Oral Health Access AmeriCorps

JOB SUMMARY
Salt Lake County's Most Vulnerable Populations AmeriCorps Program focuses on reducing systematic inequities in healthcare access. AmeriCorps members are selected to provide direct service to individuals and families to assist them in accessing health care services.

What is AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps is a voluntary civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors by engaging adults in public service work, with a goal of helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. "The program is often seen as the domestic Peace Corps.”
Members commit to full-time positions of completing 1700 hours or part-time completing 900 hours during a 12-month contract.

"Getting it Done" the Duties:
AmeriCorps members are placed in community agencies who serve individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, fleeing or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. Or were recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability. Our members help bridge the gap and reduce barriers by assisting our community to aid in the goal to make homelessness in Utah rare, brief, and non-recurring. Members assist in activities such as housing placement, job placement, system navigation, and volunteer recruitment.

Location (Sub-sites):
Members are placed throughout the community in a network of nonprofit community organizations and public agencies, to fulfill assignments in reducing barriers for vulnerable populations. For the 2023 grant year we are partnered with the following agencies: International Rescue Committee, The Road Home, and Salt Lake County Homeless Services. All positions are direct-service, remote work is not available. Members will serve under the direction of case management teams.

TRAINING
Members will participate in agency training activities to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities for delivering client services. Attend AmeriCorps training sessions and participate with AmeriCorps service projects. Members will experience personal growth including professional skill development and work experiences.

IRC Background 
Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. In the U.S., the IRC resettles approximately 11,000 refugees per year and provides numerous program services to assist the refugee from their arrival through citizenship. The IRC in Salt Lake City (IRC SLC) opened it office in 1994, and provides resettlement services through extended case management to newly arrived refugees for up to 24-months as well as over twenty different programs to educate and empower refugees.  

IRC SLC Placement Service Overview:
Under the supervision of the Health Access Program Coordinator, the Oral Health Access AmeriCorps member will provide support for newly arrived refugee and new American adults in accessing dental screenings and treatment, as well support health promotion educational efforts around oral hygiene practices. The IRC SLC Health Access Program helps newly-arrived refugees complete their initial health screening, establish a medical home with a primary care provider, and access any specialty care they may need. The program assists refugees in accessing health care by scheduling appointments, scheduling interpreters, and providing transportation to and from medical appointments. A major gap in services that refugees face is accessing dental care and oral hygiene education. The dental needs in the refugee communities are extremely high and the local resources are extremely costly and limited, especially when taking into account the numerous access barriers refugee populations face such as language and transportation. This full-time service member will help to address this gap in services by providing direct service to clients by coordinating dental care treatment, coordinating and providing transportation to/from client dental appointments, coordinating interpretation for dental appointments, participating in the oral health coalition to advocate for adult dental insurance under Medicaid, providing outreach trainings and education to dentists and dental providers on how to best care for refugee patients, and developing and implementing sustainable oral health classes for refugees. 

Major Responsibilities 
Schedule and coordinate dental appointments including, transportation and interpretation

Provide transportation for client health/medical/dental appointments

Assist clients in ensuring medical bills have been billed to Medicaid

Ensure client health and dental needs are addressed in a timely manner

Develop and Implement Oral Health Education classes to refugees

Conduct Outreach and Training to Dental Clinics around refugee dental health needs and best practices when working with interpreters

Support Health Team Staff in teaching clients how to navigate the US Health Care System

Teach clients how to access dental service by providing pubic transit orientations

Comply with all policies and protocols of the agency

Support overall functioning of health programs, projects and initiatives

Participate in all program meetings and staff development activities

 Satisfy recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Use personal, insured vehicle and/or public transportation (where available) to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.

Other duties as assigned.

Establish working relationships with clients, co-workers, and other professionals.

Work independently as well as collaboratively.

Provide constructive feedback to clients. Maintain client confidentiality.

Display cultural competency, appreciation, compassion and understanding for the needs of clients.

Open to work occasional evenings and weekends if requested.