LGBTQIA+ Health Navigator - Temporary

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Since our founding in 1895 in Marin County as an orphanage – and through subsequent years as Sunny Hills Services – Side by Side has been at the forefront of best practices in child welfare, working with the most vulnerable youth in our community. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties – Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa – across the Bay Area, reaching nearly 2,000 children, young adults, and family members per year with much-needed services related to behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education.

Side by Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles.

This is a six-month temporary position, with the possibility of extension.

COMPENSATION

This position has an hourly rate of pay between $24.00 to $25.50 based on experience.

BENEFITS

• 3 weeks of paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks of vacation after 2 years of service (for all non-school based employees).
• 2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff
• 10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year
• 99% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance, Sutter Health or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance. Employees also have the option to purchase additional life insurance at their own cost.
• 403b Retirement Plan with agency match after one year of employment
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online. Side By Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $500 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
• Pet Insurance

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Our Space provides affirming, accessible, community-based support to LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults in South Alameda County. The Measure W initiative expands access to LGBTQIA+-affirming healthcare, health education, navigation, referrals, peer support, and community resources for youth and young adults ages 5–26.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Temporary Measure W LGBTQIA+ Health Access & Peer Support Specialist is a non-clinical position responsible for community outreach, health education, healthcare navigation, referrals, warm handoffs, and peer support for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults ages 5–26.
• Provide non-clinical, relationship-based peer support that promotes connection, belonging, empowerment, and access to affirming resources. Peer support may include individual support, peer groups, practical assistance, resource navigation, and follow-up on referrals.
• Provide community health education regarding healthcare access, Medi-Cal and CalFresh resources, LGBTQIA+-affirming services, and other health and social-service resources.
• Conduct outreach through the Our Space community center, approved community locations, partner organizations, events, workshops, schools, or other settings identified by the Program Manager.
• Respond to drop-ins, phone calls, emails, and referrals by helping youth and young adults identify appropriate healthcare and community resources.
• Provide navigation and linkage to gender-affirming care, primary care, sexual healthcare, behavioral health providers, benefits resources, and other appropriate services.
• Complete warm handoffs and follow up with participants to determine whether they were successfully connected to referred services and identify barriers to access.
• Facilitate LGBTQIA+ and TGNC peer-support groups and other non-clinical youth engagement activities that promote connection, community, and support.
• Maintain an active participant engagement roster and document services, contacts, referrals, outreach, and outcomes in the Electronic Health Record and/or other required program systems.
• Support Measure W performance targets, including community health education/outreach, healthcare referrals and linkages, peer-support participation, and other approved program deliverables.
• Work collaboratively with Oakland LGBTQ Community Center staff and other funded partners through monthly check-ins, case conferences, warm handoffs, and coordinated referral pathways.
• Coordinate appropriately with YAC and EI staff when youth are also enrolled in those programs, ensuring Measure W activities are distinct, separately documented, and do not replace or duplicate services funded through YAC or EI.
• Identify participants who may need clinical mental health services or crisis intervention and make timely referrals to qualified clinical staff or appropriate emergency/community resources. This position does not provide psychotherapy, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, or other clinical services.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with healthcare providers, schools, community-based organizations, and LGBTQIA+ service providers to strengthen referral pathways and reduce barriers to care.
• Participate in Our Space special projects, community events, outreach campaigns, and center programming as assigned by the Program Manager.
• Support the development and distribution of outreach materials, flyers, social media content, newsletters, and other approved communications promoting health access and Measure W services.
• Participate in outcome tracking, data collection, quality improvement activities, and required narrative or program reports; submit required documentation on time.
• Travel throughout the community as needed to conduct outreach, meet with participants, attend partner meetings, and participate in approved program activities.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and expectations required of the position.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults in community-based, peer support, outreach, navigation, or related services.
• Understanding of LGBTQIA+ communities and commitment to affirming, culturally responsive, and youth-centered services.
• Experience providing non-clinical peer support, group facilitation, community outreach, or resource navigation.
• Strong ability to establish rapport, maintain professional boundaries, and support youth without providing clinical services.
• Experience connecting participants to healthcare, behavioral health, public benefits, housing, education, or other community resources preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and web-based documentation, email, and communication platforms.
• Ability to maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation.
• California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprint clearance.
• Reliable transportation for community-based work.
• Valid California driver's license, if required for assigned duties.
• Personal vehicle insurance, if using a personal vehicle for approved agency business.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting, walking, standing, twisting and bending for brief periods of time.
• Occasional reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms.
• May be required to lift up to 20 pounds.
• May be required to ascend/descend stairs.
• Regular use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, mouse or calculator.
• Visual ability to read documents and computer monitor.
• Exposure to low to moderate noise levels characteristic of working in an office or client environments.
• Ability to drive to various sites.
• Hearing and speech to converse in person and over the telephone.

Side by Side provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.