Community Service Worker - Bilingual; Disease Intervention

About The Position

Public Health is currently seeking a bilingual Community Service Worker to join our Communicable Disease team (CD). In this role, the selected candidate will conduct disease investigations related to communicable disease outbreaks and partner services for sexually transmitted infections (STI) within our community, link those with newly diagnosed HIV to care, and assist the team to manage and monitor syphilis cases to prevent incidences of congenital syphilis.

The Community Service Worker will play a vital role in identifying and locating individuals who may have been exposed to a reportable infectious communicable disease (i.e. STI, foodborne related illness, infectious respiratory disease, etc.). They will conduct confidential case and contact interviews, both over the phone and in person, including clinic and field settings.

The successful candidate will work closely with the HIV/STI team and EPI/OB team. The Community Service Worker/Disease Intervention Specialist (CSW/DIS) will actively engage with identified individuals, encouraging them to seek testing, treatment, and providing essential education and direction.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the prevention and control of communicable diseases within our community. We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate individual who can effectively collaborate with our team to achieve our shared goals.

The Lane County Public Health (LCPH) Communicable Disease section serves to prevent and control the spread of communicable diseases through investigation, providing immunizations, education and treatment.

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, with occasional evenings and weekends for events as needed. This is an AFSCME represented position.

• Equivalent to the completion of two years of college course work.

• Two years of responsible community service experience;
• Or an equivalent combination of experience and training that will demonstrate the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

• Successful hire will be contingent upon taking a bilingual test to demonstrate proficiency in both English & Spanish.

Must be in possession of a valid driver’s license at time of application, and a valid Oregon Driver’s license by time of appointment.

• This position is subject to a full background check.
• Offers of employment are contingent upon consenting to and successfully passing a drug screening test.

Studies have shown that women and BIPOC individuals are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. The county will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications.

If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Language - Spanish

To assist in providing bilingual communication with Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons. Individuals in these classifications do more than self-identify; they have successfully passed a test demonstrating proficiency in both English and the other language administered by the County. The need for the use of the second language in the performance of job duties in this classification has been identified.

• Interpreting between English speakers and LEP persons.
• Orally translating documents.
• Providing oral assistance.
• Providing written assistance, including some written document translation.

• Both languages, demonstrating the ability to convey information in both languages quickly and accurately.

• Communicate clearly and concisely.
• Maintain confidentiality of communications.

• An equivalent combination of experience and training or demonstrated abilities qualifying the employee or applicant to perform the duties described herein. These skills and abilities may be acquired in various ways; i.e., education and/or bilingual or bicultural experiences.

Lane County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.