Village Exchange Center (VEC)
Is a community center and multi-faith worship space that celebrates religious and cultural diversity by creating an inclusive environment where residents from all backgrounds can practice, interact, share, and develop together. We seek to assist the immigrant and refugee population to feel empowered to use their existing strengths and unique perspectives to enrich the city’s diverse and inclusive community.
About The Role
Cultural Navigators will support the case interview, contact tracing, and health education components of the COVID-19 pandemic response and other complementary public health efforts. The intent is to improve health by reducing health disparities and increasing accurate representation of marginalized communities in the public health COVID-19 data, regardless of culture or language.
Responsibilities
▪ Work in tandem with public health teams to include individuals from hard-to-reach communities in
the public health response.
▪ Use cultural and linguistic navigation skills to introduce public health goals and roles,
communicate public health messages using culturally appropriate approaches, help public health
understand case status and barriers expressed by cases and contacts
▪ Work with public health to develop strategies to take cultural nuances into account when
conducting case interviews and delivering public health messages.
▪ Meet the target population where they are and promote trust between cases, contacts, and public
health teams.
▪ Provide culturally appropriate educational outreach and messaging through attending community
events, communicating with families in the school setting, and by participating in a food pantry
that is hosted by The Village Exchange
▪ Search for outreach opportunities within the community to provide COVID-19 related
materials
Requirements
About You: The ideal candidate would have a strong desire to assist refugee/immigrant communities and have familiarity with them and their related needs and services. S/he would work well collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and outside partners, have excellent bilingual language skills and be flexible and patient in the face of changes or challenges. Candidates should be very reliable, have strong independent work skills, and be willing to share cultural knowledge with our team.
High school graduate or GED required. Bachelor’s degree preferred in a human services field,foreign or domestic, or in a non-human services field with one-year relevant job experience.
One year of direct service provision in human services/ navigation or a related field preferred.
Language Requirements:Fluent in English and Spanish
Strong desire to serve refugee/immigrant communities.
Excellent listening, oral, and written communication skills.
Familiarity with needs of refugee/immigrant communities.
Flexibility, ability to work independently
Ability to work well collaborating with others on diverse interdisciplinary behavioral health team.
Ability to complete health navigation training, as needed.
Demonstrated cultural and linguistic competency.
Ability to serve as cultural broker and interpreter.
Firsthand cultural knowledge as a member/leader in local refugee community in Colorado.
Ability to build trusting relationships with community members and act as advocate for and liaison between refugee community and diverse network of providers.
Skilled at facilitating client and family engagement.
Ability to give and take direction accurately, efficiently and flexibility.
Basic computer competency, including knowledge of Microsoft programs, outlook and google applications
Submit monthly reports in timely manner