CHAP Student Support Specialist

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 58,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement contributions

PTO

Paid holidays

Job summary

The Community Health Aide Program Student Support Specialist role at Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board focuses on recruitment, enrollment, education progression, certification, and workforce placement across CHAP disciplines. You will liaise with Tribal health organizations, IHS, and education partners to strengthen student access and progression.

The position requires strong planning, organization, and communication, coordinating multiple activities while maintaining accurate student

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of project coordination and student-support processes.
• Ability to coordinate multiple activities with Tribal partners and education programs.
• Strong planning, organization, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support CHAP student recruitment and enrollment processes.
• Coordinate CHAP student-support activities with Tribes and IHS.
• Draft recruitment and support materials.
• Serve as a primary contact for students and partners.
• Support program planning and development with leadership.
• Ensure timely, culturally responsive student progression.
• Provide staff support to CHAP boards and committees.

Skills

Planning

Organization

Communication

Implementation

Coordination

Job description

About the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB)

The Northwest Tribes have long recognized the need to exercise control over the design and development of health care delivery systems in their local communities. To this end, they formed the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (also referred to as NPAIHB or “the Board”) in 1972.

Guided by a vision of “Health and Wellness for the Seventh Generation,” NPAIHB is a 501(c)3 designated (non-profit) organization and Tribal organization, P.L. 93-638, under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) serving the 43 federally recognized Tribes in the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (Northwest Tribes). Tribes become voting members of the Board through resolutions passed by their governing body. Each member Tribe designates a delegate to serve on the NPAIHB Board of Directors.

Led by our Board of Directors, NPAIHB’s mission is to “eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life of American Indians and Alaska Natives by supporting Northwest Tribes in their delivery of culturally appropriate, high-quality health programs and services.” We have a staff of over 120 professionals dedicated to advancing Tribal health for the 7th generation in the Pacific Northwest.

The NPAIHB’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030 can be found here .

Job Title

Community Health Aide Program Student Support Specialist

Reports to

Director of Behavioral Health Education

Initial Salary Range

$58,000 – $68,500 annually

Benefits

• Health
• Vision
• Dental Insurance
• Retirement Contributions
• PTO
• Paid Holidays

Location

Portland, OR

JOB SUMMARY

Position Summary

The Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Student Support Specialist supports student recruitment, enrollment, education progression, certification, and workforce placement across NPAIHB’s CHAP disciplines, including Behavioral Health Aides (BHA), Community Health Aides (CHA), and Dental Health Aides (DHA). The CHAP Student Support Specialist serves as a central liaison among prospective and enrolled students, Tribal health organizations, Tribal education programs, the Indian Health Service (IHS), and CHAP education and certification partners to strengthen student access, engagement, and successful progression through CHAP pathways.

The CHAP Student Support Specialist must have thorough knowledge of project coordination and student support processes and demonstrate strong skills in planning, organization, communication, and implementation. The position requires the ability to coordinate multiple student-facing and program activities, maintain accurate student information and records, support stipend and certification processes, and communicate effectively with students, Tribal partners, and other external partners.

The CHAP Student Support Specialist supports NPAIHB’s CHAP team, which provides health systems support and education resources to NPAIHB’s 43 member Tribes. The team includes approximately six (6) staff.
The CHAP Student Support Specialist reports to the Director of Behavioral Health Education.

This scope of work is housed within the Clinical Division of NPAIHB.

This position is based at NPAIHB’s offices in Portland, Oregon and is expected to work on-site in accordance with applicable workplace and telework policies, including attendance at designated in-person meetings and activities.

Local travel and overnight travel outside of the area are required. See “Travel Requirements” for more information.

Essential Functions

Community Health Aide Program Excellence and Success

• Supports NPAIHB’s Community Health Aide Program in alignment with priorities established by member Tribes, the Strategic Plan, and applicable Tribal, federal, state, organizational, and/or funding priorities
• Contributes to an organizational culture of professional excellence, integrity, rigor, service, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Coordinates CHAP student-support activities among prospective and enrolled students, member Tribes, Tribal health organizations, Tribal education programs, the Indian Health Service, and CHAP education and certification partners to promote coordinated, timely, culturally responsive support, successful student progression, and workforce placement
• Supports proactive planning, problem-solving, and continuous improvement efforts to identify needs, address barriers, and advance desired outcomes
• Supports monitoring of emerging needs, trends, risks, opportunities, and external developments affecting the Community Health Aide Program and communicates material information to appropriate staff and leadership

Student Support, Recruitment, and Workforce Pathways

• Supports prospective and enrolled CHAP students across the BHA, CHA, and DHA disciplines through education-program application, CHAP application, enrollment, stipend, certification, and workforce-placement processes, helping identify and address barriers to successful progression through CHAP pathways
• Prioritizes CHAP student recruitment throughout the Portland Area (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) and supports outreach and engagement with prospective students and Tribal partners
• Drafts and updates CHAP student recruitment and support materials, including program applications, stipend materials, flyers, and student website content
• Serves as a primary point of contact for students and partners regarding individual student needs, requirements, and next steps, coordinating follow-up with Tribal higher education programs, Tribal health organizations, the Indian Health Service, the Portland Area CHAP Certification Board, and other education and certification partners as needed

Community Health Aide Program Strategy and Development

• Supports the planning and development of Community Health Aide Program goals, priorities, strategies, work plans, services, initiatives, and resources
• Supports the implementation of priorities in response to direction from NPAIHB member Tribes, organizational strategic planning, policy developments, evaluation findings, and emerging needs
• Uses identified needs, opportunities, emerging issues, and stakeholder input to support CHAP program planning, sustainability, development, and improvement
• Works with the Director of Behavioral Health Education to align Community Health Aide Program activities with Northwest Tribal, federal, and state policy priorities
• Supports capacity-building strategies based on the needs and priorities of Northwest Tribes and applicable CHAP certification and academic review bodies

Community Health Aide Program Operations and Service Delivery

• Supports the delivery of services and resources for CHAP students and Tribal health partners
• Supports day-to-day operations and assigned activities in accordance with approved plans, timelines, budgets, policies, and applicable requirements
• Implements the processes, tools, systems, and resources necessary to carry out Community Health Aide Program activities effectively
• Escalates operational barriers and supports necessary adjustments to maintain effective and timely service delivery
• Supports efforts to ensure services, resources, and work products are responsive to member Tribe and other stakeholder needs and are delivered in a timely, culturally appropriate, and high-quality manner
• Provides staff support to the Portland Area CHAP Certification Board and the Portland Area Behavioral Health, Community Health Aide, and Dental Academic Review Committees, including providing updates on student enrollment, recruitment, and graduation information

Project Management and Coordination

• Supports collaboration among project partners and funding agencies to meet applicable goals, grant requirements, fiscal-period objectives, and NPAIHB Strategic Plan priorities
• Participates in NPAIHB Tribal Community Health Aide Program meetings and program discussions to organize activities, support program sustainability, and maintain required follow-up