Community Resource Specialist

We are seeking a Service Access Specialist to join our growing team. You will provide essential healthcare enrollment assistance, client advocacy, and community resource navigation. We have both full-time and part-time positions available.

This is an onsite position requiring the employee to report directly to the primary office in Bemidji, Minnesota, serving Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, and Hubbard counties.

The starting wage is $21.00 per hour, increasing to $21.50 per hour after successful completion of a six-month probationary period, with annual wage evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Provide information, referral, and advocacy services to the public and professional service agencies across the four-county area.
• Assist individuals and families in navigating and enrolling in state and federal health care options including Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, Medicare, MNsure, and Affordable Care Act tax credits.
• Deliver small group presentations regarding Minnesota healthcare options and participate in community outreach and awareness events.
• Maintain regular office hours, welcome walk-in clients, and conduct private interviews to assess long-term unmet needs using basic social work skills.
• De-escalate crisis situations and maintain strict client confidentiality and professional ethics.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and consistent documentation, case notes, and reporting.
• Actively research, update, and maintain a comprehensive knowledge base of community resources and local service agencies.
• Build positive, service-focused relationships with management and staff at external service agencies to optimize client outcomes.
• Prepare required release of information forms and advocate directly for clients to initiate essential services.
• Participate in and facilitate agency projects, networking groups, advisory teams, and interagency meetings.
• Attend all required local, state, and federal training sessions and professional development activities.
• Maintain office equipment and ensure the working environment is professional, functional, parent-friendly, and welcoming.
• Assist with agency financial stability initiatives, including fundraising activities, grant application brainstorming, and policy implementation.
• Provide direction and support to volunteers and work collaboratively as a team member to ensure overall agency success.

Qualifications

• Reliable mode of transportation.
• Proven ability to learn, navigate, and teach others about complex state and federal healthcare systems including Medicare, Medicaid, and MNsure.
• Strong communication skills for conducting client interviews, public speaking engagements, and small group presentations.
• Experience in social work, human services, case management, or community outreach preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with limited direct supervision and as a collaborative team member.
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness of the diverse financial, cultural, racial, and lifestyle backgrounds of clients and co-workers.
• Proficiency in maintaining accurate documentation, reporting, and utilizing standard office equipment.
• Ability to handle sensitive personal information with strict confidentiality and professionalism.
• Capacity to de-escalate crisis situations and address the health and safety needs of clients.

Benefits

• Travel between office sites for agency coverage is paid by the employer. (regular travel to and from work is not covered)
• Pro-rated vacation leave accruing at 8 hours per month or 3.69 hours per paycheck effective on the start date for eligible hours, with up to 200 hours paid out at termination.
• Pro-rated sick leave accruing at 8 hours per month or 3.69 hours per paycheck for eligible hours, capped at 320 hours.
• Up to 16 hours of paid school leave annually to participate in children's educational activities and conferences.
• Three personal days provided per fiscal year on a pro-rated basis for personal, medical, or mental health needs.
• Ten paid holidays per year including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
• Access to AFLAC supplemental insurance plans, including short-term and long-term disability, via pre-tax paycheck deductions.
• Agency-funded retirement benefit equal to 5% of gross wages after the second full year of employment, fully paid by the organization.