Amani Neighborhood Referral Specialist

Department: Goldin Center

Reports to: Goldin Center Director

Direct reports: None

Driver Status: Personal vehicle, must maintain a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and proof of adequate insurance.

Mileage reimbursement must be submitted by the 5th of the month for the previous month.

Primary Location: Goldin Center, 2320 W Burleigh Street, Milwaukee 53206

Pay: $55,000

Mission: COA Youth & Family Centers nurtures children, supports families, and builds strong and resilient communities – one child, one family, one community at a time.

Summary

This position is limited to the funding and timelines available for the grant period and is responsible for working with Advocate Aurora and Center for Urban Public Health (CUPH) to implement the Building Bridges to Health Equity in the Amani Neighborhood Program. This is an evidence-based intervention helping to bridge potential gaps between community members and medical professionals. It would also ensure that the voice of the Amani community is front and center and that the services provided at the Advocate Aurora family health clinic at the Goldin Center are adjusted to meet the needs identified by the community.

This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position. Flexibility is key regarding work hours since they will vary depending on needs of the community. This means some work will be in the evenings and on weekends.

This position is also eligible for benefits. Benefits include generous paid time off, health plans (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) retirement plan, 11 paid holidays, and a great working environment.

Main Job Responsibilities

Community Outreach and Relationship Building – 50% of time.

Goal: serve as connection point between community members and clinic staff

• Establish relationships with Amani residents by attending supervisor-approved events and community meetings.
• Conduct at least 15 SDOH screenings each week for Amani residents utilizing the IMPACT Connect platform, providing appropriate referrals to community-based resources, including but not limited to the following:

• Attend at least (4) pantry days each month to offer assessments
• During the summer, attend at least (3) Summer Meals sessions each week to offer screening services.

Patient Advisory Council (PAC) • 20% of time.

Goal: Work in close partnership with the Goldin Center Director to create and facilitate a PAC to empower Amani residents accessing clinic services to have more direct input in the care they receive

• Gather resident feedback on issues such as healthcare approachability and culturally relevant services
• Seek feedback and input on the barriers and facilitators to quality healthcare
• Support leadership and community-building
• Document areas for improvement
• Collaboratively form strategies for improved policies and
• Hold quarterly meetings on Saturdays to better accommodate diverse

Community Outreach and Advocacy – 15% of time.

Goal: Develop and maintain strong working relationships with external (e.g., referral sources and community agencies) and internal contacts (care team).

• Participate in community
• Share information and resources, collaborate on initiatives and provide education to referral sources and community agencies in order to coordinate access to
• Collect and organize information to be used for current services and future community health education and outreach activities.

Partnership/Collaboration – 15% of time.

Goal: leverage available resources to provide the best experience for participants

• Develop a strategy to provide support to program managers and service recipients:
  • Develop a supervisor-approved plan to provide screenings utilizing the IMPACT Connect platform to other COA programs such as HIPPY, EEC, YD, TIP, and RW-FRC
• Fill gaps and support operations and programming across the organization during periods of short staffing.

Other

Administration: Keep accurate records in pre-approved platforms and databases

Public Relations: Represent the program and the agency appropriately to stakeholders and the general public

Role model appropriate behavior at all times: this includes developing and maintaining appropriate professional relationships with stakeholders (patients, colleagues, participants, parents, facilitators, community partners, etc.)

Qualifications

Education / Knowledge / Experience

• High School Diploma/GED
• Community Health Worker certification preferred
• 2 years’ experience in direct social service
• Must be computer literate: able to use Word to create, edit and format documents and flyers as well as Excel to enter in and manipulate data.

Competencies

• Philosophical compatibility with COA mission
• Willingness to learn and ask questions
• Deep understanding of, passion for, and dedication to working within Amani
• Effective interpersonal skills to develop strong working Cultural competency. Respect for diversity of all types.
• Ability to effectively engage in conversation, motivate and engage patients to participate in our program, and speak to all types of patients.
• Ability to work as a team member
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to handle difficult situations and maintain professional conduct
• Willingness to be flexible with job responsibilities

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

The physical requirements are the ability to:

• Sit and stand for long
• Walk some
• Lift and carry up to 50

The work environment is an active environment with youth, families, and community members. This requires the ability to respond quickly to changing situations and be able to move around the GOA site as needed. It also includes being out in the community at various sites in all sorts of weather, e.g., rain, heat, cold, snow, etc. This position also requires evening and weekend work.

These characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while preforming the essential job functions.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements of this job. It is not meant to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. In other words, other duties as assigned.