Medi-Cal Outreach & Navigation Specialist

Job Title: Medi-Cal Outreach & Navigation Specialist

Location: Atascadero (with service delivery in Paso Robles & North County field locations)

Supervisor: Operations Manager

Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm

Rate: $27.00 - $30.00/hour

Date: September 2026

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Job Overview

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people’s lives? Join our team at ECHO, where every day brings new opportunities to create positive change! The Medi-Cal Outreach & Navigation Specialist is responsible for delivering direct, one-to-one navigation assistance to CenCal Health members in Northern San Luis Obispo County. This role focuses on helping clients experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, or those referred by partner agencies maintain their Medi-Cal coverage, navigate complex renewals, and access vital healthcare services.

We are looking for a person who has a can-do attitude, is passionate about engaging chronically unhoused individuals, and has experience navigating healthcare or benefit systems. This position is based out of the ECHO, Atascadero site with meeting space at ECHO Paso Robles and field outreach throughout the North County. We are looking for someone who can work full-time with flexibility for occasional nights and weekends. If you’re ready to work with purpose and drive meaningful outcomes, we invite you to be a part of our mission to transform lives and build a stronger community!

**This is a temporary, grant-funded position contracted for a 12-month period. The position is currently funded through September 15, 2027, and is scheduled to end when the grant contract concludes. Continuation of the position beyond this date is not guaranteed and would be dependent upon the availability of additional funding and organizational need.

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Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one assistance in completing Medi-Cal renewals, including document collection and online submission through BenefitsCal.com or paper packets, for ECHO shelter and street outreach clients.
• Process and assist referrals received from the Medi-Cal Navigation Hub, conducting outreach via phone and in-person meetings at accessible community locations (e.g., libraries, parks, coffee shops, ECHO locations) to reduce transportation barriers.
• Assist members in navigating six-month renewals, exemption processes, and work/community engagement verification requirements.
• Conduct direct follow-up with the San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services (DSS) and eligibility workers to assist clients with complex cases.
• Connect clients experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness with an ECHO Outreach Case Manager for wrap-around housing and income support.
• Help members enroll in and utilize BenefitsCal.com so they can independently track renewal dates and required documentation.
• Meet or exceed all grant performance metrics, including serving 450 total Medi-Cal members over 9 months, assisting 360 members via BenefitsCal.com, 90 with paper packets, and achieving successful renewals for 350 members (plus 100 during the 90-day cure period).
• Maintain complete and confidential files and logs for each assisted member in alignment with ECHO guidelines and CenCal grant reporting standards.
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency utilizing HMIS, BenefitsCal.com, and the CenCal portal while ensuring strict data accuracy.
• Build positive relationships with local partner organizations to promote the Medi-Cal Navigation Hub and facilitate streamlined client referrals.
• Keep accessible, low-barrier services and a trauma-informed approach at the forefront of all client interactions and decisions.
• Provide respectful engagement to adults with histories of chronic homelessness, serious psychiatric disabilities, and co-occurring substance use disorders.
• Use provided tools (laptop, cell phone, ECHO vehicle/mileage reimbursement) responsibly to fulfill outreach and navigation duties.
• Driving to field appointments, partner meetings, and events across San Luis Obispo County is required.
• Ensure strict adherence to HIPAA, privacy laws, and CenCal Health communication guidelines (refraining from unauthorized public announcements or logo usage).
• Participate in weekly Staff Meetings and Case Management Team Meetings.
• Consistent and reliable attendance is essential in this role to ensure clients receive dependable, uninterrupted support and continuity of care.
• Other duties as assigned.

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Knowledge, Skills, Talents, & Abilities Requirements

• Knowledge of the Medi-Cal system, eligibility guidelines, DSS processes, and the BenefitsCal.com platform.
• Ability to work respectfully and culturally competently with diverse, vulnerable populations, including unhoused individuals and families facing complex mental health or medical challenges.
• Strong de-escalation skills and mastery of a trauma-informed care approach.
• Excellent time-management, organizational, and problem-solving skills to manage field appointments and a high volume of cases independently.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact with all departments/levels of the organization and outside third parties in a highly professional manner.
• Adaptability to handle a dynamic shelter and street-outreach environment with sound judgment.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, BenefitsCal.com, HMIS, and web portals.
• Calm demeanor; able to work under pressure and respond effectively to client crisis situations.
• High level of commitment to privacy, confidentiality, HIPAA standards, and mandated reporting laws.
• Knowledge of universal precautions and what constitutes a medical or situational emergency.
• Understanding of mandated reporting laws.
• Must be professional, flexible, friendly, and work as a team player.
• Assume ownership for accomplishing assignments, requests and tasks.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking is highly preferred. $0.50 bilingual pay differential is provided.

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Education and/or Experience

• College degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in health and human services, case management, community outreach, or healthcare navigation.
• Demonstrated experience with data entry and managing client records.
• Experience working directly with populations experiencing homelessness or housing instability preferred.

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Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License.
• Must have a reliable vehicle, clean driving record, and proof of insurance and registration (mileage reimbursement provided).
• Must be willing to travel throughout San Luis Obispo County (including not not limited to San Miguel, Paso Robles, Atascadero, Cambria, San Simeon, and surrounding areas).

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ECHO’s Cultural Norms

• Greet all people with a smile and kindness.
• Listen without judgment and consider matters from another's perspective.
• Give everyone the chance to change and grow.
• Treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Be open to provide or receive feedback.
• Resolve conflict in a timely and constructive way.
• Willingness to be adaptable.

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ECHO’s Benefits Package

• Health Insurance – 80% of cost covered by ECHO
• Vision & Dental Insurance – 80% of cost covered by ECHO
• 403b Retirement Savings Plan with up to a 3% annual salary match for eligible employees
• 12 paid holidays per year
• 80 vacation hours per year - accrual rate increases steadily with additional years of service
• 56 hours of paid sick time per year
• 3 Wellness Holidays per summer (June-August)
• Family friendly work environment

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Physical Demands

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

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, drive, and meet with clients in various community and field settings. The employee often is required to stand and walk, including stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and sometimes lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

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Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is conducted in office settings, shelter facilities, and outdoor/public field locations throughout San Luis Obispo County. The Admin Offices are located upstairs, with only stairway access. Noise level varies from quiet office environment to very noisy shelter and dining hall environments. Travel across the county is required.

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ECHO is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, marital status, age, or any other protected status covered by federal or state law.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

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**No phone calls, please**

Pay: $27.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $27 - $30