Health Equity Specialist at Behavioral Health Network, Inc. in Springfield, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Description




Use your experience aiding individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) to improve the accessibility of substance use recovery services in the Western Massachusetts community!


Join our team of competent and compassionate professionals as the Health Equity Specialist in the Substance Use Recovery Division at Behavioral Health Network!



Your experience, knowledge and great skills will support the Substance Use Recovery Division with the following:

• Supporting BHN's development, implementation, and evaluation of Substance Use Recovery programs in serving DHH individuals to promote health equity & address health disparities.


• Overseeing ongoing universal access assessments & recommending access improvements to access for individuals with disabilities and Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in partnership with the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) and the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD).


• Providing training support to staff about cultural competency, health equity principles, and assistive technology, in collaboration with the MCDHH, community partners, and BHN's IT and Social Justice staff.


• Establishing a strong working relationship with learned practitioners at the MCDHH, MOD, and DMH to ensure ongoing collaborative solutions.


• Creating a program affinity group with representation from individuals with disabilities and who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.


• Collaborating with community organizations, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to enhance healthcare access and quality for underserved populations .


• Serving as a liaison to BHN's Community Advisory Boards to evaluate the use of resources for reasonable accommodations.


• Serving as a liaison between BHN staff and programs to advocate for resources and new technologies.


• Collecting, maintaining, and analyzing assessment, accommodation, and communication data to accurately monitor the effectiveness of health equity initiatives and reports findings.


• Completing regular reports to stakeholders on progress with meeting targeted goals and enhancing access disability-competent care.


• Consulting with the Facilities Department to support their review of site ADA checklists.


• Aiding in facilitating the Chair Health Equity Committee, including creating meeting agendas and presenting annual reports to the board.


• Ensuring the program adheres to regulations and requirements of licensing bodies and funding sources as well as HIPAA & 42 CFR Part 2 regulations.

Who are we?

Behavioral Health Network's (BHN) Substance Use Recovery services across Western Massachusetts include designated substance abuse disorder treatment centers, providing acute treatment services (ATS), clinical stabilization services (CSS), and residential services for further recovery in addition to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) supports at various locations. This scope of services helps adults striving to overcome drug and alcohol addiction and meet co-occurring mental health and behavioral health needs.



Reasons to work with BHN:

• Work with an agency who does amazing things for others


• You will be able to change a person's life


• You will expand your experience in various areas of mental & behavioral health


• You will have the opportunity to grow within the agency


• You will not be bored with our fast-paced environment


• You will have excellent benefits package & time off benefits available

What are we looking for in the Health Equity Specialist?

• Commitment to empowerment and growth, human rights, and community integration of individuals served (required).


• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Social Work, or a related field (required).


• Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) (required).


• Working knowledge of Deaf culture (required).


• At least 1 year of experience/education in disability & Deaf advocacy or Deaf service provision (required).


• Experience working with Deaf/hard of hearing substance use disorder (SUD) programs (preferred).


• Willingness to adhere to BHN's commitment to social justice values and the 5 pillars (participation, human rights, access, diversity, equity).


• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.


• Cultural competence in supporting staff and clients from a variety of cultural backgrounds.


• Working knowledge of community resources and referral opportunities for BHN staff.


• Proven experience in health equity, advocacy, community health, or related areas.


• Strong understanding of health disparities and social determinants of health.


• Understanding of the relationship between substance use and mental health disorders.


• Working knowledge of current accessibility standards and guidelines (e.g. WCAG, ATAG, UAAG, ADA) and of best practices of disability/Deaf accommodations to assure equity.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.


• Ability to collaborate with others across multiple disciplines in a cooperative manner.


• Ability to work independently.


• Strong organizational skills.


• Strong computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (required).


• Experience analyzing data & presenting reports to inform policy and program decisions in logical and clear fashion.

How do I apply to be the Health Equity Specialist?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click "Apply for Job" below or visit our website at www.bhnworks.org and click on "Browse All Jobs" to apply!



BHN maintains its commitment to social justice and diversity and strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply.



All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability. Apply Now