ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WORKER

(Bilingual)

(General)

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is community public health work disseminating information that promotes health and prevents illness and injury from indoor environmental health risks. Employees in this class meet with individual clients and families to educate, provide access to resources, address home health and safety hazards, and develop strategies to improve health and well-being. Employees are responsible conducting home visits of families with a child who is at risk of, or has, an elevated blood lead level, asthma, or another health condition. Employees educate clients and families about dangers and home health and safety hazards including lead paint, mold, clutter, pests, asthma triggers and fall/tripping hazards. Employees in this class perform home assessments and develop environmental and individual action plans and serve as a link between the Health Department, care providers and families to facilitate access to services and referrals. Employees perform this work in a variety of settings including client homes, schools, clinics, shelters, local businesses and community centers. Work is performed under the supervision of an administrative or technical superior.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Performs the duties below with members of a non-English language-speaking community.

GENERAL SPECIALTY

Assesses homes for environmental hazards including the presence of lead paint, mold, pests, clutter, asthma triggers and fall/tripping hazards; performs early intervention evaluation and other screening for developmental delays in children; provides a series of educational home related visits in homes of children with, or at risk of, an elevated blood/lead level or asthma.

Establishes trusting relationships with patients and families while clearly communicating the purpose and goals of the Lead and Healthy Homes program and/or other community health based programs; develops and explains environmental action plan and uses basic interviewing to facilitate the family’s goal-setting; provides referrals for services to community agencies and conducts follow-up to ensure successful referral; assists clients and families with completing registration forms and applications; follows-up with clients and families via phone, home visits and other methods; assists in locating families who are difficult to reach or lost to care.

Makes educational presentations on a variety of health concerns; assists in the development and dissemination of health educational material; assists in the organization, advertisement and management of health outreach screening events.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

· current public health programs and services

· lead sources, hazards, symptoms, and effects of lead poisoning

· sources of, and health problems associated with, common household safety and health hazards

· health and social service programs

· Microsoft Office

· laws and regulations affecting landlords and tenants

· laws and regulations governing medical privacy, including HIPAA

SKILL IN:

· communicating with a diverse client base

· performing environmental dust wipes

ABILITY TO:

· plan, organize and lead workshops and training sessions

· plan and set goals

· evaluate and prepare reports and action plans in standard formats

· provide effective verbal and written communications to clients, families, coworkers and superiors

· establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, community groups and the general public

· work collaboratively with colleagues, superiors, and others

· follow verbal and written instructions

· fluently speak, read and write in English and a specified non-English language for the Bilingual specialty

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 6/17.)

BOTH SPECIALTIES

EDUCATION:

Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Two years of environmental health work experience or experience as a home health aide, certified nurse assistant, patient care technician, medical assistant, or in a related patient care role in a home or medical facility environment or working in the community educating people about health issues.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources.

Note: Completion of an associate’s degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in environmental science, life or physical science, public health, or a related area can be substituted for the experience requirement.

BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and a designated non-English language.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Class Established 11/88

Spec. Revision:

CSC – 10/06

Ad. Board – 11/06

Latest Spec Revision and Consolidation with 4J05:

CSC – 1/15; Ad. Board – 2/15

Latest Spec. Revision:

CSC – 5/17

Ad. Board – 6/17