HEALTH ADVOCATE

Job Role Summary

Responsible for providing culturally sensitive support, advocacy, follow-up and outreach for tuberculosis clients of specific high-risk groups. Examples include: clients currently experiencing homelessness and/or residing in a shelter, jail or other communal settings, or refugee and immigrant populations in need of specific advocacy. Provides directly observed therapy (DOT) for clients receiving curative treatment for tuberculosis disease, contacts of active tuberculosis clients receiving preventative or window period treatment for latent tuberculosis, and other clients as deemed appropriate. Responsibility includes assisting in the reduction of public health risks by facilitating the screening for tuberculosis with high risk groups, advocating for and connecting to community social services and programs as appropriate, assistance in TARC clinic as needed, assisting with coordination of access to health care.

Qualifications

• Completion of some post-secondary formal education is preferable, including coursework in medical terminology
• One to three years of work experience involving work with confidential record keeping
• One to three years of outreach work with high risk populations such as homeless, refugees, immigrants, working with community agencies
• One to three years’ experience with phlebotomy preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology (in general and specific to TB)
• Ability to establish a rapport with clients, staff, and community organizations
• Ability to gain clients’ confidence, elicit their cooperation in seeking health care and in talking about their health to strangers
• Read, write, and follow written/verbal instructions in English
• Ability to write simple correspondence
• Ability to demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to present information effectively in one-on-one and small group situations to clients and other employees
• Ability to perform basic mathematical functions
• Ability to function independently and seek supervision appropriately
• Ability to exercise good judgment when dealing with sensitive client issues
• Ability to work effectively under pressure of deadlines, set priorities, be flexible
• Ability to interact in a professional manner and effectively deal with the demands of clients, agencies, community partners, and government agencies
• Ability to maintain respectful work relationships
• Ability to demonstrate accuracy in recording health related data
• Must have skills in effective interpersonal communication in a multi-cultural setting
• Knowledge of: Community/Organizational resources, Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.), basic knowledge of social assistance programs and networks, HIPAA requirements, Public health principles/concepts, Local/State/Federal laws and regulations concerning communicable diseases
• Ability to work under pressure of deadlines
• Ability to perform physical activities associated with provision of clinical client care (talking, hearing, standing, walking, reaching with hands and arms, sitting, stopping, kneeling, crouching)

Working Enviornment

• Standard office environment and clinic setting
• Some contact with communicable diseases and/or infections in office/clinic/community settings
• Requires considerable physical efforts associated with clinic activities including standing, lifting and carrying of supplies
• Personal transportation is required for travel between the main office, district health offices, clinics and homes as needed
• Valid Indiana driver’s license and access to vehicle for frequent in-county travel
• Daily exposure to variable weather conditions while in the field: may be requested to make home visits for client follow-up
• May be exposed to substandard and unsanitary living conditions
• May be exposed to allergens of all types (i.e., pets, dust, smoke, etc.)
• May be exposed to communicable disease, blood and other bodily fluids
• Required to wear N-95 masks in situations where client is considered infectious