Chronic Disease Community Health Worker (CHW) - MD156

Title: Chronic Disease Community Health Worker

Location: Indian Health Clinic - 703 NE Hancock St, Portland, OR 97212 &

Wellness Center - 12360 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97233

Schedule: This is an in-person position, Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM with flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and special events required.

Wage Range: $23.10 – $30.45 hourly, non-exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicated Community Health Worker looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

At NARA Northwest, you’ll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful difference.  

Company Mission:

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

About the Company:

At NARA NW, we deliver services and support to Native American and Alaska Native communities, helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

With over 450 employees across a variety of programs—including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and enrichment initiatives NARA NW offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while making a tangible, positive impact on the lives of others.

Position Overview:

The NARA NW Chronic Disease (CD) Program Community Health Worker (CHW) is responsible for navigation of individual living with chronic conditions.  They will provide individual and group health education.  This position will be a subject matter expert in chronic disease management, and will assist patients living with diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension and those being screened for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer in navigating the health care system and addressing social services and support needs.  The CD CHW will also assist in the training of NARA NW staff and health system partners on delivering chronic disease interventions adapted for American Indians and Alaska Native people.

What you will do:

• Provide individual and group chronic disease self-management education (either virtual or in person) for diabetes and hypertension.

• Manage and track provider referrals. Actively coordinate and participate in warm hand-offs from Providers to CD Team. Assist Provider Teams to identify and refer patients eligible for chronic disease programs. Track bi-directional referrals.

• Provide coaching on healthy lifestyles. Assist patients in setting and achieving self-management goals.

• Navigate patients to appropriate NARA NW programs or other community-based services as appropriate. Ensure appropriate medical records are available at scheduled appointments.

• Assess patient barriers/needs, facilitate appointment scheduling, remind patients of appointments, and arrange transportation and/or language translation or interpretation services as needed.

• Provide trauma-informed and culturally appropriate care.

• Ensure timely documentation of all patient navigation in Chronic Disease database and Electronic Health Record.

• Work collaboratively, and maintain professional boundaries with clients, other NARA staff, team members, and treat everyone with respect and dignity at all times.

We would like to hear from people that have:

• Either High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification required.
• Certified as a Community Health Worker or willing to obtain within first 18 months of employment.
• Experience working with diverse populations and familiarity with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and motivational interviewing and trauma informed care principles.
• Willing to complete extensive training in chronic disease management including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease prevention and early detection, motivational interviewing, health coaching and trauma-informed care. 
• Two or more years’ experience in health care navigation or case management, working directly with patients/clients in a medical setting supporting and promoting health and well-being.
• Experience working with diverse populations and underserved communities
• Evidence of computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Electronic Health Records, detailed data entry, and database management such as Excel.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to walk, sit and stand for prolonged periods of time. Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach forward with hands and arms. Ability to twist, bend stoop, kneel, or crouch. Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Must have access to a reliable vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and be willing to travel between two-three different sites within the Portland Metro area in a workday.
• Must pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
• Must pass criminal background and DMV checks

What’s in it for you?

14 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, and December 25^th!

Benefits: Employees working 20 hours, or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire. 

• Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• 14 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
• 13 Paid Days of Sick Time
• 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
• $50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account 
• Health Spending Account
• 401(k) with 4% Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC

How to apply:

1. To Quick Apply, go to Careers – NARA NW (naranorthwest.org)
2. Look for the position you want to apply for and submit a resume (Required) and cover letter (Optional), that’s all!
3. Feel free to contact recruiting@naranorthwest.org if you have any questions or would like to know where your application is in the process.

NARA NW Mission: Our mission is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and everyone in need.

NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission, all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse, both on and off the job. In addition, all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming, discussing, or promoting the use of alcohol, on the job, on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery, employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.

Consistent with NARA NW’s sobriety policy, all employees, volunteers, interns, and contractors, as applicable, are required to sign a “Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form” and NARA NW “Modeling Sobriety Policy Form” as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart

Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position’s activities and requirements, the agency reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.

Salary : $23 - $30