outreach tables, engaging the community in activities and information offered at the table.
• Supports event logistics and documentation as assigned, including taking photos for use on social media and in internal communications.
• Supports program and event promotion and outreach activities as assigned.
• Assists in data collection and reporting for grant funders, using platforms like SurveyMonkey, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Access, inputs data and assists in distributing surveys, etc., at events.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED required, Associates or Bachelor degree in Marketing, Communications, Community Health, Public Health, Social work, Human Services, Sociology, or related field preferred
• BLS (Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers) Certification required
• Experience in community organizing, health education, or health promotion preferred
• Proven effective communications skills with various populations of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Must be able to travel between Harbor Health sites and to other off site community events in a timely manner
• Must be available to work Tuesdays starting at 7:30 AM
• Must be willing to work a flexible 40 hour/week schedule which may include occasional evenings and weekends
• Proven effective customer service skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Understanding of how social determinants and health disparities affect overall health preferred
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish, English/Vietnamese. English/Haitian Creole, English/Cape Verde Creole or English/Portuguese preferred

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.