Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and filled as quickly as possible.
THE CENTER'S MISSION
The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center is dedicated to enhancing and sustaining the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, our families and allies, by providing educational, social, and health related activities, programs and services.
POSITION TITLE: Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW)-Project Empowerment
Do you have a passion for helping underserved communities? Are you a team player with a good attitude ready to step into a challenging position? Do you have impeccable communication and organizational skills to contribute to an amazing team? Are you an experienced Community Health Outreach Worker? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center has a great employment opportunity for you.
PROJECT EMPOWERMENT
The CDC projects that if current trends persist, 1 in 2 Black men who have sex with men (gay,bisexual,transgender, pansexual, men who have sex with men) will become HIV positive in their lifetimes. The same is true for Black Transgender women. To combat this trend, the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center (OLCC) competed for and was awarded a state contract with the California Department of Public Health - Office of AIDS called "Project Empowerment" to address the social, health, and economic disparities that place Black/African American men who have sex with men (MSM), at increased risk for HIV/AIDS and other health health issues that negatively impact the well-being of Black, gay, bisexual, transgender, same gender loving (SGL), pansexual men who have sex with men (MSM) and Black transgender women. Alameda County also reports disproportionately high HIV infection rates among Black/African American MSM and Black/African American transgender individuals.
We are seeking to hire a Community Health Outreach Worker to work with our Project Empowerment contract.
OLCC and our new Glenn Burke Wellness Clinic (GBWC), is committed to eliminating barriers to care for marginalized groups to include Black MSM, in order to improve health outcomes and stop the spread of HIV in our community, through offering culturally competent, gender and sexual orientation affirming, meaningful, community connected, innovative social and health care programs that work.
OUR ORGANIZATION:
The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center was founded in 2017 by two Black gay men with a long history of providing leadership in the LGBTQ community in Oakland. The founders recognized the need for a wholistic, multi-ethnic, and intergenerational approach to serving LGBTQ people in Oakland and Alameda County, that also centers its programs and services on the needs of the most marginalized LGBTQ+ communities, particularly low-income youth, people of color, elders, families, and unhoused individuals and families in our community.
In the short time that the Center has been open, it has grown from an all volunteer organization that offered peer support groups, mental health therapy, and information and referral services, to a comprehensive multi-service center that has added; rental & emergency housing subsidies, care management, direct food and transportation assistance and recently expanded our space to open our new Glenn Burke Wellness Clinic (GBWC), operated in partnership with LifeLong Medical Care. Our new clinic offers culturally competent, gender and sexual orientation affirming, sexual health testing and treatment services, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), benefits enrollment and direct linkage to primary healthcare. GBWC provides access to medically underserved, low-income and high-risk LGBTQ individuals. Our clinic's overall goal is to address disparities in health by providing accessible, quality care for under-served LGBTQ+ people of all ages, providing a true “medical home”.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) is responsible for performing a variety of tasks including health education, outreach and wellness services coordination for under-served communities working under our CADPH-OA Project Empowerment Contract (emphasizing outreach to Black MSM & Black Transgender individuals). This position reports to the Center's Wellness Services Director.
The Project Empowerment CHOW is an important participant in the continuum of care and will contribute to health promotion and disease prevention, by executing and monitoring the outreach plan, providing community health education and training workshops,connecting individuals to appropriate resources to include health access, preventative care, peer and behavioral health support and other Center and outside community services to improve health outcomes for Black/AfricanAmerican MSM and Black Transgender Women.
The Community Health Outreach Worker (CHOW) is an integral member of the health education and outreach team and a leader in the community. The CHOW works closely with medical providers, clinic staff, wellness coordinators, patients, community members, volunteers and other organizations in the community. The CHOW also responsible for coordinating the Black Mens Awareness Club (BMAC) and
supports and co-facilitates the Black Connect peer support group.
We are looking for candidates with a strong connection to the Black/African American MSM community in Oakland and Alameda County. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and professionally within a health care environment as well as with the community. The Community Health Outreach Worker must be willing to perform grassroots activities in order to achieve the larger goals and objectives of the CADPH-OA Project Empowerment contract.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
*Use trauma informed approaches to conducting outreach(street, event and venue based, social media) and building relationships and partnerships with Black/African American MSM and organizations that serve them.
*Serves as a trusted liaison for clinic staff, patients and the community
*Provides trauma informed, individual and group education on various topics including but not limited to: HIV/STI's, sexual health, PEP & PrEP, medical benefits enrollment, substance disorder services, mental health and wellness,healing from racism, homophobia, transphobia, financial literacy and other social determinants of health
*Fosters positive relationships with community organizations, clinics, hospitals and leaders through outreach and networking and maintains open and effective communication with all OLCC departments
*Builds individual and community capacity by increasing knowledge and self-sufficiency through health education, outreach advocacy and other grassroots activities
*Refers and connects Black/AA MSM with community members to Center Wellness Services Coordinators for care management and linkage to clinic services and community resources.
*Facilitates health access through education, outreach and enrollment activities as assigned.
*Actively recruits participants through strategic and effective community outreach at bars, nightclubs, festivals, community events, and other locations to reach the contract population.
*Establishes trusting relationships with at-risk individuals by initiating and maintain regular client contact
*Maintains an up to date outreach calendar of locations identified for outreach activities.
* Enters data; maintains accurate documentation in work logs, calendars, data collection platforms and client files
*Submits reports in a timely manner and when requested
* Other Health Education, outreach and community building projects as assigned
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
-AA degree or High School Diploma or equivalent with a minimum of one year outreach experience
-Prior experience working with African American/Black MSM in health care or human services setting preferred
-Outreach experience preferred.
-knowledge of community resources preferred
-Experience working with diverse and under-served populations
-Ability to provide respectful, empathetic and excellent customer service
-Must have good writing and computer skills
-Ability to work independently, show initiative and work productively with a team environment
-Must maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA guidelines
-Well versed in report writing and record keeping
-Ability to work flexible hours, including evening and weekend hours
-Must have a valid California driver’s license.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands of this position are those necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Annual Salary: $60k
Reports to: Wellness Services Director
Benefits: Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Job Type: Full-time
Oranization's website:
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS:
In-person interviews (mask required)
Covid-19 testing required for applicant selected for employment, unless able to prove vaccination.
Covid-19 testing available through our clinic partner.
Mask required on-site unless in personal office space
Personal protective equipment provided or required
Temperature screenings
Social distancing guidelines in place
Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place
Work Remotely: On days scheduled by supervisor
APPLY
To apply please submit your resume via email to; joe.hawkins@oaklandlgbtqcenter.org