Volunteer Opportunity: Health Advocate

Position Overview:

Health Advocate volunteers (HA) are matched 1:1 with a WRM client who has long-term health-related goals. The HA and client meet and communicate as needed to discuss progress with health-related goals and learn new skills to navigate the healthcare system. Along the way, we hope the HA and client build a mutually transformative friendship. 

 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Communicate with the client on a weekly and as-needed basis to evaluate progress, teach new skills, and check for understanding.
2. Teach ways to navigate the healthcare system, such as how to make appointments, pay bills, pick up prescriptions, etc. 
3. Communicate with the client and the client’s caseworker if additional needs, questions, or concerns arise.
4. Engage in social interactions to promote cultural exchange and understanding. 
5. Act as a supportive listener and provide encouragement to individuals as they navigate Health challenges and adjustments. 
6. Log volunteer hours in the WR Portal.

 

Qualifications:

1. 18+ years old.
2. Complete the World Relief volunteer onboarding (application, online workshop, live orientation, background check, motor vehicle check, reference check). 
3. Reliable, flexible, respectful towards other cultures. 
4. Familiarity with the US healthcare system is a plus but not required. 

 

Time Commitment: 

1. The HA-client match duration is 4 months.
2. Weekly or Bi-Weekly communication between the HA and the client is expected. It could be less, depending on the client’s specific goals.  

 

Benefits to volunteer:

1. Gain cross-cultural skills and experience. 
2. Begin mutually transformative friendships with refugees. 

 

Benefits to volunteer:

1. General short term/long term volunteer onboarding process, including an application, online workshop, live orientation, background check, motor vehicle check, and reference check.
2. Complete the Health Advocate online workshop in The World Relief Workshop (coupon code wrmemphis).
3. Participate in a briefing meeting with an HSS staff member to debrief the HA online workshop and discuss potential matches.
4. Participate in a match meeting with the client and caseworker.     

 

Management and communication:

Health Advocates will be collaboratively managed. Church and Community Engagement (CCE) will recruit and onboard HAs. HSS will facilitate the HA training. HSS will check in with the HA to ask how they are progressing in the HA online workshop. In the meantime, HSS will identify a client that they believe would benefit from a HA. HSS will explain the role and commitment of the HA to the client and ask the client if they would like to be matched to the HA. HSS will schedule a meeting to debrief the HA training and discuss the potential client match. Once the HA has confirmed commitment to a client match, HSS will schedule and facilitate a match meeting between the client and HA to explain the match's purpose and the commitment and limitations of the volunteer. HSS will conduct regular check-ins with the client and HA. CCE and HSS will do check-ins twice per month to communicate HA progress and feedback.    

 

Feedback Loop:

At the end of the HA commitment, CCE will ask for feedback from the HA and from HSS. HSS will ask for feedback from the client. HSS will recommend to CCE whether the HA should be recommended for another HA opportunity, or if the placement was not a good fit.