Community Engagement Specialist Contract

SUMMARY
The purpose of this position is to build a community engagement strategy to address social determinants of health and to advance health & health equity for refugee and immigrant populations. Specifically, the Community Engagement Specialist will work to explore and harness community partnerships and resources to create a network of health and equity promotion support for refugee and immigrant populations. This position will be located in the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention (IDEP)’s Refugee & International Health program and will report to the Refugee & International Health Coordinator.

RESPONSIBILTY
– Establish a mutually beneficial relationship with IDOH-internal and external partners around the interest of advancing health equity for refugee and immigrant populations.
– Strategize to improve state health department connections with ethnic community-based organizations and mutual aid organizations that serve refugees, with special focus on rural communities.
– Assist in training local health departments on effective outreach strategies for refugee and immigrant populations.
– Identify and curate a resource list of ethnic community-based organizations, media, and mutual aid organizations that serve refugees by region.
– Identify and curate a resource list of health care services that specifically focus on serving refugee and immigrant populations.
– Identify gaps in knowledge and/or resources for refugee and immigrant populations on disease prevention and health promotion; create or identify resources to fill in those gaps.
– Partner with refugee resettlement agencies and screening clinics to identify and leverage opportunities for wrap-around services that would help advance health equity for refugee and immigrant populations.
– Develop and implement strategies in partnership with the agency Language Access Coordinator to mitigate language barriers to health and equity for the refugee & immigrant populations.
– Assist with strategizing and reporting for Refugee Health Promotion set-aside funds with the State Refugee Coordinator (FSSA).
– Attend community-based activities, meetings, and coalitions to advocate for health and equity for the refugee and immigrant population.
– Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS
Education:
– Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, biological sciences, health education, or socials sciences) and = 1 years’ relevant public health experience, OR
– Graduate or professional degree in a health-related field (e.g., RN, MD/DO, DDS/DMD, DVM, PhD, RS) OR
– Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and = 4 years of relevant public health experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
– Ability to work with people with no or limited English language.
– Knowledge of state, federal laws, regulations & guidance documents pertaining to public health
– Skill in identification of health promotions opportunity pertinent to the refugee population
– Skill in communication, interpersonal relationship, cultural competency
-Ability to work efficiently and independently with minimal supervision
– Strong critical and analytical thinking skills
– Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

DIFFICULTY OF WORK
The scope of the work is broad involving development and/or improving new or existing protocols & tools to engage the community to support the health and wellbeing of ORR-eligible population. Guidelines are established, but the work requires broad interpretation and judgment in its application and implementation. Work also requires consideration of many factors, including culture, origin, race, ethnicity, and language barriers among the target population.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS
The Community Engagement Specialist works with agency staff and external stakeholders including local public health departments, refugee resettlement agencies, refugee screening clinics, Family and Social Services Administration, and other health professionals and community organizations. Incumbent must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust and collaboration between agencies and individuals with diverse and competing interests.

WORKING CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Majority of time is spent in a climate-controlled office setting at the Indiana State Department of Health.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.
• In-state travel by car may occasionally be necessary, but transportation will be provided.
• A commitment of approximately 37.5 hours/week during routine business hours is required; however, exact hours are flexible.