Community Dental Education & Outreach Specialist

Who We Are:

Neighborhood Health Center is a non-profit organization local to Portland, OR serving underserved patients in the areas of primary care, internal medicine, dental services and more. Our patient-centered approach to care honors the unique needs and circumstances of each individual patient. NHC sees people, not problems, and recognizes that the time spent as a patient in a doctors office is only one factor in a persons overall health. Our leading edge, integrated clinical teams work in partnership with patients, their families, and the communities we serve to provide whole-person care, prevention, and ongoing support.

NHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate differences in the workplace and do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Why work with us?

• We are a non-profit organization, passionate about providing the underserved population with medical and dental services across the greater Portland area, committed to making a difference daily.
• We offer our employees a competitive compensation and benefits package which includes 20 days of PTO (based on full time employment), 9 paid holidays, health/dental/vision insurance, quarterly wellness reimbursements, generous 401k retirement plan with employer match, employer paid disability insurance, EAP and life insurance.
• Our employees voted NHC a Top Workplace in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024!

Job Title:  Community Dental Education & Outreach Specialist
Department:  Dental
Reports To:  Community Dental Program Manager
Work Type:  On-Site
Classification:  Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Language Differential:  Eligible

Summary

This position is responsible for coordinating patient-centered care which ensures that patients, students, and their families feel comfortable and understand their dental needs. The Community Dental Education & Outreach Specialist is primarily responsible for coordinating and providing oral health education and outreach for the Community Dental Program. This role will use evidence-based and age-appropriate education tools to promote oral health and preventive services. Secondarily, this role will support the Community Dental Patient Engagement Specialist in completing referral duties as assigned.

Essential Job Duties

• Coordinates in-class education events in all school districts served by NHC’s community dental program.
• Sets up and operate a hands-on oral health learning lab in schools.
• Collaborates with NCSD Oral Health Program Coordinator on oral health learning labs and outreach events.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with school administrators and partner organizations to foster collaboration and strengthen the connection between NHC and its community partners.
• Provides on-the-ground support to the Community Dental team by delivering consent forms and incentive prizes to schools, meeting with school staff, and giving presentations to teachers to promote program participation and engagement.
• Directs classroom outreach/education activities and implement strategies to generate high consent return rates and participation.
• Maintains inventory of all learning lab supplies.
• Educates students about the importance of preventative oral health care and help increase their oral health literacy.
• Recruits parent and student volunteers to assist with oral health learning labs.
• Promotes oral health services at community events
• Coordinates dental care for pre-kindergarten through high school students and connects families with community dental resources.
• Works with team members and providers to identify high-risk patients that need care coordination and/or outreach.
• Educates and communicates with families about dental insurance, transportation, and navigation of dental treatment and follow-up care.
• Identifies client needs in terms of access to dental care, and any barriers to completing treatment services.
• Arranges transportation for patients if needed.
• Maintains communication with patients and the health care providers and ensures that appropriate dental records from NHC are available at scheduled appointments.
• Enhance cultural responsiveness.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• Associate’s Degree is preferred
• Teaching experience is preferred
• Fluency in English and Spanish is preferred
• One year of experience in a Dental Clinic set up required. 

Certificates, Licenses & Registrations

• Active and unencumbered driver’s license is required
• OHA Assister certification is preferred; this can be gained on the job

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors

• Ability to communicate well via phone, email, and face-to-face with professionals, children, and students and their families who may have limited English proficiency, low literacy, and limited experience with insurance.
• Aptitude to learn about local resources such as community health centers, health and human services, and immigrant-related resources.
• Ability to work independently, effectively, and professionally.
• Ability to proficiently use EPIC Electronic Health Record and to comprehend and manage documentation in multiple databases.
• Ability to enter-in data accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to comply with HIPAA policies and procedures.
• Must be able to display sensitivity to the population and patients served and to effectively engage clients and connect them to resources.
• Ability to problem solve and demonstrate initiative in approaching complex cases.
• Intermediate or higher proficiency of MS Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Demonstrate positive attitude in work duties and interactions with peers, clients, and partners.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, peers, patients, and the general public.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to successfully pass a background check, drug screening and DMV check.

WORKING CONDITIONS
This position is full-time and will work a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Occasional evening availability for special or school events may be required. This position will require travel between locations and may require attendance to additional trainings.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to ten pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to walk.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to toxic chemicals or blood borne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties, activities or responsibilities that are required of the employee to successfully perform this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job duties.

Neighborhood Health Center Employment Offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks, background checks, drug screening for illegal substances, Tuberculosis, and any position specific credentialing or licensure requirements.