Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?
YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.
We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!
What You'll Do
The Edmonds New Start Center (EDNSC) is a new 24/7 Emergency Housing facility operated by the YWCA of Seattle, King, and Snohomish County, located in Edmonds, WA. The center provides safe, supportive housing for up to 45 individuals who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Clients have access to a range of on-site services, including case management, life skills training, and connections to healthcare and employment resources, all designed to support their journey toward stability and self-sufficiency. The center emphasizes a compassionate, community-focused approach, fostering an environment where clients can rebuild their lives with dignity, independence, and hope.
This Community Health Worker I (CHW-I) provides health education, health care advocacy, telehealth and health care system navigation, psycho-social emotional support to unhoused/unstably housed individuals virtually and/or in-person at the Edmonds New Start Center, improving access to health services for this population. The CHW-I also conducts focused community outreach, provides 1:1 health insurance enrollment through WA Health Plan Finder, and supports access to health appointments and behavioral health services. Lived experience and demonstrated community involvement highly desirable. This position will receive significant on the job training and there are potential advancement opportunities with long term tenure.
This position has a social justice component that requires critical thinking through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. Knowing the core principles of antiracism and grounding those principles in everyday work are required job skills and core values.
As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.
Recommendation: Please submit both updated resume & cover letter
Expectations for your role:
Assesses health coverage, health care access history, and resource needs of program participants.Provides referrals and coordination of medical, vision, dental, mental health care, along with referrals to other social services that address the social determinants of health.Provides program participants with education and advocacy about managed care, health insurance coverage and health care system utilization.Trouble shoots with medical providers and billing departments at clinics and medical centers.Facilitates WA Apple Health (Medicaid) and Qualified Health Plan enrollment and recertification through WAHealthPlanFinderAttends regular YWCA and occasional stakeholders meetings for training and service coordination.Documents all program participant casework according to best practice standards.Meets regularly with supervisor and team for updates, collaboration, case management and review.Incorporates the YWCA’s Race and Social Workplan by understanding how racism, sexism, classism, and other oppressions intersect and are embedded in institutions.Assure that program participants, staff, volunteers, and community partners are treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, or socio-economic background.Provide psycho-social emotional support to program participants as needed and necessary.Maintains working knowledge of fire, safety and disaster plans related to emergency situations and conditionsUnderstands and follows all policies in the Staff Handbook as well as other YWCA policies and procedures
CHW-I Must haves to be successful:
At least (1) year of direct social service or health care related experience & at least (1) year of experience with low-income and/or unhoused individuals/familiesLived experience and/or membership in communities the program supports.OR
A bachelor’s degree in social services or a related field with at least (2) years of direct social service experience with low-income and/or unhoused families & shows a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice, and an understanding of the interconnected impacts of racism and poverty.Demonstrated commitment to providing health education, outreach, or health promotion to diverse or underserved communitiesKnowledge and experience related to domestic violence, being unhoused, mental health, SUD, or case management preferred.High level of organization and attention to detail is required.Ability to communicate and collaborate across agencies and organizational cultures.Ability to work independently and adapt to change.Demonstrated creative problem-solving skillsBasic computer literacy with ability to use Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, and SharepointDemonstrated ability to interact with people of different cultures and backgrounds.Bilingual desired
Hours, Rate, and Benefits
Hourly Rate: $28.00Hours: 40 hours per weekExcellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plansAt the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In performing this position, the employee:Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with clients, agency staff, volunteers, and individuals in the communityContinuously repetitive use of hands and wrists handling, grasping and reaching in using computers, telephones, fax machines and other office equipmentContinuously sitting, often for extended periods while performing desktop activitiesFrequently lifts and carries up to 5 lbs. of paperwork, files, and materials, occasionally up to 40 lbs. of food, hygiene supplies, clothing or other items.Ability to frequently move about the facility using the stairs and in emergent situations able to move about the facility quickly following emergency protocols.All positions at YWCA of Seattle | King | Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc. As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients.* Continuously over 80% time; Frequently 20-80% time; and occasionally under 20% time
#LI-Hybrid
YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!
At YWCA, we recognize that lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.
Valuing lived expertise helps build trust with program participants, develop culturally responsive programs, and break down barriers to equity. It enriches our collective understanding and enhances our ability to serve communities that are furthest from opportunity.
Mental Health Considerations
All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of
secondary trauma. We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.
Equal Opportunity Employment
For more information
Contact us at
careers@ywcaworks.org with any questions or if you need accommodation for your application.
