Traditional Health Worker

This position is grant-funded.

Tillamook County follows Oregon Pay Equity laws in reviewing education, experience and seniority for wage offers. The Traditional Health Worker (THW) is an employee of Tillamook County Health and Human Services Department (HHS); includes the Community Health Center which provides medical, behavioral, dental, services and integrated Tillamook County Public Health and Environmental Health programs and services. HHS is a dynamic department with a fast-paced environment serving diverse populations.

This position may work in the primary care and/or public health sections of the department.

Position Summary

Department:
Health and Human Services

Union Affiliation: AFSCME

Weekly

Schedule:

Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

This position is grant-funded. Tillamook County follows Oregon Pay Equity laws in reviewing education, experience and seniority for wage offers. The Traditional Health Worker (THW) is an employee of Tillamook County Health and Human Services Department (HHS); includes the Community Health Center which provides medical, behavioral, dental, services and integrated Tillamook County Public Health and Environmental Health programs and services. HHS is a dynamic department with a fast-paced environment serving diverse populations.

This position may work in the primary care and/or public health sections of the department.

The THW provides high quality and culturally responsive care by creating a bridge between healthcare providers, public health, and patients/clients in their home and or community settings. THWs are respected members of their local communities who often share similar socioeconomic backgrounds and life experiences with the people served. THWs provide person- and community-centered care by acting as a bridge between communities and the healthcare systems that serve them.

Enhance the appropriate use of healthcare by connecting individuals with medical and social services, advocating for patients/clients, supporting adherence to treatments, and empowering people to take an active role in improving their own health. The THW position is consistent with the definition of a THW in OAR  and ORS 413.042, 414.635, and 414.665.

• Community Health Worker:
  An individual who meets qualification criteria adopted by the authority under ORS 414.665 and who: (a) Has expertise or experience in public health; (b) Works in an urban or rural community in association with a local health care system; (c) To the extent practicable, shares ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status and life experiences with the residents of the community where the worker serves;
  
  (d) Assists members of the community to improve their health and increases the capacity of the community to meet the health care needs of its residents and achieve wellness; (e) Provides health education and information that is culturally appropriate to the individuals being served; (f) Assists community residents in receiving the care they need; (g) May give peer counseling and guidance on health behaviors;
  
  and (h) May provide direct services such as first aid or blood pressure screening.
• Peer Support Specialist:
  An individual providing services to another individual who shares a similar life experience with the peer support specialist (addiction to addiction, mental health condition to mental health condition, family member of an individual with a mental health condition to family member of an individual with a mental health condition).
• Peer Wellness Specialist:
  An individual who meets qualification criteria adopted by the authority under ORS 414.665 and who, through community outreach, is responsible for (a) assessing mental health and substance use disorder service and support needs of a member of a coordinated care organization, (b) assisting members with access to available services and resources, (c) addressing barriers to services and providing education and information about available resources for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders in order to reduce stigma and discrimination toward consumers of mental health and substance use disorder services, (d) and assisting members in creating and maintaining recovery, health and wellness.

• Community Health Worker:
  Have learned knowledge of or lived experience with chronic health conditions.
• Peer Support Specialist:
  Have learned knowledge of or lived experience with substance use disorders.
• Peer Wellness Specialist:
  Have learned knowledge of or lived experience with behavioral health/psychiatric challenges or conditions.
• Knowledge of the community or communities being served and the available resources for families.

• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with individuals and groups who come from diverse backgrounds and represent members of the…