Public Benefits Specialist Job at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless in Al

Since 1985, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless has dedicated its mission exclusively to providing services to people experiencing homelessness. AHCH provides a distinctive continuum of integrated care through outreach and site-based services to address the health-related causes and consequences of homelessness. Our vision is to live in a world that is just and without homelessness. We believe that homelessness is an issue that can be solved through access to quality health care, adequate and affordable housing, and a living wage. The Public Benefits Specialist is responsible for the enrollment and follow-up for all public benefits that AHCH clients may qualify for. This includes, but is not limited to: SNAP benefits, Medicaid/Medicare, SSI/SSDI, General Assistance, TANF, WIC, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Childcare Assistance through CYFD, unemployment insurance, and SOAR applications. Duties and Responsibilities Must obtain/maintain SOAR certification through online certified training Obtain/maintain Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility certification Conduct interviews with the those experiencing homelessness and determine eligibility for public benefits Work in various on-campus and field settings to maximize benefits enrollment outreach to those in need Collaborate with internal and external referral sources to identify applicants Attend Resource Center and Public Benefit Champions team meetings Maintain up to date information about benefits access and eligibility requirements for city, state and federal resources Will work in conjunction with Social Services team to identify need for Case Management, housing assistance, and other resources Develop and maintain relationships with Social Security, Human Services Division, Income Support Division and Medicaid agencies May accompany individuals to medical, behavioral health, Health Care Authority, and Social Security Administration appointments as needed for public benefit services May coordinate visits to medical doctors, psychiatrists, and other specialists as needed for public benefit services Develop and maintain information tracking systems to enhance outcome reporting Creating and provide training on public benefit practices Other administrative tasks and department coverage as needed Minimum Qualifications 2 years of relevant experience Strong interpersonal and> Solid professional boundaries and ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive/HIPAA covered protected health information Ability to effectively communicate complex information to a wide and varied audience Knowledge and understanding of terminology used in medical records High skill level in attention to detail and organization Excellent writing skills and ability to synthesize large quantities of information into a concise format Service philosophy alignment with AHCH mission and vision Strong computer literacy and ability to learn new programs Capacity to work independently and meet deadlines Ability to work with across multi-disciplinary team High School Diploma or equivalent Experience with underserved populations Preferred Qualifications Current SOAR certification Current PEMOSA Determiner certification Experience with benefits enrollment for underserved populations Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or other human services related field or combination of education and relevant experience equivalent to 4 years Knowledge of public benefits systems in New Mexico Experience working with underserved populations and/or those experiencing homelessness Experience working with people with serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or co- occurring substance use disorder Knowledge and understanding of Harm Reduction philosophy Benefits Low cost medical, vision, and dental insurance with health club membership Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment fully paid for by organization Long Term Disability fully paid for by organization Paid Time Off - 24 days in first year of employment Catastrophic Sick Time accrual 7 Paid holidays Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts 401k with employer match Student loan forgiveness eligible Equal Opportunity Employer We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. #J-18808-Ljbffr