Bilingual Wellness Navigator

Client Navigation Services

Damien Center Values

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Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana's oldest and largest AIDS service organization (ASO) and serves more than 8000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to care and prevention. Our purpose is to be a trusted partner in providing services, education and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care. Our services include care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition.

Position Summary:

The Bilingual Wellness Navigator provides bilingual (Spanish and English) intensive, patient-centered services for persons living with HIV/AIDS who are at risk of falling out of or have recently fallen out of medical care, case management, housing services, or other supportive services. The Bilingual Wellness Navigator provides support with the goal of helping the client maintain overall health and viral suppression. The Bilingual Wellness Navigator conducts assessments on issues as identified by the client and mutually agreed upon. The Bilingual Wellness Navigator coordinates with internal staff and programs to identify candidates who are facing difficult life situations or have recently dropped out of care and engages with the clients to minimize barriers to care. The Bilingual Wellness Navigator must be fully fluent in Spanish and culturally competent with Latinx populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills.

• Provide culturally competent education and support for Latinx individuals living with HIV and/or at risk for HIV transmission to facilitate their full engagement in care.
• Provide healthcare navigation to Latinx individuals living with HIV with high barriers to engaging in medical care.
• Conduct strategic outreach to identify Latinx individuals living with HIV and/or at risk for HIV transmission throughout the state.
• Stay current in best practice when serving Latinx individuals living with HIV
• Continue to work with each client to progress them through care, providing health education, close monitoring, and continued motivation to keep them engaged in care long-term.
• Provide patient education about the correlation between viral suppression, virus transmission, and optimal health outcomes.
• Provide transportation and attend client appointments on an as-needed or as-desired basis.
• Utilize practice techniques as trained by Damien staff (such as Motivational Interviewing and strength-based skill-building approaches) to meet clients where they are and encourage them to seek needed care and services.
• Guide intervention participants to a range of community services to support progress along the continuum of HIV care.
• Complete needs assessment at initial contact and every 90 days thereafter.
• Complete case notes documenting work with each client.
• Active participation in staff meetings, trainings, professional development opportunities, community fairs, and public relations opportunities.
• Maintains documentation in compliance with agency and program standards.
• Participate in periodic staffing with Damien departments.
• Other duties may be assigned.
  • Performs special assignments and other work, on an as-needed basis. 

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or graduation equivalency degree (GED); bachelor's degree preferred. Bilingual in English and Spanish required. Knowledge involving HIV/AIDS treatment and care preferred. Ability to manage duties and responsibilities successfully with limited supervision. Ability to work independently while also being part of a team.

*Work or lived experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess superior organizational and administrative skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Ability to work independently and achieve high standards of productivity, achieving deadlines and with superior product results. Strong calendaring, organizational, and document management skills required. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects. The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation ay be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Remote work is on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the supervisor.

• Hybrid work from home and field work.
• Transportation of clients with own reliable vehicle required.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Individuals should maintain personal and professional competency and work to create an environment of courtesy, respect, inclusion, and positivity in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.

• FLSA Status: Salaried, Full-time, Exempt
• Leader: Jaymes Young, Senior Program Manager of Client Navigation
• Salary: $42,000

• Benefits: 
• 150 hours of PTO in the first year followed by 195 hours per year moving forward.

• 12 paid holidays
•  Medical coverage options include a PPO plan or a HDHP.
• Dental & Vision plans
• Health Saving Account or Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403b Retirement Account with 5% matching and 100% vesting after 90 days
• Life Insurance @ 2 times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life Insurance Plan including spouse and child coverage options
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Plans
• Premium Subscription to the CALM APP which assists with anxiety, stress & other mental health challenges
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Annual performance review that includes an annual performance-based salary increase

Protecting our team members, clients, volunteers, and community partners is an integral part of how we ensure our continued work with the clients we serve. As a condition of employment, Damien Center requires team members to be vaccinated against influenza and receive a tuberculosis skin test (or chest x-ray) annually, and to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (including all boosters), barring an approved religious or medical exemption.

Damien Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Damien Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, other legally protected status, or genetic (including family medical history) information.

Damien Center complies with applicable federal laws and with all state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which Damien Center has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please apply at www.damien.org/job-opportunities

This position description does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee of any terms or conditions of employment. Damien Center employees are employed on an at-will basis. Nothing in this position description restricts Damien Center's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.