Community Health Worker

Porsesh Policy Research Institute (PR)

Position Title: Community Health Worker (CHW),

Integrated Health and Empowerment (IHE) Program

Position Type: Part-Time (0.50 FTE), 20 hours/week (2 positions available)

Contract Period: October 15, 2025 – September 30, 2026

Location: King County, Washington

Compensation: $25.00 per hour

 

About Porsesh Policy Research Institute (PR)

Porsesh Policy Research Institute (PR) is an independent, non-profit think tank dedicated to producing fact-based analysis that informs constructive interventions and solutions. With a deep commitment to impartiality, PR employs a human-centered design approach and emphasizes the importance of contextualized knowledge. Our work focuses on underserved communities and vulnerable populations, led by a passionate team of immigrants from diverse backgrounds.

Program Overview: Integrated Health and Empowerment (IHE)

The Integrated Health and Empowerment (IHE) Program is a client-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based initiative designed to provide holistic support to Afghan refugees and humanitarian immigrants in King County. Funded by the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and administered through Public Health, Seattle & King County (PHSKC), the program addresses the interconnected health and social needs of recent arrivals. The IHE program aims to improve health literacy, enhance healthcare system navigation, and support the overall wellbeing of the community through culturally and linguistically anchored services provided by trusted Community Health Workers.

Position Summary

PR is seeking two passionate and dedicated Community Health Workers (CHWs) to serve as the heart of the IHE Program. As trusted members of the Afghan community, the CHWs will serve as the primary bridge between community members and the U.S. healthcare system. CHWs will provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, navigation, and care coordination to Afghan refugees and immigrants.Professional fluency in Pashto, Dari, and English is required.

Specialized Focus Areas

While both CHWs will provide comprehensive services, each position will have a specialized focus to ensure the diverse needs of the community are met:

CHW #1: Women and Family Health:

This role will have a particular focus on supporting the health needs of women and children, including perinatal health, reproductive health education, and addressing sensitive topics like female genital mutilation (FGM) with the support of professional consultants.

CHW #2: General Population and Men’s Health:

This role will focus on the broader adult population with an emphasis on engaging men in health services, addressing chronic disease management, and promoting mental wellbeing and self-care.

Core Responsibilities

The CHWs will be responsible for delivering direct services to clients under the supervision of the Project Manager.

Key Responsibilities

– Conduct one-on-one health education sessions on topics such as health insurance literacy, accessing primary care, and medication management.

-Organize and facilitate at least 12 group health education workshops annually on culturally relevant topics (e.g., immunizations, chronic disease, perinatal health, mental wellbeing

– Provide short-term navigation to assist clients with tasks like completing Apple Health applications, scheduling appointments, and understanding school health requirements.

– Manage an ongoing caseload of approximately 15 clients with complex needs, providing intensive support such as appointment accompaniment and chronic disease management.

– Connect clients to a wide range of health and social services, ensuring warm handoffs and follow-up.

– Build trusting relationships with Afghan community members to understand their strengths, needs, and challenges.

– Conduct outreach to raise awareness of the IHE program and other available resources.

– Serve as a cultural mediator between clients and service providers to ensure effective communication and understanding.

– Maintain accurate, confidential, and timely documentation of all client interactions and services in the PHSKC client management database.

– Adhere to all HIPAA and data privacy regulations.

– Screen clients for ORR eligibility and collect required documentation.

– Actively participate in weekly team meetings, supervision sessions, and required trainings.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential Qualifications

– Native or near-native fluency in Dari and Pashto (spoken and written) is required.

– Functional proficiency in English.

– Lived experience as an immigrant or refugee is strongly preferred.

– Deep cultural understanding of, and strong connections within, the Afghan community in King County.

– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong sense of empathy, humility, and compassion.

– Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

– Completion of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) CHW Core Competency training. (Successful candidates without this training will be required to complete it within 3 months of hire).

– Previous experience in community work, social services, health education, or advocacy.

– Familiarity with the U.S. healthcare system and social services available in the King County area.

– Basic computer skills for data entry and communication.

Compensation & Benefits

This position offers a competitive wage and benefits package, including:

• Hourly Rate: $25.00

• Fringe Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package valued at 20% of the hourly wage, including

contributions for FICA, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and health insurance.

• Professional Support: A monthly cell phone stipend, mileage reimbursement for work-related

travel, and access to professional development and training opportunities.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a cover letter to info@prresearch.us with the subject line “IHE Community Health Worker Application – [Your Name].” In your cover letter, please indicate if you have a preference for the Women and Family Health or General Population and Men’s Health focus. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Porsesh Policy Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals with refugee or immigrant backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.