Family Ways Peer Community Specialist

Full Job Description

Department of Public Health – Family Ways Program is seeking two (2) Education Specialist (Peer Community Specialists) to join its innovative team!

Peer Community Specialists support pregnant, parenting families and children up to age five. Services are provided to 3 specific focus communities: U.S.

born Black/African American, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. All services are culturally relevant, participant-centered and strengths-based.

The Peer Community Specialists will work in a team environment and practice care coordination with other disciplines.

The team includes a Public Health Nurse, Nutritionists, Social Worker and Administrative Support staff.

Peer Community Specialists will be responsible for partnering with program participants and families in creating a care plan and supporting them through pregnancy or parenting.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities.

With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups.

Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, however, hours may vary depending on community events, client/family need and staff coverage.

Some weekday evenings and weekend work will be required, as well as the ability to drive and travel to multiple locations throughout King County.

This is a Non-Exempt position and is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

Remote and Onsite Work

The Family Ways team works in a hybrid model, with 3-4 days in the office or in the field as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is South Park 7272 W. Marginal Way, Seattle WA 98108.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

Requirements

• Partners with program participants and families to develop care plans and goals.
• Identify social and health systems resources.
• Identify and connect participants to community resources.
• Set and achieve personal and family wellbeing goals.
• Conduct educational and informational learning opportunities for staff, clients, community groups and other professionals.
• Document interactions with program participants in record-keeping systems, acquire necessary paperwork, and respond to calls, emails, or requests in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with program participants, families, communities, and King County programs to support access to services and referrals.
• Foster and coordinate community and agency partnerships.
• Attend community events.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum):

• Skills or experience in home visiting, pregnancy and parenting education, customer service, or health care.
• Experience and knowledge of theories and practices in health promotion education and behavior-change programs.
• Experience and knowledge of training and assessment methods and teaching and presentation techniques.
• Skills in effectively communicating information to a wide variety of audiences and making individual or group presentations.
• Oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse individuals during a time of crisis and distress.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to utilize (Microsoft Office 365) and other web-enabled tools.
• Candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform the essential functions of this position.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Ability to exhibit a professional, positive attitude and work ethic.
• Critical thinking and sound judgment.
• Comfortable with in-person visits for service coordination/client assessment.
• Ability to work with creativity and flexibility, both independently and as a team member.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Able to be flexible and adjust to changing needs.
• Regular and reliable attendance.
• Development of effective working relationships.

The most competitive applicants will have the following experiences and qualifications (Desired):

• Partnership and community engagement experience working with communities to build partnerships and gain understanding of unique community needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability of how to engage authentically with program participants and families.
• Experience as Community Health Worker, Navigator, or Community Organizer.
• Marshallese and Chuukese speakers encouraged to apply.
• Racial Equity, and Social Justice (RESJ) knowledge of equity and social justice principles and practices.
• Experience working with communities striving to overcome systemic racism.
• Direct knowledge and/or lived experience working in at least one of these communities: U.S born Black/African American, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrated skills and abilities working collaboratively with clients and families, community-based groups, service providers, other staff and programs.

Additional Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

These positions are open to all qualified applicants.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

Please note: additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

Union Membership

This position is represented by the PROTEC17 labor union.

Contact

For questions about this recruitment, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at sduckworth@kingcounty.gov.