Bilingual Outreach Coordinator

THE ORGANIZATION

Health Care For All (HCFA) is a state-based consumer health advocacy organization founded in 1985. HCFA’s mission is to advocate for health justice in Massachusetts by working to promote health equity and ensure coverage and access for all.

HCFA focuses on expanding health care access, improving quality, and bringing down costs in Massachusetts through its leadership of and participation in numerous policy advocacy coalitions. HCFA is recognized as a national leader in this work. HCFA’s coalition work brings together a wide variety of organizations to work collaboratively to make health care changes. By uniting diverse constituencies, HCFA is able to magnify its policy reach on many fronts. HCFA also helps thousands of individuals and families each year to enroll in and renew their health insurance and troubleshoot health coverage issues through a unique, multilingual consumer assistance HelpLine. Health care access barriers identified by the HelpLine informs a state-level health advocacy agenda.

The organization’s achievements include leading four waves of broad Massachusetts health reform, including legislation in 2006 that was the precursor for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Legislation in 2012 resulted in the nation’s first comprehensive law aimed at controlling health care cost growth through adoption of alternative payment methodologies, care coordination, and investments in technology, wellness and prevention. HCFA’s important work continues today. During the past year, HCFA has helped to advocate for critical policies enabling consumers to access the care and treatment they need during the pandemic. HCFA is also actively engaging new partners to advance an agenda that addresses the multiple drivers of health disparities that recognize the realities of structural racism in our country.

For more information, please visit www.hcfama.org.

LOCATION

HCFA’s office is centrally located in downtown Boston. HCFA is scheduled to return to the office later in 2021. Despite the organization being remote, this position will include frequent travel outside of the home to surrounding communities and towns depending on the relevant work with COVID-19 safety protocols and PPP provided by HCFA in place.

THE OPPORTUNITY

HCFA is seeking a “Bilingual Outreach Coordinator” to support organizational efforts aimed at educating consumers across the state about the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as health care options available
through the Massachusetts Health Connector, MassHealth and other public programs. The work of the Bilingual Outreach Coordinator combines direct service, advocacy, policy and public education to make the health care system more responsive to consumers.

The position will work to strengthen and increase partnerships with community-based organizations throughout the state who serve immigrants, underserved groups and underrepresented populations. The Bilingual Outreach Coordinator often serves as the face of the organization while attending health fairs, community events and other consumer-focused meetings on behalf of HCFA. While many of these events are currently being held in a virtual format, it is expected that the Bilingual Outreach Coordinator will attend events in-person when it is safe and actionable to do so.

Over the first 6-12 months, the Bilingual Outreach Coordinator will work closely with the COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness Campaign team on related outreach and education activities. Later on, the Bilingual Outreach Coordinator will also work closely with the other HelpLine staff members. HCFA’s direct service program, the Consumer Assistance HelpLine (the HelpLine), is a telephone, voicemail, and email service available Monday through Friday to any resident seeking to enroll in or troubleshoot issues with health coverage. HCFA’s HelpLine counselors provide services in Portuguese, Spanish and English and counselors take an average of 20,000 calls per year; half of which come from clients who speak a language other than English.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with your manager to research and implement outreach and organizing activities by attending and/or participating in community fairs and events on behalf of HCFA;
• Serve as an organizational contact with external stakeholders on outreach, consumer engagement and community-based issues;
• Coordinate outreach and enrollment initiatives alongside the HelpLine and other HCFA teams, as needed;
• Contribute to the completion of reports, as-needed;
• Represent HCFA at various coalition and network meetings throughout the state;
• Foster HCFA’s engagement with volunteers and consumer network;
• Help implement a system to engage and mobilize consumers who call HCFA’s HelpLine or participate in other activities and events coordinated by HCFA;
• Help implement educational campaigns on health care access for immigrant communities;
• Assist in story collection activities in collaboration with HCFA’s HelpLine and the organizing team;
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION 

The Bilingual Outreach Coordinator reports to the Director of Communications and Immigrant Health. The Bilingual Outreach Coordinator will also receive some programmatic direction from the Director of the HelpLine.

COMPETENCIES

• Commitment to social justice and experience in social change activism such as outreach work, community organizing, working with coalitions, and/or policy/political advocacy;
• Ability to write and converse proficiently in English, Cape Verdean Creole and/or Portuguese and/or Spanish; knowledge of and/or ability to translate into other languages is highly preferred;
• 2+ years of health care or community outreach and/or organizing experience required;
• Well organized and able to manage multiple priorities with poise and professionalism;
• Familiarity with public health insurance programs, policy and the health care environment in Massachusetts is a plus, but not required;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information in a clear, culturally competent and understandable manner;
• Strong public speaking skills, both in front of large groups and on an individual basis;
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment;
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and mobilize a group of people;
• Ability to work well with diverse groups, particularly direct experience with low-income and immigrant populations;
• Experience working with virtual communication and meeting tools, i.e. Zoom meetings, webinars, Microsoft Teams is highly desired;
• Ability and willingness to travel and work flexible hours including nights and weekends;
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

BENEFITS

Salary range: $50,000 – $54,000

Generous paid time off policy

Robust benefits package

Health Care For All is an equal opportunity employer. Persons of color, women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter summarizing their interest in and qualifications for the position to jobs@hcfama.org. Please put “Outreach Coordinator” in the subject line.