Community Wellness Specialist 1

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a change in your community by using your experience in health education or chronic disease management? Are you familiar with assistance programs and resources in Clark County, WA? Do you have experience assessing participant needs and connecting them to resources? If so, then you might be a good fit for our Community Wellness Specialist 1 position!

At the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) we work closely with local governments and other community partners throughout Clark County to address issues of affordable housing and homelessness and help families break the cycle of poverty. We provide affordable housing and housing assistance to low-income residents in Clark County. The Community Wellness Specialist 1 works with VHA Supportive Housing residents to provide resource referral, health education, and navigational support in accessing community services and other resources to adopt healthy behaviors for improving their self-sufficiency. This position also works with residents at great risk of having adverse health or housing outcomes, coordinate with residents and Service Coordinators to develop an individual plan; connect residents to appropriate care, remove barriers to obtaining care, and measure the results.

Your skills and experience will support our mission as you:

• Work with VHA residents to identify and address barriers to enhance compliance with supportive housing program requirements, conduct standardized in-take and risk assessments, and provide education to improve self-care, and management of their health condition.
• Assess home environments and educate residents to mitigate health and safety risks.
• Educate residents of community services/resources, make referrals and follow-up on referrals.
• Provide on-going follow-up on treatment plans utilizing basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with residents.
• Follow-up with residents via phone calls, home visits, visits to other settings where residents can be found.
• Assist residents with completing applications and registration forms.
• Help residents set personal goals, identify and outcome barriers to attending appointments (such as transportation and childcare).
• Help residents connect with transportation resources and give appointment reminders in special circumstances.

Pay and Benefits

• Starting pay range is $3,356 to $3,692 per month based on experience. The full salary range for this position is $3,356 - $4,757 per month.
• Full-time, non-exempt, union-represented (OPEIU) position working 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Benefits package also includes 9.53% paid into WA PERS by employer, 12 company paid holidays, and generous paid time off and separate sick time accruals.
• Meaningful work that addresses affordable housing and homelessness in our community.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in health education or chronic disease management.
• Experience working with low income, multi-ethnic populations preferred.
• Bilingual preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources in Clark County a plus.
• Valid driver’s license and fewer than 3 moving violations within the last 3 years.

A cover letter and resume are required when applying for this position. For more information on the Vancouver Housing Authority please visit our website at www.vhausa.com. Please note, those candidates deemed to best match our requirements will be contacted for an interview. We do not discuss application status during the selection process. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

The VHA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applications for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as covered veteran in accordance with federal, state, and local laws.