Community Health Specialist

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.

Brief Job Description:

As a member of the Public Health Nursing Team, provides administrative support DSHS field office including maintenance of a local referral list for services not provided by DSHS, maintenance of confidential records and files, communication with customers and clients about the available programs and services. Completing monthly reports, data entry and provision of excellent customer service. Schedules customers for eligible appointments in a timely manner in collaboration with clinic team members. Provides vaccine management as a trained Texas Vaccine for Children Provider. Actively participates in population-based initiatives including, but not limited to planning and developing public health education program activities and assistance to program staff and community organizations as well as communicating approved health messages, recording, and reporting clinic and community activities as well as evaluation processes. Will be certified as a Community Health Worker and Child Passenger Safety Technician within one year. Performs related work as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT: Provides administrative support for the field office. Serves as the initial contact for clients/customers. Maintains a referral/resource list to link customers to personal health services unavailable through DSHS. Evaluates the needs of the customer and may assist them to make an appointment for direct services or with a referral resource. Assists client to complete required information for clinic services. Maintains records/files per current State and Regional record policies and standards. Supports the implementation and use of the Case Management Investigation System (CMIS) for client scheduling, record keeping while purging paper records based on the DSHS record retention schedule. Maintains confidentiality of clients based on HIPAA standards. Effectively communicates to clients and customers available programs and services. Aware of public health laws/regulations/policies that protect health and ensure safety. Supports e-travel requests and reports for reimbursement. May work with Regional Administrative Services as the local point of contact for building needs. Supports the administration of direct services such as, but not limited to, immunization, tuberculosis (TB) case management and STD/HIV. Schedules eligible clients for vaccine administration on-site and at planned off-site clinics. In collaboration with the Public Health Nurse (PHN), schedules TB and STD/HIV clients for clinic services. May provide Directly Observed Therapy for TB clients under the direction of the PHN. Maintains clinic/office supply levels via completion and submission of accurate monthly inventories. Submits clinic results monthly to the Clinic Monthly Activities Report. (45%)

POPULATION BASED: Actively supports regional population-based initiatives in the field office with clerical support and provides approved health messaging to clients and customers in the clinic and the community. Participates with local stakeholders to plan and conduct community events promoting regional or local public health programs and initiatives, creating awareness of public health problems and acts as a resource for public health education programs. Collects data for planning and evaluation of public health education programs. Maintains active knowledge about the community's health status. Provides reports and evaluation of population-based services. Will be certified as a Community Health Worker and Child Passenger Seat Technician and must maintain certification throughout employment. (30%)

VACCINE MANAGEMENT: Serves as a trained provider for Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) in order to respond accurately to inquiries and interpret rules, policies and procedures for the community stakeholders including school nurses, daycares, and parents. Completes required monthly/weekly/daily reports for vaccine management and reporting. Participates as an active partner in vaccine management including vaccine ordering, ImmTrac2 entry, inventory, cold chain management and reporting of vaccine utilization and loss. (15%)

REGIONAL SUPPORT AND DISASTER RESPONSE/RECOVERY: Participates in regional assignments/duties/special initiatives. May be required to work other than normal business hours in order to respond to public health emergencies; actively participate and/or serve in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response/recovery/Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation -requires completion of at least ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 and may require an alternative shift pattern assignment and/or location. Maintain compliance with DSHS Policy, Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures and Standards, and a current valid Texas Driver’s License. Other duties as assigned. (10%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s):

Knowledge of: Administrative practices and procedures; Texas laws and statues related to public health; Social, economic, and public health issues.

Skill in: Providing clerical support; Using office equipment, desktop/laptop computer equipment and software (such as Microsoft Suite applications, Internet Explorer, GoToMeeting, Teams, Micro-soft Forms); Data entry; Providing great customer service; Oral and written communication that is culturally sensitive; developing and conducting group and individual education; Conducting outreach to disproportionate populations.

Ability to: Work as part of a team; Effectively communicate within a team and with external clients and customers; Maintain confidentiality; Implement administrative procedures; Prioritize workload and meet deadlines; Interpret public health laws and regulations; Analyze and evaluate public health needs; Complete and maintain certifications (Community Health Worker, Child Passenger Safety Technician); Meet travel demands associated with the position; Work reliably in-office Monday- Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) or graduate from an accredited Associate’s degree program. Experience may be substituted for degree if applicant has at least two years of experience in public health or a healthcare environment delivering customer service or technical assistance to healthcare providers and staff as evidence in the application. If not a certified CHW, will be required to complete certification within one year of hire.

Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). If not a certified CPST, will be required to complete certification within one year of hire.

Must have a valid class C Texas driver's license or equivalent from another state.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Certified Community Health Worker (CHW), or graduation from an accredited Associate’s degree program in public health/related field (preferred) or at least two years’ experience in public health or a healthcare environment, delivering customer service or technical assistance to healthcare providers and staff as evidenced in the application.

Additional Information:

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application but may be provided as supplemental materials. All fields on the application must be filled-in completely. Applicants must provide information relevant to the required experience for this position in the job history sections of the application.

Prior to beginning employment, employees/applicants who indicate they hold a degree from an institution of higher education must provide an original/copy of the diploma verifying a Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s degree from a U.S. college or university or foreign degree determined to be equivalent by an acceptable education evaluator.

Employee must provide transportation. If an employee operates a personal or state motor vehicle in performance of their official duties, the employee must possess a current valid Texas Driver License for the appropriate type of vehicle.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 form