U. Mass./Boston The world is calling; heal the world and in the process heal yourself, find the human in yourself by finding the citizen, the activist, the hero. Tony Kushner Advocate Applicant Information Packet Spring 2014 at umb@healthleadsusa.org.
I. About Health Leads Health Leads is a national movement that mobilizes the nation s undergraduates to provide high-impact services to low-income families and, in the process, to transform our healthcare system into one that is more effective and more just. Health Leads envisions a healthcare system that addresses all patients' basic resource needs as a standard part of quality care. Health Leads mission is to catalyze this healthcare system by connecting patients with the basic resources they need to be healthy, and in doing so, build leaders with the conviction and ability to champion quality care for all patients. Health Leads believes that undergraduates have what it takes to make real change for individual families and for our country s healthcare system. We are seeking passionate, committed, social justice-minded students to join our movement. To learn more about our work, our vision, and more, visit www.healthleadsusa.org. II. About Health Leads New England New England is the oldest and largest of Health Leads four regions. It has grown from a card table in the waiting room at Boston City Hospital staffed by 10 students, to a robust operation that last year alone mobilized more than 250 college students to serve over 4,000 families in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island. The Health Leads Model The Health Leads Desk is a resource and advocacy program that helps families access community resources critical to their health, safety, and economic survival. Operating in clinics and hospitals, the Health Leads desks use a patient s visit to the doctor as an opportunity to address the non-medical issues that have an impact on health. At the desk, Health Leads Advocates talk with individuals and families about their resource needs, and connect them with appropriate services related to food, housing, health insurance, childcare, adult education, job training, and other services. The Advocates then follow-up with these clients to provide further assistance that will ensure success in accessing resources and to provide further assistance easing the frustration of bureaucratic systems, language barriers, and administrative errors that often obstruct families access to services. what people say about Health Leads This [Health Leads] is exactly the kind of social innovation and entrepreneurship we should be encouraging all across this country. First Lady Michelle Obama, TIME Magazine100 Most Influential People Gala Health Leads is a part of our team. I can t do it all. We re just barely staying above water. The students have excellent listening skills, aren t limited by time, realize this work is important, and are passionate about it. - Dr. Barbara Philipp, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center My classmates think you write a prescription, and you re done. I ask, can the patient read the prescription? Does she need transportation to the pharmacy? Does she have food at home to take with the prescription? These are not questions you learn to ask in medical school, but I learned them at Health Leads. - Mia Lozada, M.D. Health Leads alumna, Internal Medicine Resident, UCSF 1
III. Advocate Job Description Position Overview The Advocate provides high quality service to her/his clients that results in their access to the basic resources needed to be healthy. The Advocate participates in a team of 8-10, managed by a student Team Coordinator (TC). The Advocate reports to the site s Program Manager, a paid Health Leads staff member. The Advocate brings commitment, creativity, tenacity, and humility to work with families, and, through this work, strengthens her/his conviction and ability to champion quality care for all patients. Position Availability Up to 20 new Advocates are needed for the desk serving Codman Square Health Center in Boston s Dorchester neighborhood. Commitments Able and willing to work a minimum of 6 hours of service a week, including at least one 2.5- hour weekly shift at the health center and at least 1.5 hours a week of client follow-up undertaken by phone from campus. Note: additional time will be required for travel to and from the U.Mass./Boston (UMB) campus and shift, Case Support Group, and Reflection Session activities. Available to participate in regularly scheduled activities, held at a location near to Downtown Crossing stop on the RED and ORANGE T lines, at these times: o o Every Tuesday 6:00 to 7:00 PM (Reflection Sessions) Alternate Tuesdays 7:00 to 8:00 PM (Case Support Groups) Available to attend the two-day, mandatory Advocate Boot Camp to be held all day on Saturday, February 15 th and Sunday, February 16 th. Responsibilities Attend one 2.5-hour shift per week at Codman Square Health Center, spending this time working with patients in-person. Undertake 1.5 hours a week of follow-up with assigned clients by phone from campus, and additional follow-up activity as needed to maintain consistent, high quality service. Attend a Case Support Group, held at the location near to the Downtown Crossing stop, for one hour every other week to enhance service to patients and further skill development. 2
Attend a Reflection Session, also held at the location near to the Downtown Crossing T stop, for one hour each week to extend learning by relating the Advocate service experience to broader health care policy, poverty reduction, and community development issues. Maintain accurate, up-to-date case records weekly. Respond promptly to questions/requests by email, phone, and in-person. Attend the two days of Advocate Boot Camp held at the start of the semester. Participate in a mid-semester evaluation with the Team Coordinator. Complete an Advocate Experience Survey at the end of the semester. IV. The Application Process More Information Interested in learning more about Health Leads? Go to the Health Leads website at www.healthleadsusa.org and/or email Eliza Wilson, Program Manager for UMB, at umb@healthleadsusa.org. Application Process Applications are due Friday, February 7 th at 12:00 Noon. To request a link to the application, please email Eliza Wilson, at umb@healthleadsusa.org with your first and last name only in the body of the email. You will be sent a unique link tied to your email address. Caution: Do NOT forward this link to anyone else or their answers could overwrite yours! Medical Tests and Background Checks Before beginning work at Health Leads, accepted students must submit health documentation to be cleared to volunteer at the health center. This is a process mandated by Codman Square Health Center. The following documentation must be submitted to Eliza Wilson, Program Manager for UMB, by email (umb@healthleadsusa.org) or fax (617-752-3733) by Tuesday, February 18 th. Documented results of a tuberculosis skin test (TST) administered within the last three (3) months. This documentation must include the date the test was given, the date it was read, as well as the millimeter (mm) of duration. Please obtain this information in a timely manner and check to make sure all required information is listed on the document. If information is missing, please bring the document back to the clinic that administered the test. Note: All Advocates will need to obtain a second TB test within the first three weeks of starting shift. The second test can be from any time within the last 12 months. 3
A copy of your immunization records. These records must include: 2 MMR vaccines and a Varicella vaccine or proof of Chicken Pox Disease. Documentation of a flu shot received after September 1, 2013. A completed form allowing Health Leads to obtain a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) report for you from the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice. We will provide you with this form and guidance in completing it. Interviews Interviews will be conducted by Health Leads student leaders on the UMB campus, and will last approximately one half hour. If you are selected for an interview, it will be scheduled on one of the following days: Friday, February 7 th Monday, February 10 th Final Decisions Health Leads will notify applicants of acceptances by: Tuesday, February 11 th We hope that you accept our offer! All applicants offered an Advocate position must reply to the offer by: Wednesday, February 12 th at 12:00 Noon Mandatory Training Dates If you decide to volunteer with Health Leads, please note that you will be required to attend mandatory Advocate Boot Camp on both the following dates: Saturday, February 15 th from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday, February 16 th from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM V. Questions If you have any questions, please contact Eliza Wilson Thanks for your interest in Health Leads. We look forward to working with you! 4