Company Description

Job Description

The Division of Family and Child Health (DFCH) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is charged with the creation and oversight of programs, policies, services, and environments that support physical and socio-emotional health, and promote primary and reproductive health services, health equity, social justice, safety and well-being for New York City families and children. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Maternal Infant and Reproductive Health, the Bureau of Early Intervention, the Office of School Health, and the Bureau of Administration. The vision of the DFCH is that every child, woman, and family recognize their power and is given the opportunity to reach their full health and development potential. We encourage qualified applicants with demonstrated commitment to social justice, particularly racial, gender, and LGBTQ equity, to apply.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

The Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health (BMIRH) is dedicated to improving and reducing inequities in maternal, infant and reproductive health outcomes through program, policy and research initiatives. The Bureau strives to apply a sexual and reproductive justice and racial justice framework to our work, and to fully engage community partners to move this work forward.

- Answer telephone calls with people in NYC who call in to request information or referral to abortion services and to complete brief scripted interviews and needs assessments including the following:
1. Find out their abortion needs based on type of abortion, preferred location, date/time availability, and insurance
2. Do a needs assessment on whether they require additional funding and/or support to access care (such as transportation, child care, housing, etc)
3. Provide warm handoff to a provider or support services depending on identified needs
- Reinforce messages that abortion is safe, legal, and available in NYC.
- Based on assessments, connect callers to abortion care providers, abortion care navigators, financial assistance resources, and other resources using approved resource list.
- Communicate in a professional and empathetic manner
- Collect and record information into the data system
- Follow approved scripts and protocols
- Maintain daily communication with their Supervisor, as assigned
- Receive telephone consent for warm handoff to other organizations offering services
- Protect and maintain individuals’ privacy and confidentiality

Preferred Skills:
- Health-related professional experience or public health training
- Ability to demonstrate a professional, positive attitude and work ethic
- Ability to understand the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with people from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds during a time of crisis and distress
- Have a demonstrated commitment to supporting communities who have experienced systemic oppression and bias (e.g. people of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, justice involved persons, etc.)
- Ability to show empathy and be nonjudgmental towards distressed individuals
- Excellent organizational skills
- Critical thinking and sound judgment
- Experience navigating computer systems and ability to comply with data integrity and security policies, safeguarding all personal identifiable information
- Ability to speak, read, and write English
- Strong preference for Spanish-speaking proficiency.
- Candidates of highly impacted communities are strongly encouraged to apply
- Preference given to New York City residents

Why you should work for us:

- Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
- Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
- Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE - 56057

Qualifications

Qualification Requirements
1. High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.