County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision performs casework and a variety of community and educational outreach activities in health care/social services programs; acts as a liaison between communities, agencies, other resources and services and program staff; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

These positions are located in the Health Care Services Agency and Community Development Agency and report to professional staff.

Community Outreach Worker II is the journey-level class in the Community Outreach Worker series. Under general supervision, incumbents handle difficult at risk client cases and exercise independent judgment in the handling of their day-to-day social environmental interactions with clients. This class is further distinguished from the higher professional classes (e.g. Nutritionist, Skilled Medical Professional) in that the latter performs at a higher level and with increased knowledge, technical skills and ability gained through experience and education. Professional staff also exercise significant judgment and make clinical decisions regarding client treatment and/or counseling services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Performs community outreach and health education activities to targeted groups and/or individuals.

2. Provides programmatic information to community-based providers, schools and the general public.

3. Informs clients of community services available and may contact those agencies/ community-based organizations on clients' behalf.

4. Provides residents, community groups and volunteers with educational information concerning health/social service programs in Alameda County.

5. Translates educational and other resource materials for specific targeted populations.

6. Attends staff conferences; represents staff in community-agency meetings.

7. Assists professional staff by conducting non-clinical interviews with clients and relatives and collecting client data information regarding medical/social history, following established protocols.

8. Acts as liaison between client, relatives, guardians, employers, physicians, and service providers on behalf of clients utilizing established protocols.

9. Participates in special projects such as researching information, summarizing data and preparing narrative reports.

10. Processes risk assessment questionnaires utilized by professional staff to determine client needs.

11. Collects and delivers (if applicable) participant's informed consent forms and/or questionnaires to designated staff.

12. Recruits volunteers to attend drug treatment programs at participating drug treatment centers or other needed service programs.

13. If certified, may be required to perform Tuberculin Skin Tests, draw blood or collect lab samples from clients and properly store and deliver to appropriate laboratory.

14. Assists with the coordination and delivery of preventive health care programs, and participates in health fairs and community events.

15. Assists in the implementation of case management plans under the supervision of professional staff.

16 Prepares a variety of letters, memos and other written materials; may enter information into and access multiple databases or use information from various sources to prepare such materials.

17. Delivers grade-level and age-appropriate classroom education on preventive health subjects in preschools, elementary schools, junior high and high schools.

18. Links school personnel with available health services and health insurance coverage for students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of six months of full-time satisfactory experience in the Community Outreach Worker I in the Alameda County classified service.

Or II
Experience:

The equivalent of two years’ full-time experience working in a community outreach program performing duties, such as: Intake, peer counseling, obtaining personal history data needs, non-clinical assessments, client community health education, program screening, placement and referral.

Substitution:

The equivalent of an AA degree (60 semester or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college in health services, social science health education or a related field, such as Psychology or Counseling, may be substituted for one year of full-time experience in pattern II above.

License/Certificate:

Some positions may require a certificate in Tuburculant Skin Testing, Phlebotomy and HIV Counseling.

Some positions may require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

· Availability of community and governmental services and resources.
· Interviewing techniques and methods.
· Principles of counseling and health education.
· Basic social needs, problems, attitudes and behavioral patterns.
· Basic principles of health promotion, disease prevention, and preventive health care.
· Community structure and dynamics and method of group facilitation.
· Outreach program development, implementation and evaluation.
· Computer database operation and basic data entry skills.

Ability to:

· Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, professionals, paraprofessional and support staff in the department, outside agencies, schools and with the general public in a variety of ethnic and cultural communities.
· Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
· Follow prescribed procedures.
· Obtain and maintain accurate case information.
· Perform phlebotomy with applicable training.
· Understand and accept differences in attitudes toward health problems, resulting from medical, cultural, financial or other forms of deprivation.
· Work with persons infected with communicable disease.
· Plan and implement presentations of program objectives and guidelines.
· Analyze client activities and integrate appropriate program activities/services.
· Gain confidence and obtain personal and confidential data from clients across ethnic and cultural lines.
· Research, prepare and deliver preventive health presentations.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

VS:AM:pb-2/92
Old document: 1178h
New document: Jobspecs/6701
ys/4/01
CSC Date: 4/8/92
CC:pf Rev/Retitle 12/9/03
[old title: Community Outreach Worker]
CSC Date: 6/9/04

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Employee Mortgage Loan Program
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.