Overview
The Community Wellness Specialist will address barriers to safety and wellness for vulnerable clients by providing case management and follow-up on health-related needs. This role involves developing individualized service plans and connecting clients to community resources.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide case management and targeted support to refugees and immigrants, including individual coaching, health navigation, benefits assistance, care coordination, and connecting clients to appropriate services.
- Assist clients with navigating the health care system, including scheduling appointments, ensuring follow-up care, and connecting them to appropriate services.
- Conduct needs assessments, develop individualized care plans, and support insurance enrollment, transportation, and interpretation services.
- Offer bilingual and culturally congruent services to ensure language access for non-English speaking clients.
- Provide psychosocial support through wellness activities, such as client support groups, screening tools, brief interventions, and Mental Health First Aid trainings.
- Create and maintain safe, trauma-informed spaces for open dialogue on mental health, wellbeing, victimization, and challenges related to forced displacement.
- Advocate for client wellbeing by addressing the intersection of mental health, trauma, and immigration experiences with a focus on inclusivity.
- Facilitate community education initiatives, including cultural orientation, wellness workshops, disease prevention, safety education, and local outreach.
- Translate written materials and resources to ensure accessibility for diverse linguistic communities.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations to connect clients to critical services, including housing, food, and legal aid.
- Accurately document services, screenings, referrals, and outcomes in both client files and IRC’s database (Efforts to Outcomes/ETO).
- Oversee and support volunteers and interns engaged in program activities.
- Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and trauma-informed care training as an engaged team member.
- Provide timely referrals and information on community resources as needed.
- Use personal and insured vehicles for transporting clients and materials within the service delivery area.
- Comply with IRC policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 2 years of related experience required, preferably with refugee populations, low-income individuals, homeless individuals, hard-to-reach communities, and minority groups.
- Previous experience in multicultural settings and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- A background in health or mental health services is required, focusing on providing non-clinical support and services.
- Proven experience in case management, community outreach, and connecting individuals to essential health and social resources.
- Ability to assess client needs, offer guidance, and provide referrals to appropriate services, including counseling and social support.
- In-depth knowledge of community resources and support networks, particularly for underserved populations such as immigrants, refugees, and minority groups.
- Proven experience advocating for clients’ needs within health and social service systems to ensure access to care and services.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present in both English and Ukrainian.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience with data tracking systems is highly preferred.
- Exceptional organizational skills with attention to detail, including maintaining case files (electronic and physical) and meeting reporting requirements within established timelines.
- Highly motivated, with the ability to work independently, develop new programs, and handle multiple tasks efficiently.
- Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
- Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
- Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
- Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.
- Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree required, with an emphasis in social work, psychology, public health, or related field of study.
