WOW Intake Specialist

Summary:

The Boone County Health Department (BCHD), Women Infant and Children (WIC) on Wheels (WOW) Intake Specialist promotes and supports the WOW program by providing a variety of clerical, administrative and technical support services such as basic bookkeeping, recordkeeping, answering phones, scheduling appointments, data entry, and establishing and maintaining data files at BCHD for the WIC program. This individual will work for the new innovative WOW project focusing on targeted outreach on the priority populations. Our priority populations are comprised of Boone County residents who face five key barriers which are as follows: language, technology, transportation, those who may feel mistrust towards governmental agencies, and those who experience additional barriers due to their racial/ethnic identity. This position will be working on board the mobile health unit to support the WOW Peer Navigator.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This position reports to the WOW Outreach Coordinator and is under the general direction of the Boone County Health Department’s Public Health Administrator. Must exemplify the mission and vision of the WIC CIAO Subgrant and Maternal Child Health Advisory Council (MCH Council). This position is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day tasks for outreach initiatives. The WOW Intake Specialist performs functions within the overarching framework of WIC CIAO Innovation Project Boone County WOW, and BCHD’s provision of the core functions and essential services of public health. The WOW Intake Specialist will be a part of an outreach team to ensure the success of WIC on Wheels program. The WOW Intake Specialist may be required to work flexible, weekend and evening hours. The WOW Intake Specialist performs the following functions within the overarching framework of WIC CIAO Innovation Project Boone County WOW, and BCHD’s provision of the core functions and essential services of public health:

Examples of work:

· Works with WOW team to ensure WOW’s successful implementation by ensuring grant deliverables are on track and met during WIC CIAO’s 18-month grant period.

· Works with partners, creates toolkits and action plans to ensure transferability of our WOW program to other WIC agencies.

· Attends health fairs and community events to increase WIC and WOW awareness.

· Canvasses the community to promote WOW project.

· If asked, provides technical assistance to other agencies working towards a mobile WIC model.

· Schedules appointments, registers, and completes intake for all WIC clients.

· Establishes, maintains, codes, modifies, tracks and/or retrieves information and compiles WIC data that may require information searches through files to enter, obtain and/or verify information.

· Interviews new and existing WIC clients to establish program documentation and/or identify services needed intake services to visitors.

· Maintains, inventories, orders, collects and distributes supplies and/or equipment.

· Keeps forms, procedures, and information up-to-date.

· Assigns and provides WIC Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and issues benefits for WIC Education as needed.

· Assists WIC clients with setting up appointments, provides food list and answers questions as appropriate.

· Adheres to ethical principles in the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of data and information.

· Maintains, updates, and uses computerized data management systems and utilizes informatics to improve program operations.

· Assists in completing phone intake process for new clients, creating new client charts, and making daily reminder phone calls for clinic appointments.

· Assists onsite WIC staff in rescheduling/rearranging client load as needed.

· Reviews and completes tasks with Beginning and End of Day IWIC Reports.

· Tracks and monitors WIC health online website and the WIC/Clinic email inbox.

· Answers telephones, screens calls, responds to inquiries and/or refers callers to appropriate agencies or departments/divisions. Takes and forwards accurate messages to staff.

· Processes mail and email by attaching related correspondence or information, responds to mail that can be handled personally, identifies priority and/or time-sensitive matters and maintains security and confidentiality.

· Utilizes appropriate methods for interacting effectively and professionally with persons of all ages and from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, lifestyles and physical abilities.

· Adheres to ethical principles and BCHD policy in the collection, use, and dissemination of data and information.

· Tracks and determines best outreach strategies in the community.

· Provides feedback, progress reports and programming updates to WIC CIAO Mentor Team.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

· Knowledge of the core functions and essential services of public health and of general office practices.

· Demonstrated ability to work with persons from diverse backgrounds and personalities to establish successful professional working relationships; good knowledge of health equity and disparities within maternal and child healthcare. Employs health equity as a practice as recognizes historically racist structural systems.

· Knowledge of proper English/Spanish grammar, usage and spelling. Oral and written communication skills with personnel and the general public.

· Keyboarding skills. Ability to type 45 words per minute.

· Ability to keep accurate reports and records.

· Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in various forms.

· Ability to perform job duties offsite with limited support.

· Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person and via telephone (discretion, patience, etiquette, professionalism).

Working Conditions While Performing Essential Functions:

General office setting in health department facilities, as well as working aboard a mobile health unit.

Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

In all settings, employees in this classification may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical, or hostile behaviors and/or communication.

Education, Licensure, Certifications, Experience:

· Medical Assistant Designation Prefered

· High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training.

o OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Valid Illinois driver’s license, current certificate of vehicle insurance, and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.

· Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.

· Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification strongly recommended but not required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Must have a valid Illinois driver’s license, a favorable driving record and proof of insurance. Must be willing to submit to a criminal background and drug test as mandated by Boone County employment regulations.

If unable to demonstrate these abilities based upon a standardized, objective assessment performed by external occupational health professionals, all reasonable accommodations will be made, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable Federal and Illinois law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.28 – $25.13 per hour

Healthcare setting:

Clinic
Ability to commute/relocate:

Belvidere, IL 61008: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Education:

High school or equivalent (Required)
Language:

Spanish (Required)
License/Certification:

Driver’s License (Required)
Work Location: In person