Youth Services Community Health Worker (bilingual)

The Mission Neighborhood Health Center (MNHC) is a non-profit, multi-site community health organization offering comprehensive health services in the Mission and Excelsior Districts of San Francisco.  The center offers primary health care services, adult medicine, pediatrics, family planning, OB/GYN, HIV and homeless services. We advocate for health equity and deliver innovative, high-quality services responsive to the neighborhoods and diverse communities we serve.

We are currently looking for qualified candidates for our Youth Services Community Health Worker role. This position reports to the Youth Services Program Supervisor and is a regular, full time, non-exempt role with a starting hourly range of $25.66 to $27.58 with full benefits. 

Primary Objective:

The Youth & Community Health Educator role is a dynamic role that focuses on integrating culturally responsive health education, outreach, and care coordination while also serving as a part of a city-wide collaborative under the Roadmap to Peace (RTP) Initiative. This includes providing trauma-informed reproductive health counseling and education, support in enrollment to health programs, and link youth to primary, behavioral, dental, and vision care services. This individual will also facilitate health education sessions, conduct outreach and build relationships with community organizations and service providers.
This is a highly collaborative and community-centered position that supports youth, including those involved or at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system, in accessing medical, behavioral, and social services at MNHC and through community partners.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Conduct screenings and comprehensive assessments to identify strengths and needs.
• Using “warm hand-off" approach, link clients/patients to primary, behavioral, and sexual/reproductive health services as well as dental and vision services at MNHC.
• Assist RTP participants in becoming patient at MNHC, registering them in MNHC’s Teen Clinic, Pediatric, and/or Adult Medicine Clinic.
• Develop individualized care plans in collaboration with client/patient.
• Connect RTP participants and eligible patients to other services and/or other community resources as appropriate to address client needs such as substance use counseling, career coaching, academic support, tattoo removal or other supportive services.
• Engage RTP participants/Teen Clinic patients in client-centered, individual health education sessions on sexually transmitted infections, reproductive health, family planning, minor consent law, healthy relationships, emotional regulation, nutrition, and physical activity – make referrals as needed
• Educate RTP participants/Teen Clinic patients how to access medical services and how to communicate effectively with their medical providers as well as their other clinical staff.
• Perform functions in support of the MNHC Teen Clinic, including family planning counseling, intake assessments, insurance enrollment (e.g. Family PACT, Minor Consent Medi-Cal), and data entry in electronic health record.
• Integrate Care Management for eligible participants – maximum caseload of 8 patients.
• Provide compassionate, culturally competent services and exercise due diligence to maintain patient confidentiality.
• Achieve and maintain status as Family Planning Health Worker through completion of course and passage of certification process to provide counseling to MNH patients and RTP participants.
• Accompany clients/patients to off-site appointments as needed.

• Work with MNHC Teen Clinic and RTP staff to create and lead group sessions designed to support youth health and wellness.
• Increase utilization of Teen Clinic and other MNHC services and improve health outcomes for youth patients (ages 12-26) by conducting “in-reach” activities with existing patient and other MNHC clinics.  
• Increase awareness and utilization of RTP services through outreach to agencies that serve youth in detention facilities and organizations that target youth at risk of entering the juvenile justice system or at risk of negative street activity.
• Identify potential participants among patients at MNHC, inviting them to enroll in the RTP program.
• Develop relationships with SFUSD Wellness Center teams and local community-based organizations.
• Provide health education sessions as requested by community partners. Health education topics include assessing healthcare, sexual and reproductive health, and general health wellness.
• Attend community events (e.g. health fairs) in coordination with other MNHC staff to provide health promotion materials to potential youth clients/patients
• Support development and distribution of health promotion material.

• Participate in RTP initiative meetings, inter-agency trainings, case conferencing, violence prevention activities, and other events as requested
• Participate in MNHC in team and agency-wide meetings at MNHC
• Document all encounters/contacts in an online contract management system and maintain statistical data as requested; accurately chart all patient assessments, interventions, and referrals in the electronic health record
• Submit reports, statistical data, and program reports as needed to multiple parties including funding sources, as required by RTP, or as requested by supervisor
• Seek out and attend clinical, youth, and health education trainings, workshops, and certifications.
• Support other Youth Services team and agency- or site- wide efforts as needed
• Assignments that may arise during project implementation

• Maintain personal safety, use personal protection equipment (PPE) and follow Company policies.
• Report all and any safety issues, accidents or injuries to your manager as a matter of priority.

Effective Team Member

• Ability to interact positively with team members and to facilitate positive change.
• Partner with supervisor or peers when necessary to address department issues or concerns.
• Other assigned tasks deemed appropriate for the daily operation of youth programs and/or Teen Clinic.

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree or an Associate of Art degree with community or healthcare experience preferred. 
• A combination of college education and experience will be considered.
• Family Planning Counseling Certification, preferred.

Experience:  

• Minimum of 2 years + working with youth in youth development and health education activities. 
• Experience in public speaking and group facilitation, working with Latinx and immigrant communities.
• Experience working in a primary care setting preferred. 

Skills and Abilities:  

• Language(s) - Fluent in English/Spanish required.
• Performance – ability to multi-task, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, perform presentations, and maintain confidential information.  Requires strong analytical skills, demonstrates attention to detail, and excellent customer service skills.
• Communication - Strong written and verbal communication skills.  Must be a well-organized professional who thrives in a team-oriented environment.

Software: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  Experience with database, statistical, and presentation software. Knowledge of social media and other web-based tools for professional purposes. Experience using Electronic Health Records is preferred.

Confidential and Sensitive Information: Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality when dealing with patient records and personal information.

Department of Justice Fingerprint screening required. Flexibility in scheduling and some evening and weekend work is required.

Qualifications: 

• Bilingual – Fluent in English/Spanish required.
• Minimum high school or GED required or some college and experience working with youth in high risk situations.
• A combination of college education and life experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 2 years providing health education services to diverse populations.
• Proficiency using computer programs is required. Experience using Electronic Health Records is preferred. 
• Flexibility in scheduling and occasional evening and weekend work is required.
• Department of Justice Fingerprint screening required.
• Ability to work professionally and ethically within multi-cultural settings, including ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of persons, documents, data, and communications.
• Good written and oral communication skills required.
• Experience working with Latinx and immigrant communities.
• Experience working in Primary Care setting preferred, in particular counseling in sexual and reproductive health as well as nutrition and wellness.

As a condition of employment, all candidates are required to provide documentation of current immunizations, including COVID-19 and TB test results valid within the last two (2) years must be submitted before the start date, as well as MMR immunization. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a delayed start or withdrawal of the job offer. 

To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at www.mnhc.org. We offer a full range of benefits which includes the following:

• Employee incentive program of up to $4,000 every year
• Annual 4% COLA increase
• 401(k) retirement savings plan includes a company contribution
• Vacation: 3 weeks annually (increases to 4 weeks after 5 years)
• Paid educational leave: 40 hours annually
• Medical insurance: zero out-of-pocket expense under the base plan
• Dental and vision insurance provided at no cost to the employee
• Life insurance includes a free basic policy with an optional voluntary plan
• Paid time off includes 12 paid holidays, a birthday holiday, two floating holidays and 12 sick days per year
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses
• Commuter benefits

Mission Neighborhood Health Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment for our diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.