Health – ENTRE HERMANOS

BILINGUAL MEDICAL CASE MANAGER – SEATTLE OFFICE

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Matthew Bromley

ENTRE HERMANOS MISSION: to promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.

Title: HIV Prevention and Community Engagement Coordinator (English/Spanish)
Program: HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education for Latino MSM
Position type: Full time
Salary: $51.000,00 / $55,000.00 annually, depending on experience
Location: Seattle, Washington

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Bilingual Medical Case Manager assists primarily medium to high acuity individuals living with HIV in accessing and engaging in psychosocial, medical, homecare, and supportive services. This position conducts comprehensive assessments, develops, and updates service plans, and facilitates the acquisition of all appropriate services. This is a full-time, non-exempt, regular position.

Essential Duties:

Client Services: Develops, implements, and revises service plans on an ongoing basis. Links clients to, and serves as liaison to, public and private services. Assists clients with acquiring and maintaining continued coverage of public assistance, insurance, and other entitlements.
Program Responsibilities: Maintains and updates client records and notes, including client tracking; carries out required information reporting; prepares progress notes and other client documentation according to departmental standards. Collaborates with other community organizations, as well as mental health and chemical dependency programs. Develops knowledge of appropriate referrals for home care services, mental health services, chemical dependency, financial aid, housing, food, emotional support, etc.
Organizational Responsibilities: Builds awareness and understanding of HIV. Assists periodically with walk-in client needs, front desk coverage, and group facilitation. Works with staff and clients of diverse socio-economic, ethnic, lifestyle, and sexual orientation backgrounds while building relationships among internal departments. Maintains strict professional boundaries and confidentiality.

Core Competencies:

Familiarity with individuals who experience health disparities, including complex chronic health conditions, behavioral health barriers, chemical dependency, poverty, and stigma-induced isolation.
Comfort with working with individuals along the entire continuum of diversity, including but not limited to varying abilities, race, class, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Proven comfort with Spanish language in order to optimally serve Spanish-speaking community members.
Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects and meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.
Excellent detail orientation with a high level of accuracy.
Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability.
Proven clear understanding of professional boundaries.
Demonstrated skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications, including Excel and Word.
Experience working in electronic case noting within a data base and electronic document collection and storage.
Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in both verbal and written form.
Well-developed professional phone skills.
Proven ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
Ability to respond quickly to change.
Well-developed ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external providers and partner agencies.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively under stressful conditions, exercising crisis management and de-escalation skills.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in related field, Master’s degree in a social service field desirable.
At least ONE year of professional experience, including employment or practicum experience related to advocacy services, case management, or similar work with the public in a direct service setting.
Fluency in Spanish required.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Range: $51,000.00 / $55,000.00 annually, depending on experience.
Note – Entre Hermanos maintains a competitive compensation package; within budget constraints, you will be eligible for performance-based raises on an annual basis.
Medical and Dental Insurance
403b Retirement Account

Details:

Department: Care
Tax Class / FSLA Status: 40 hours per week, full benefits, non-exempt
Supervisor: Care and Prevention Program Manager
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Regular Schedule: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Entre Hermano’s Seattle office: 1621 S Jackson St #202, Seattle, WA 98144

TO APPLY

Candidates please send an email with your resume and cover letter to: Jose.Vazquez@EntreHermanos.org

Physical Demands / Working Conditions
The employee must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment, speak and listen on the telephone, and accurately see and interpret columns of numbers.
This position description generally describes the principle functions of the position and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Entre Hermanos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are considered without regard to race, age, sex, color, creed, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, mental or physical handicap, sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and gender expression of identity) or any other classification protected by law.

HIV / STI SPECIALIST I – YAKIMA OFFICE

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Matthew Bromley

Title: HIV Prevention and Community Engagement Coordinator (English/Spanish)
Program: HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education for Latino MSM
Position type: Full time
Salary: $50.024,00 annually
Location: Yakima, Washington

JOB DESCRIPTION

This position supports our community-level intervention program targeting Latino Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The program employs a variety of strategies to influence reduction of risky, unsafe sexual behaviors among Latino MSM.
The program includes community outreach, educational workshops and forums, and referrals to influence counseling and testing. Also, maintaining records of participants in our workshops. May also design and produce graphic materials to support outreach work on social media.

This position requires one-on-one contact with high risk individuals in areas of Yakima, Lewis, Skamania, Kittitas, Klickitat, Grant and Benton Counties where Latino MSM live, socialize and gain access to other social service support.

The main purpose of community outreach and peer education is to:

Encourage those at high risk to get tested and learn their HIV status
Perform HIV/ STI, HCV tests
Promote PrEP
Promote proper condom use
Promote prevention strategies as determined by Entre Hermanos and public Health
Promote participation in Entre Hermanos forums, support groups and workshops

QUALIFICATIONS

Fluent in Spanish and English (Written and verbal)
Experience working with the Latino community
Enjoy public speaking and have the ability to meet new people
Ability to be self-motivated and work independently
Weekday office time, along with evenings and weekend work
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
Ability to meet deadlines, schedule and keep appointments
High school education or equivalent
Ability to use social media platforms (i.e., Facebook and Twitter) to disseminate HIV prevention messages and promote services

Desirable:

Experience working the Latino LGBTQ community.
Experience in community outreach and/or peer education.
Familiar with the best places to contact the target population.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel.
Experience using Constant Contact and graphic design software.
Phlebotomy license (if not, we will provide the training and sponsor the license)

RESPONIBILITIES

Assist with group and community presentations as needed
Recruit participants for activities, presentations & workshops
Conduct education and prevention workshops
Maintain accurate records and data for program evaluation and reports
Attend staff meetings as requested
Assist in developing outreach tools and educational materials
Promote END HIV/AIDS Washington an national campaign on social media platforms to disseminate HIV prevention messages and promote services
Complete project reports as directed by the Executive Director

Nondiscrimination Policy

We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities, especially the LGBTQ and Latino communities, to apply. Entre Hermanos does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior contact with the criminal justice system, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Candidates for employment at Entre Hermanos should be aware that this is a unique work environment in which topics of sexuality and sexual orientation are an integral part of our everyday prevention and care work and are often discussed openly. Individuals who are uncomfortable with such topics, discussions and occasional related graphic representations may choose not to work at Entre Hermanos.

TO APPLY

Candidates please send an email with your resume and cover letter to: Martha@entrehermanos.org

This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position and the level of knowledge and skills typically required. It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.
Entre Hermanos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications are considered without regard to race, age, sex, color, creed, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, mental or physical handicap, sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression of identity) or any other classification protected by law.

Entre Hermanos Brings Trust Into LGBTQ+ Care

Posted on May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 by Matthew Bromley

Leer en español.

May 24, 2024 | By Samantha Malott

Originally published in: https://www.multicare.org/vitals/entre-hermanos-brings-trust-into-lgbtq-care/

At a glance

Entre Hermanos provides culturally based care and support to the Latino LGBTQ+ community
Low-barrier and confidential HIV prevention and outreach efforts are expanding into Yakima community
Success is built by reducing language and cultural barriers and fostering a feeling of community

Nearly 40 years ago, a group of Seattle friends came together to create a support network for those feeling the impact of the HIV epidemic.

Fast-forward to today: They’re known as Entre Hermanos, and their mission — to promote the health of the Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) community — has spread not just city- or statewide, but globally.

The key to Entre Hermanos’ success is a culturally based approach to disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.

“Most of our Latino community are immigrants. It’s well known that if you change your environment or where you live, there’s a shock,” explains Martha Zuniga, Entre Hermanos deputy director. “We try to keep the cultural part within our care and services, create a sense of family and a place where you can feel safe and express yourself.”

Part of that mission means understanding clients need more than just health care support. People’s priorities are food, housing and keeping their family together — then they start thinking about themselves and health care, Zuniga says.

“When people see themselves reflected in the culture of our space, it builds a sense of trust and comfort. They know when speaking to someone on our team that they share a cultural understanding or very similar life experiences.”

Entre Hermanos provides support across all those key areas, including HIV prevention and education (how and where to receive medication, medical follow-up and testing), connection to food, housing and transportation services, and immigration support through an in-house legal team.

Through these wraparound services, Entre Hermanos reaches more than 7,000 people annually. This includes 1,000 who receive direct intervention through sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) navigation and HIV medical case management, and 6,000 who receive free condoms through outreach efforts, says Edgar Longoria, Entre Hermanos executive director.

Medical case managers currently support 200 individuals, and the legal team has more than 90 active cases.

Growing the reach of Entre Hermanos

Recognizing these needs expand far beyond King County, Entre Hermanos is expanding to other areas of the state, including the Yakima community.

“Reaching Yakima has been a dream of ours for a long time,” Zuniga says. “We have people coming and driving from Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Spokane and Wenatchee to get services here because on that side of the state, there’s nothing similar for them.”

As of the 2022 census, Hispanic- or Latino-identifying people accounted for almost 53 percent of the Yakima County population, with the vast majority listing Spanish as their first language.

Many may also speak a language other than English or Spanish, as they’ve come from Cuba, Nicaragua, Chile or Colombia, Zuniga adds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, critical information was available in English and Spanish, but so many people were missed, she says. With the support of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Entre Hermanos produced informative videos in numerous languages to ensure everyone had access.

Finding support and services in your language is important because things can easily get lost in translation, explains Eduardo Esparza, a Yakima-based nonmedical case manager with Entre Hermanos.

“I have clients who will call me because the pharmacy tells them they can’t fill their medication. What they think is, ‘They don’t want to give me my medication,’ instead of understanding their coverage is expired,” Esparza says. “So that’s when I make some calls to let their medical case manager know what the situation may be so we can address it to solve the problem.”

Yakima has some resources, but Spanish language may not be an option, he explains. And if people do find providers who speak Spanish, the way services are provided may not reflect their culture, Zuniga adds. Trust may be missing as a result.

Culture is the basis for trust

“When people see themselves reflected in the culture of our space, it builds a sense of trust and comfort,” explains Longoria. “They know when speaking to someone on our team that they share a cultural understanding or very similar life experiences.”

Working with case managers who carry that cultural connection also helps build confidence and understanding of treatment, explains Alejandra Grillo-Roa, Entre Hermanos prevention and care program manager.

“We’ll never ask immigration status or charge for our services. It’s free and confidential and it’s all done with love,” Grillo-Roa says. “They don’t need an interpreter to express how they feel, which, if they’re in crisis, it’s important they don’t have to talk through someone else.”

Entre Hermanos helps clients sign up for all the HIV coverage they’re eligible for with DOH, then schedules their first primary care appointment at a trusted clinic, Grillo-Roa explains. HIV case managers may accompany clients to their first appointment and follow up to ensure they understood everything.

The PrEP navigation program is one of Entre Hermanos’ most utilized — the team connects clients with financial assistance for their medication and gender-affirming care and supports them through name changes and hormone or surgical treatments.

Three people stand at a table with informational materials

“We want to make sure there’s no lapse in what they need,” Grillo-Roa says. “We don’t have a timeline for how long they stay with us. We’ve had clients for 11 years, and some who need more services and work with a nonmedical case manager as well, while others become more independent and just check in with us.”

Regardless of how much support clients need, Esparza sees his most important role as being a safe person to come to.

“I also work part-time at a retail store and sometimes I get to interact with the community, and they’ll tell me or ask me about my work at Entre Hermanos,” he says. “They start opening up and telling me about their orientation and if we have stuff to help.”

Once a month, Esparza refills his supply of condoms to have on hand when people in the community ask for help. They’re expensive in the store, and many people may be reluctant to go to Entre Hermanos in person because it could raise questions about their sexual orientation, he explains.

“In rural areas there’s definitely a lack of visibility,” Longoria adds. “We know why people are hesitant to be out and proud in small communities, but we bring that sense of community and acceptance with our services. That’s something you can’t replace.”

Leading the change

In addition to providing critical support services and connection, Entre Hermanos is a leader in advocacy and building a better future for the next generation.

“Our visibility is really important, but our needs are also very similar to other large communities and organizations,” Longoria says. “More recently we’ve been focused on our coalition efforts.”

Entre Hermanos works closely with various city and state commissions focused on LGBTQ+, Latino and immigrant issues, and has a presence at many rallies, health fairs and community events.

“Thankfully, in Washington we have a lot of support through partners, funders and donors, which makes a big difference,” Longoria adds. “But we also recognize that the work we do here, in large part due to social media and the internet, reaches places we never thought it would.”

People in Central America are resharing Entre Hermanos’ posts and thanking them, he says. Grillo-Roa adds they’ve had new clients come in who heard about their program before moving to the United States.

Whether it’s through traditional channels like the website and social media, or peer support groups, community events or podcasts, it’s important to continue growing awareness, Grillo-Roa says.

It takes time to build that trust, especially in a new community. She hopes people find them and know they’re a safe place, free of judgment.

“Partnering for healing and a healthy future” is MultiCare’s mission, and it inspires us to form connections that help improve the quality of life for our communities. Community organizations all around us are doing amazing work, and we’re inspired and excited to support that work.

Stories from our Community is an ongoing series conceived to dive into some of these organizations*, bring their stories to life and spread the word about how they are making our communities better.

*Some of the organizations profiled in this series are recipients of MultiCare’s Community Partnership Fund, which awards funds to nonprofit organizations working on initiatives, programs and projects that improve our community.

What’s next

Find HIV prevention resources with Entre Hermanos
Support the Entre Hermanos mission yourself
Learn more about the importance of HIV prevention from our experts

About the Author: Samantha Malott

Samantha Malott is an editorial content specialist and brings her love for storytelling to the MultiCare Inland Northwest region to shine a spotlight on the excellent staff, providers, patients and community partners in our community.

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Tag: Health