Community Health Worker Apprentice

IRC Background:

The IRC’s Economic Empowerment team helps newly arrived refugees and other immigrants reach self-sufficiency by supporting clients in their short and long-term career goals by offering high-quality, culturally and linguistically accessible, integrated economic empowerment services. The economic empowerment team has developed an opportunity for a Community Health Worker (CHW) apprenticeship.

About this Role:

With support from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the IRC is developing and piloting a public health apprenticeship program in Richmond, VA. The goal of this program is to create a diverse pipeline of public health workers able to serve diverse communities while simultaneously providing high quality jobs to refugees, immigrants, and migrants. The Community Health Worker Apprentice will work closely with the IRC health team and develop the skills necessary to fulfill the requirements needed to receive a nationally recognized CHW credential by the end of the program period. Using an “Earn and Learn” model, which combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction, participants will spend 12 months developing skills, receiving professional mentorship, and completing education that will prepare them for future CHW positions within the wider community. Candidates must be willing to receive related classroom instruction and training. *Note this is a temporary position. Assistance may be provided to find further employment at the end of the 12 month period.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide cultural mediation between IRC clients and the healthcare providers and social service systems they interact with.
• Provide culturally appropriate health education and information on topics such as nutrition, maternal and child health, preventative health.
• Coordinate care, provide case management support and assist individuals and communities in navigating health and social service systems.
• Provide coaching and social support to IRC clients.
• Advocate for individuals and client communities.
• Help build individual and community capacity.
• Provide direct health and social service assistance.
• Conduct initial intake interviews and exit surveys; Implement individual and community assessments.
• Conduct outreach to individuals, communities, service providers and groups.
• Participates in evaluation and research.

Work Experience

• Relevant professional experience, within or outside of the U.S.
• Strong interest in health and serving the community.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations strongly preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; strong knowledge of Dari or Pashto preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

Working Environment

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities.
• Requires occasional weekend and/or evening work.
• CHW training will be provided and must be successfully completed. Training may be outside of regular work hours and off site.

Hourly Rate and Benefits

• $18.50/hr (wage will progressively increase following completion of training and skills gained) with a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20 paid time off days, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.