Job Description

BE A WELLNESS AMBASSADOR: At a time when our communities are responding to intensified challenges, it becomes more important than ever that those who can use their voice to educate and activate others to step forward. La Clínica was founded over 45 years ago by activists who saw the need for high quality culturally appropriate healthcare for Latinos in the Fruitvale area. As a Contact Tracer at La Clínica, you will build upon our strong legacy, serving an ever more diverse population, and working shoulder to shoulder with some of the most dedicated community educators you'll meet. If you are passionate about transforming our communities into healthy and empowered spaces, La Clínica is the place for you. We are seeking Contact Tracers who are passionate about implementing key strategies to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community. Yes, you will work hard at La Clínica, but the sense of teamwork, and our dedication to giving our diverse community the high-quality services they deserve, will inspire you to do amazing work.

BACKGROUND

Contact tracing, a core disease control measure employed by local and state health department personnel for decades, is a key strategy for preventing further spread of COVID-19. The goal is to interrupt chains of transmission by helping to ensure the safe and effective quarantine of potential contacts, slowing the spread of the virus.

Case investigation involves interviewing positive COVID-19 cases; assess for potential large-scale or high-risk exposures; issue isolation recommendations; and provide residents with assistance in accessing community resources to support them during isolation. Contact tracing involves eliciting all close contacts of the case, then interviewing them; with contact's permission, follow up at designated intervals to check on whether they have developed symptoms; make quarantine recommendations and provide health coaching; and provide residents with assistance in accessing testing and community resources to support them during quarantine.

The COVID-19 Contact Tracer will do case investigations as well as contact tracing. The combination CI/CT role enables one person to hold an entire case, i.e. their household, family, and friends.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

CLIENT EXPERIENCE

1.Conduct case investigation and contact tracing interviews. This task requires the Contact Tracer to:

• Learn the Contact Tracer workflow, scripts, and FAQs/recommendations.
• Follow the most current script when communicating with cases and contacts
• Identify the language of a monolingual contact and follow procedures to get this contact connected via Language Line support if needed.
• Communicate with contacts in a professional and empathetic manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of all personal health information in accordance with HIPAA.
• Assess for potential large-scale or high-risk exposures.
• Issues the County Health Office Order for Isolation and Quarantine with Combined Instructions.
• Provide residents with assistance in accessing community resources to support them during isolation/quarantine.
• Identify and document resource needs to support clients during isolation/quarantine; provide referrals in the moment as possible, and refer the client to the Team Lead for additional support.
• Prepare and send out standard follow up information to via email (or text if requested and possible), or notify Team Lead if needed through US mail

2.For case investigations with people who have tested positive COVID-19 case, the Contact Tracer also:

• Elicits names and contact information for everyone with whom the case had close contact during the timeframe while they may have been infectious.
• Issues isolation recommendations.

3.For contact tracing with close contacts elicited during case investigation, the Contact Tracer also:

• Informs the contact of their exposure and checks for symptoms.
• Makes quarantine recommendations and provide health coaching.
• Follows up at designated intervals to check on whether they have developed symptoms.

4.Utilize statewide data collection and tracking platform -- for all Contact Tracing activities, e.g. assigning/accepting cases, making calls, inputting client information, flagging high risk situations, referring cases to the Team Lead, and updating case status.

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

1. Participate in multi-day training to learn procedures for case investigation and contact tracing and scripts to follow.

2.Participate in Coordination and support structures:

• Consult with designated on-call clinician to provide accurate information as needed.
• Participate in daily group check-ins and occasional training updates.
• Participate in monthly meetings focused on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). These sessions will be designed to gather and disseminate best practices, identify systemic gaps, explore Health Equity issues, troubleshoot issues, and inform the next iteration of the countywide Contact Tracing System

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in clinical medicine and/or public health.
• Fluency in a second languages (specifically Spanish, Mam).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience in contact tracing or disease containment.
• Prior experience in health coaching, case management, counseling, or community health education.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques and methods.

ABILITIIES

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles, methods and materials used in health education or contact tracing including Motivational Interviewing and Health Coaching
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse individuals during a time of crisis and distress
• Ability to communicate verbally in a professional and empathetic manner
• Proficiency with computers and data entry, and ability to learn how to use data tracking system.
• Ability to follow prescribed procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills are essential.
• CONTACT TRACER I: High-School degree/GED plus a minimum of one-year experience providing health education to undeserved communities of color plus two years' work experience in a community setting preferably at a health center strongly preferred
• CONTACT TRACER II: Bachelor's degree in Health Education, Health Sciences or behavioral sciences with 2 years' experience providing health education to underserved communities of color strongly preferred.

Experience should include providing peer counseling, support, education and/or navigation and advocacy services. Must be committed to supporting clients toward the goals of accessing resources and receiving the support needed during and after the quarantine