Community Health Specialist 2 - Deflection
Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.
Pay Range
$28.45 - $34.99 Hourly
Department
Health Department
Job Type
Regular Represented
Exemption Status
United States of America (Non-Exempt)
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified)
October 29, 2026
The Opportunity
Overview
THIS WORK MATTERS!
If you are driven to bridge critical gaps in addiction care, champion health equity for historically underserved communities, join us in making a profound difference on our streets today!
The primary purpose of this position is to conduct street outreach to those likely to encounter deflection within Multnomah County. The goal is to increase the number of unhoused individuals with accessing services available at the Coordinated Care Pathway Center and to reduce the likelihood of arrest for possession charges. The position will identify and engage people from communities which have not traditionally engaged with drug and alcohol services. This role will support the community by addressing gaps in care, sharing health educational opportunities, collaborating with internal and external partners, and developing and implementing strategies to meet those needs, while maintaining a work culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse populations the Health Department serves in the office and in the community. The position creates a work culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse populations the Health Department serves in the office and in the community. Every employee shares the responsibility for promptly bringing to the County's attention conduct that interferes with providing a work environment free of illegal discrimination and harassment.
Outreach and Direct Client Services
- Provide direct outreach activities to individuals experiencing street homelessness
- Strive to build and develop relationships with individuals experiencing substance use, mental health disorders, and health challenges using evidence-based tools and techniques to increase motivation, change and foster safety
- Work with groups of clients to help them move from addiction towards recovery; support behavioral change; support clients to understand their addiction and help them through knowledge and peer support to achieve recovery
- Identify and engage people from within communities which have not traditionally engaged with drug and alcohol services
- Maintain, present and share with clients or potential clients strong, up to date knowledge of community partners, resources and health education events and opportunities for improved health and wellness
- Establish and maintain a good rapport and harmonious relationships with staff, patients, other program staff and collaborating partner agency/program staff
- Conduct street outreach assessing individuals for immediate needs, and actively connecting clients to appropriate resources
- Provide individuals with easily accessible and low-threshold services and health education opportunities that operate within a harm reduction framework
- Assist clients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) detox facilities/medication assisted treatment, mental health treatment, expedited shelters access, housing and legal advocacy
- Conducts outreach to support individuals who decline structured treatment by helping to best meet their needs through collaboration with other organizations, including community groups, hostels, homelessness services, pharmacies, needle exchanges and housing providers
Team Based Care
- Maintain effective relations and regularly collaborate and communicate with patients, community partners and co-workers
- Understand the challenges of individuals and families of varied ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic background, and ages
- Provide direct outreach activities to individuals experiencing street homelessness while connecting to behavioral and health services
- Participate on committees and workgroups with internal and external partners to communicate and improve program services and outreach
Documentation and Quality Improvement
- Complete and maintain all required documentation in the assigned tracking sheet and/or assigned electronic health record, and any other required data systems
- Enter documentation required by Oregon Health Authority to record outcomes and/or other data, per team workflows
- Follow reporting requirements and ensure that data and electronic records maintain client confidentiality and adhere to Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Provide feedback to PATH leadership and partners on participant needs, access barriers, expected health outcomes, and effective community advocacy strategies.
- Attend and participate in collaborative outreach meetings with internal and external stakeholders to build-out and improve new or existing programs
*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.
Required Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills
Education/Training
- Equivalent to an associate's degree and one (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 3-6 years of qualifying training and/or experience).
- Attach a copy of the required license/ certifications
- Valid Driver’s License - Access to a vehicle must be able to travel around
- BLS CPR Certification with the American Heart Association (AHA) or similar agency - more information can be found at the AHA website. Current BLS - CPR (Required - must have by date of hire)
- KSA: Certification in Oregon as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Peer Support Specialist (PSS) or Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS)
Other
- This position requires a background investigation, which may include being fingerprinted.
Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills
- Hands-on experience guiding clients through addiction recovery, mental health systems, detoxification facilities, and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), as well as facilitating peer support or recovery
- Working knowledge of client confidentiality laws, including HIPAA compliance
- Experience conducting deflection outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, with strong expertise in applying harm reduction frameworks
- Experience with reporting and documentation in electronic health records system
- Understands cultural, racial and ethnic factors, including systemic advantage or disadvantage; acculturation, intergenerational immigrant family challenges, effects of trauma during immigration, war, separation from family and/or primary supports, detention, refugee camps, etc.; generational trauma, and any factors related to non-dominant culture affecting mental health and treatment.
- Ability to apply an equity, intersectional and anti-racist lens
- Knowledge of cultures, customs and social experiences of communities experiencing marginalization and barriers to opportunity
- Ability to exercise good judgment, diplomacy, and tact in dealing with sensitive, complex, confidential information and situations, in addition to acting professionally, and empathically, with individuals, internal/external partners and communities
SCREENING & EVALUATION
REQUIRED
The Application Packet: You must submit ALL requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.
1. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND
2. Supplemental questions addressing the following (please provide thorough answers):
- Walk us throught the process you use to typically initiate a conversation with an individual during street or community outreach?
- Please share a specific approach or opening strategy you use to build trust and rapport quickly with someone who may be hesitant or in crisis.
- Why are you interested in this position? share how your lived and professional experience have helped you build your skill set and how will you utilize them to support the clients?
- Are there any additional skills, experiences or trainings you have that aren't on your resume that would help you succeed in this role? (ex: deescalation techniques/safety best practices, dealing with law enforcement, knowledge of housing programs or other community resources)
Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the ‘Overview’ and ‘To Qualify’ sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will be scored and determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process.
The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:
- Initial review of application/ resume and cover letter for minimum qualifications and all required attachments. If you do not address the minimum qualifications in the application, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the recruitment process.
- Phone screen
- Supplemental Questionnaire
- Oral exam
- Consideration of top candidates
- Background, reference, and education checks
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime
In- person position
Work Schedule: M-F...