Health Education Assistant

Description

The Public Health Department is seeking dynamic individuals to join our team as Health Education Assistants. If you're bilingual in English and either Spanish or Mixteco, this could be your opportunity to become a vital part of our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program!

We are accepting applications to fill three (3) full-time bilingual (English/Spanish) Health Education Assistant positions and one (1) part-time bilingual (English/Mixteco) Health Education Assistant position with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. Three (3) positions will be home-based in Santa Maria and one (1) will be based out of Santa Barbara; all positions require travel throughout the County.

We are also accepting applications to establish an employment list for future Full-Time, Part-Time, and Extra Help (temporary) and *1414 vacancies for Health Education Assistants in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc.

*1414 vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence (Civil Service Rule 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.

Please be sure to indicate on your application all of the locations you are willing to accept employment for current and future vacancies. If you qualify for this position and pass the required selection steps, your name will be sent to the hiring manager(s) of the vacancy location(s) you have expressed you are willing to work.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or to view more information.

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards for an advanced vacation accrual rate

THE POSITION
Under general supervision, the Health Education Assistant provides direct services to participants enrolled in programs within the Public Health Department and/or provides assistance with access to medical services and healthcare coverage; and performs related duties as required.

Health Education Assistant is the entry-level classification.
Incumbents learn the program policies and procedures, and apply their knowledge of basic nutrition and health concepts in order to conduct individual and group nutrition education.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE will possess:

• WIC Nutrition Assistant (WNA) certification issued by the California Department of Public Health;
• The ability to speak, read and write in Spanish and/or a Mixteco dialect;
• Experience in breastfeeding support and education;
• Great customer service skills;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Experience with data systems, Microsoft Outlook and Word;
• Experience working with pregnant women, infants and children.

NOTE: The current vacancies require all candidates to be fluent in either Spanish/English or Mixteco/English. Candidates who do not speak, read and write fluently in Spanish or Mixteco will not be considered for the current vacancies.

THE PROGRAM:
The is a nutrition program for pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants and children. WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy foods, nutrition and breastfeeding education and support, and referrals to health care and community services. Some positions will be providing direct assistances to participants who speak Mixteco.

Health Education Assistants in the WIC Program learn the WIC Program policies and procedures, and apply their knowledge of basic nutrition and health concepts in order to conduct individual and group nutrition education.
Examples of Duties

1. Answers phone calls and inquiries, provides general program information, screens applicants for eligibility and schedules appointments for WIC applicants and participants and/or appointments for medical services or health care coverage screening.
2. Determines eligibility of clients according to State or Federal guidelines based on income, residence status, and/or nutritional assessment category.
3. Conducts nutrition assessment, and weights and measures participants.
4. Provides learner-centered individual nutrition and breastfeeding education.
5. Conducts group nutrition and breastfeeding education classes using adult learning techniques.
6. Secures WIC check stock, prints checks and documents/check issuance to participants.
7. Enters required information into the practice management system, electronic health record and/or the WIC computer system.
8. Provides referrals to appropriate health and community resources.
9. Conducts outreach and educational activities to individuals and groups in the community.
10. Adjudicates patient claims and prepares utilization reports as necessary.

Employment Standards

High School Diploma or equivalent AND:

1. Two (2) years of experience providing basic nutrition or health concepts and/or program regulations to clients, in a health or medical setting; OR,
2. Two (2) years of experience performing duties equivalent to an Administrative Office Professional I with Santa Barbara County that requires experience providing basic nutrition or health concepts and/or program regulations to clients, OR,
3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Additional Qualifications: Possession of a California Class C Driver's License is required at time of appointment. Incumbents must be willing to travel throughout the county.

Positions assigned to the Primary Care and Family Health must become Certified Enrollment Counselors within the first 90 days of employment. This requires successful completion of a 40-hour Covered California health care coverage course and the ability to pass a State Certified background check to comply with Covered California requirements.

Knowledge of: basic nutrition or health concepts; office procedures and practices; English usage and grammar; and computer operations.

Ability to: provide excellent customer service to the participants of the WIC program, the public and/or to PHD patients; learn, apply and use State WIC data system and/or other medical services and eligibility data systems; learn breastfeeding and health education concepts for positions assigned to the WIC program; make group presentations and lead discussions; interpret and explain rules and regulations; learn health education techniques and methods; effectively communicate program information to a wide range of people; document client status; establish and maintain working relationships with superiors, co-workers and the public; learn group dynamics and human behavior; maintain client confidentiality.

Desirable Qualification: WIC Nutrition Assistant (WNA) certification issued by the California Department of Public Health.

NOTE: The current positions REQUIRE all candidates to be fluent in either Spanish/English or Mixteco/English. Candidates who do not speak, read, and write fluently in Spanish or Mixteco will not be considered for the current vacancies. If you indicated on your application that you are bilingual, Human Resources will place you on the employment list for this job, which requires bilingual skills. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency. If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications, in accordance with Civil Service Rule 7. Supplemental Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaires to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Responses to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 13 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider, or learning institution.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Selectees must, as a condition of employment, sign statements agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting and Section 15630 of the California Penal Code relating to elder abuse reporting.

Incumbents must be willing to travel to clinic sites, and may work evenings and weekends. Bilingual skills may be required for some positions.

The Public Health Department (PHD) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the PHD Employee Immunizations policy. This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations. A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time.

Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One Future." Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 05/08/24 at 4:59 PM PST. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at .

Farrah Medrano, Talent Acquisition Lead,
Public Health Department,