Family Health Navigator

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

• At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world.
• We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.
• If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.
• ORGANIZATION SUMMARY World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church.
• The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe.
• Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.

Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.

Position Summary

World Relief Aurora seeks a Family Health Navigator who will focus on educating and equipping refugee & immigrant clients with the understanding and practical skills needed to navigate healthcare settings in the United States. This position will work closely with the health and other WR teams, community organizations, and service providers to promote and facilitate self-sufficiency among individuals. \n

Role & responsibilities

For new arrivals and individuals who qualify, arrange health screening at local provider and help client follow through with two screening visits and guide clients in follow-up recommendations Create a Plan of Care for clients receiving care coordination. Regularly follow up with individuals to ensure health goals are achieved Locate new and foster existing relationships with medical providers like VNA, Aunt Martha’s, ICN Shifa, Compass Church, and other sliding scale or pro bono clinics, dentists, and mental health facilities Keep an ongoing list of Chicagoland health resources and prices for visits for the uninsured to be shared with other teams when needed Locate primary care, urgent care, emergency care, low-cost prescriptions, dentistry, and health-related financial assistance options for each person requesting assistance, providing warm hand-offs when possible, and follow up to ensure care was received Assist clients with scheduling appointments and identifying methods of transportation to/from providers for clients without access to personal and/or public transportation Navigate health insurance options with families in need, and explore ACA marketplace, Medicaid, and Employer-Based health insurance options Ensure clients have access to a local pharmacy and assist with initial filling of prescriptions Talk through budgeting options with clients when needing to pay out of pocket for specialist care Respond to urgent medical needs, when possible, that come through the intake team or directly from the client. If not possible, collaborate with the case manager of the case to ensure the client is equipped to care for their medical needs Reach out to clients who have been in the US for a certain time frame to ask about self-sufficiency around navigating the healthcare system and the adjustment of status process Provide hands-on orientation to clients when needed about the U.S. health care system through each appointment, including proper filling and following of prescription instructions, medical insurance, when to use primary care vs the emergency room, etc. This also includes role-playing exercises to help clients gain confidence in navigating the healthcare system independently Help develop, coordinate, and facilitate quarterly workshops. Topics may include stress management, nutrition, seasonal health, screen time and the effects on the brain, and exercising – learning the benefits, resources, and strategies Research and create PowerPoint presentations around various health care gaps, and present to individuals in person or over Zoom Reach out to medical professionals and external resources for presenters who could lead workshops Conduct pre- and post-tests to assess knowledge gains in the material presented Assist with the maintenance of a medical resource binder for distribution to clients Provide preventative care and education as needed Administrative Responsibilities Maintain timely and accurate client files and paperwork, case notes, and reporting records. Actively participate in department meetings, staff development opportunities, program trainings, community activities, and organizational events Complete Skills Progress Assessments for each family Provide supervision and accountability for department interns when assigned Work closely with internal service teams and external service providers to ensure comprehensive service provision Collaborate with volunteers and Volunteer Services staff to support the work of volunteers engaging with clients to meet the goals of the client’s service plan