Wellness Access Specialist - Delta Park Shelter

Transition Projects Inc; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Transition Projects Inc. in Portland, OR seeks a Wellness Access Specialist I at Delta Park Shelter to help participants connect with medical, mental health, and substance-use services.

You will work with Housing Case Managers to support housing stability and provide education and outreach to the community. You will lead groups and individual sessions, build provider networks, and maintain knowledge of resources for low-income and homeless populations.

Qualifications

• Associates Degree in a related field OR one year of experience in social services.
• Understanding of homelessness, chemical dependency, domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Knowledge of chemical dependency and mental health resources; CADC priority.
• Ability to engage people experiencing homelessness in a trauma-informed manner.
• Veterans receive priority consideration.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Ability to broker services with other agencies and advocate for clients.
• Up-to-date familiarity with community resources for the homeless.
• Knowledge of domestic violence and sexual assault resources.
• Ability to work as part of a team; maintain client files; use office software.

Responsibilities

• Provide groups to engage, educate, and support participants to access health and support services.
• Provide individual sessions to support connections to community resources.
• Develop knowledge of local physical/mental health resources and maintain provider relationships.
• Maintain knowledge of resources for low-income and homeless populations.
• Coordinate intervention plans with housing case managers for residents who violate rules.
• Coordinate with housing case managers and residential staff to ensure effective services.
• Enter participant data into data collection systems.
• Attend meetings as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Bi-lingual English/Spanish

Trauma-informed engagement

Advocacy & broker skills

Computer literacy

Education

Associates Degree in a related field

Job description

POSITION DESCRIPTIONPosition: Wellness Access Specialist ILocation: Delta Park Shelter (1125 N Schmeer Rd Portland, OR 97217)Supervisor: Wellness Access Program ManagerHours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm or 8:00am-4:00pmWage: $29.00 hourlyEligible for 5% Language Differential, if applicableClassification: Non-Exempt, Union Represented, Full-Time, Benefits EligibleGENERAL RESPONSIBILITIESProvide services to assist participants in engaging and effectively linking to medical, mental health, and substance use disorder providers. Working collaboratively with Housing Case Managers, provide support to participants to successfully gain and maintain stable housing.SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIESProvide groups to engage, educate, and support participants to access physical health, mental health, and substance use disorder services where needed.Provide individual sessions to participants to support and facilitate connections to community support services.Develop comprehensive knowledge of community physical/mental health resources and substance use disorder services and maintain effective relationships with these providers to assure service availability for participants. Maintain knowledge of available resources for low-income and homeless populations.Work in cooperation with program staff to provide intervention plans with residents who violate alcohol and drug or behavioral rules where appropriate.Coordinate with housing case managers and residential advocate staff to ensure services are participant-focused, effective, and efficient.Enter participant data into data collection systems.Attend meetings as requested.Other duties as assigned.PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTSEach Transition Projects employee must:Acquire First Aid/CPR/AED certification within 30 days of hire and be retested biannually thereafter throughout employment.Complete Bloodborne Pathogens and Narcan Training within 30 days of hire and be retested annually thereafter throughout employment.Demonstrate reliability by being present for work as scheduled, arriving and leaving on time and taking breaks in expected time frames.Interact effectively with persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.Attend agency and program staff meetings.PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTSThe physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.Hearing and vision adequate for interaction with participants, interaction with staff and interaction with the general public.Hearing adequate for telephone work. Vision adequate for close work.Hand and finger dexterity adequate to operate standard office equipment.Ability to walk, bend, stand, sit, reach, stoop, pull, squat, and climb stairs and ladders.Sitting at a desk completing paperwork and working on a computer for lengthy periods.Ability to perform CPR and other emergency life-saving care with the assistance of teammates until emergency responders arrive.Ability to lift 50 pounds.WORKING CONDITIONS / SAFETY CONSIDERATIONSWork environments may include exposure to animals/pets across various program sites.This position may have exposure to bloodborne pathogens or other infectious materials during the course of duties. Bloodborne pathogens training, safety protocols, and appropriate protective equipment are provided. The Hepatitis B vaccination is offered at no cost.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSThe right individual for this position has a passion for helping others and a desire to work in an organization that serves people who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.Associates Degree in a related field OR one year of experience in social services required.Demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding homelessness, chemical dependency, domestic violence and sexual assault.Demonstrated knowledge of chemical dependency and mental health issues and appropriate treatment resources. Candidates possessing CADC or similar certification will receive priority consideration.Demonstrated ability to engage people experiencing homelessness in a trauma informed manner.Applicants who are themselves veterans will receive priority consideration. Bi-lingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.Demonstrated ability act as a broker with other agencies in developing and providing services to clients; including ability to advocate on behalf of clients for services with other agencies.Up-to-date familiarity of community resources and services available to assist the homeless.Demonstrated knowledge of domestic violence and sexual assault issues and resources.Demonstrated knowledge of services available to assist the homeless.Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in the delivery of services to clients.Computer literacy. Demonstrated ability to use word processing, database, spreadsheet, e-mail, and Internet programs.Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and comprehensive client files.Transition Projects, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, source of income, union participation or activities, or any other status legally protected by applicable local, state or federal law.DisclaimerThe above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.