Health, Benefits, and Wellness Specialist

Scope:

The Health, Benefits, & Wellness Specialist (HBWS) plays a critical role in coordinating health care provision and social benefits enrollment for newly arrived refugees. This is a demanding role as it is charged with navigating complex the bureaucracies of health care, social security, and state social services. The HBWS ensures that every eligible new arrival has been enrolled in key health, social service, and government support programs. The HBWS works directly with County health professionals as well as with clinicians to ensure quality preventative, curative and behavioral health care is delivered in a culturally sensitive way. The HBWS guides, prepares, and empowers newly arrived refugees to live healthy, productive lives in their new environment. The HBWS is responsible for managing and documenting service provision, providing client intakes, assessments, and referrals, making appointments with clinicians, and managing critical care case services. Additionally, HBWS will work with community stakeholders as part of a statewide effort to increase access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services. The HBWS reports directly to the Resettlement Manager.

Responsibilities:

Services

• Assist in providing comprehensive and required services to IRC clients enrolling or enrolled in Refugee Medical services, Behavioral Health services and Refuge Health screenings.
• Support timely provision and coordination of medical, dental, and mental health services, particularly for clients with serious health conditions.
• Assist clients with the selection of a primary care physician (PCP) and help schedule initial appointments once the selection has been made, ensuring each client can independently schedule their own appointments.
• Assist clients in resolving barriers to accessing medical and mental health services, including transportation, language access, and financial barriers.
• Oversee the coordination of medical schedules by working with clinical staff at medical facilities and volunteers to ensure refugee health screenings are scheduled and coordinated with the direct service team and to troubleshoot any issues that arise.
• Assist clients to resolve any issues that arise concerning billing for medical services and coordination between Medicaid or other insurance plan and health providers.
• Ensure any urgent medication needs are resolved and that clients know how to fill and refill prescriptions at an accessible pharmacy.
• Assist clients to obtain affordable prescription eyeglasses if needed.
• Work in coordination and collaboration with community stakeholders to increase access to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services.
• Represent IRC as a member of the Iowa Refugee Wellness (IRW) team and participate in IRW meetings and projects as specified by the Bureau of Refugee Services.
• Ensure compliance with both case file management and reporting requirements. This entails regular and timely maintenance of hard-copy and/or electronic files per donor funding requirements. Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency, placing importance on client confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned

Coordination

• Contribute input on development of policy and processes, identify ways to improve programs and provide feedback.
• Process claims and perform administration with insurance companies.
• Attend organizational meetings.
• Case note/document client services in various databases.
• Conduct bus orientations to Primary Care Clinics with clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Educational background in social work, public health, or health promotion
• Minimum of 1 year relevant or related job experience
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively distill and present complex information in a concise, accessible way.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural background
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable with strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Fluency in English; written and spoken.
• Clean driving record, valid driver’s license, and access to a personal, insured personal vehicle OR familiarity and comfort with using IRC office vehicle.

Working Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.