Public Health – Seattle and King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences.  The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. We are committed to eliminating racism in King County by working with directly with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) for COVID-19 testing. This recruitment will be used to fill up to three positions.

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will be part of the Health Engagement Access Resource Team (HEART) Encampment Outreach and COVID testing Program in Public Health’s COVID-19 pandemic response.  The Community Health Worker will work to control the spread of COVID-19 in encampments and other unsheltered communities by assisting in COVID-19 testing activities and supporting individuals and sites who need isolation and quarantine to access services, resources and benefits that mitigate the health, financial and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With supervision by the Unsheltered COVID testing lead, the Community Health Worker will support COVID testing efforts by outreaching to clients in their encampments, in close coordination with community outreach partners, to build relationships in order to provide resources and heath information. As the COVID-19 response evolves, the duties of the CHW may change to developing long term solutions to client challenges, with a focus on access to health resources such as vaccination and primary care.

Commitment To Equity And Social Justice: As the only Public Health jurisdiction in the world named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
 
We have a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies and policies that promote fairness, justice and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from vulnerable communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
 
Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County. Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan.

The HEART encampment outreach COVID testing team seeks to bring access to COVID mitigation strategies directedly to people living outside and in encampments. The team aims to engage people in health education and disease mitigation via a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach. The HEART encampment outreach team is in formation and the CHWs will have a unique opportunity to inform and shape program development. Job duties may include.
 

• Provide consultation and advocacy for increasing COVID-19 testing in encampments and unsheltered communities
• Provide training, orientation and education to staff, clients and the community in order to increase COVID-19 testing and mitigation in unsheltered communities
• Develop effective community and inter-agency partnerships
• Provide outreach to encampments and unsheltered communities
• Visit various encampment sites with team partners, gauge basic interest in COVID testing, and distribute basic needs/ harm reduction supplies
• When needed, support encampment communities to isolate/ quarantine in site, through supply distribution and access to resources
• Ensure that the BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) are provided with COVID-19 testing and work to eliminate all barriers in testing
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally with people of differing cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Under the direction of a team leader, assist encampment residents with access to isolation and quarantine facilities.
• Communicate in a professional and empathetic manner.
• Participate in required trainings and staff meetings.
• Maintain the privacy and security of sensitive and confidential information in all formats, including verbal, written and electronic, and ability to adhere to policies and procedures related to local, state, and federal privacy requirements.
• Present a friendly face of Public Health to help support communities’ access to testing and vaccination efforts, to assist in building relationships with people who may have trust issues with the health care system.
• Ability to provide encampment residents with basic information about COVID-19 & Flu testing and vaccinations.
• Maintain daily contact with supervisor.
• Perform other duties as required.

• Knowledge of the unsheltered communities & encampments in King County
• Ability to apply concepts of harm reduction, trauma-informed care and equity & social justice principles to outreach work
• Ability to work in an unstructured environment, independently manage time, handle a variety of tasks, and take direction from a team leader.
• Personal flexibility, a sense of humor and the ability to accept feedback while working with a highly collaborative team
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, resources for persons experiencing homelessness
• Willingness to use PPE, including wearing a mask and face shield as needed.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required and ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse individuals during a time of crisis and distress.
• Customer service, health care, or education skills or experience.
• Basic computer skills
• Ability to handle confidential and medically sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Ability to exhibit a professional, positive attitude and work ethic.
• Situational awareness and sound judgment.
• Ability to show empathy to distressed individuals.
• Ability to walk on uneven and sloped surfaces

• Bi/multilingual
• Awareness and knowledge of resources in King County related to social and health resources.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and trouble-shooting experience.
• Skilled in relating to and working with clients from various cultures, racial and social and economic status.
• Experience as a Promotora, Community Health Worker, Navigator, or Community Organizer.
• Experience providing health education/ outreach to individuals who are living homeless
• Bi/multi-lingual language skills desired
• Bi/multicultural desired

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers. 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. 

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Work Schedule and Location: This position is full-time.  Weekend and evening may be required, and some local travel throughout the county to community sites will be required. Home site is King County Chinook Building in Seattle, WA.

Union Affiliation: Protec Local 17. 
For information about the application process, please contact Nic Horea, Senior Human Resource Analyst at nicolae.horea@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-8736.