Health and Wellness Promoter

Job Overview: The IRC in Oakland’s Community Health and Wellness programs ensure that all newly resettled refugees have access to on-going psycho-social support to serve their adjustment needs as well as ensure additional culturally and linguistically sensitive mental health referral support services are available. The Health and Wellness (H&W) Promoter will be responsible for the implementation of psycho-social programing serving the newcomer population in the Bay Area. The H&W Promoter will provide outreach and engagement, education, screening, and referral services. The H&W Promoter will work with the Clinical Advisor and Prevention and Early Intervention Coordinator to create personalized wellness plans that include traditional healing practices and cultural aspects, as well as follow up with individuals to prevent escalations in mental health crises.

Major Responsibilities:

• Work with IRC staff to identify, refer and assist clients determined to have a high probability of physical and emotional distress with navigating community resources.
• Facilitate community-based group support activities to promote emotional well-being and healthy adjustment and provide opportunities for refugee connection and support.
• Coordinate and conduct educational activities including home visits to promote community integration and self-care among refugees and other populations in the Bay Area.
• Conduct emotional distress RHS-15 screenings and provide appropriate referrals to community mental health and/or other service providers.
• Conduct outreach to existing Afghan, refugee, immigrant and asylee communities to encourage participation and increase referrals to health and wellness programming.
• Ensure accurate tracking and data entry of client notes, outreach, workshop attendance and assessments, into corresponding databases including ETO.
• Ensure that program services are provided in accordance with the quality assurance standards of the IRC and program funders.
• Work closely with staff to enhance and implement Health and Wellness Program goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Prevention & Early Intervention Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Health and Wellness Promoter will develop working relationships with internal direct service staff including MG, ICM, AT, and R&P staff, Health and Wellness staff at other IRC sites.

External: Health and Wellness Promoter will develop working relationships with other refugee resettlement agencies, ethnic Community- Based Organizations, Community leaders and other stakeholders.

Job Requirements:

• Associate degree with an emphasis in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Public health, or an equivalent field of study.
• 2+ years of relevant work experience acquired through relevant work experiences. A significant portion of this experience would include responsibilities in community-based services, social services, education, capacity building, and/or humanitarian relief.
• Understanding of community integration, resettlement, and migration trauma.
• Cross-cultural awareness and communication skills.
• Experience with psycho-social programing preferred.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience working with underserved populations.
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member.
• Very well organized and has excellent reporting skills.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; Fluency in additional language relevant to current refugee populations (Farsi, Dari, or Pashto).

Work Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
• Travel to field site operation often. Access to reliable and insured transportation required.

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.