Community Health Worker

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted member of the community, with an understanding of the culture, language, socio-economic status, and life experiences of the community served. The CHW acts as a liaison and provides cultural mediation between healthcare, social services, and the community. The CHW helps Central Health members and patients access needed services and resources, as well as, building individual, community, and system capacity through health knowledge and self-sufficiency. The CHW may provide a variety of services including social support, clinical education, advocacy, assistance with applying for health care coverage and resources. The CHW will be responsible for patient documentation, project organization, and team collaboration. The CHW provides services through informing, outreach, patient navigation, and community health education. The CHW may provide services through community outreach, the Central Health Navigation Center, Central Health Clinics, or other health care settings.

Essential Functions:

• Act as a member/patient advocate and liaison between the member/family, provider, health plan, Central Health, and community service agencies.
• Provides culturally appropriate educational information within scope of practice and effectively communicates to patients in a standardized manner with consideration to literacy, health literacy, resource management, software utilization and navigation, and technological ability.
• Coaches participants to advocate and manage their health and social resources.
• Manages assigned caseload, documents activities, plans of care (when applicable), and reports results in an effective manner in accordance with organizational standards.
• Provides ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with members/families. 
• Provides the patient/member perspective to inform messaging, activities, and effective ways to outreach and navigate the healthcare system.
• Helps members in utilizing resources, assisting with completion of applications for programs for which they may be eligible and/or including scheduling appointments, transportation, and supporting patient success.
• Assists members in accessing health related services and overcoming barriers to obtaining needed medical care and social services.
• Continuously learns about community resources and provides referrals to patients/members and their families as appropriate.
• Provides assistance, documents activities, plan of care, and results in an effective manner while strictly adhering to the policies and procedures in place to improve access to healthcare by building an equity-focused, comprehensive, high functioning, and affordable system of care.
• Attends trainings, continuing education, and professional development programs to maintain active Community Health Worker Certification.
• Provides information, education, and support in accessing the patient portal (MyChart).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of enterprise and community resources and the ability to provide referrals to patients/families as appropriate.
• Ability to provide community resources and provide referrals to patients and families as appropriate. 
• Working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Products. 
• Ability to communicate proficiently to a wide range of audiences in a clear and professional manner. 
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to members. 
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective work relationships with coworkers, clients, members, and providers.
• Ability to be flexible and willingness to learn new responsibilities and to work in changing environment.
• Skilled in coaching participants to effectively advocate and manage their health and social resources. 
• Ability to exhibit compassion, vulnerability, and empathy when working with employees and patients and advancing Central Health’s mission of health equity and DEI goals.
• Ability to provide person centered care that is inclusive and culturally competent. 
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks in a calm and orderly manner.

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's Degree preferred.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.

Experience: 

• One (1) year of experience working in a multi-cultural, community based setting preferred.
• Bilingual in English, Spanish, and/or other foreign language preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:

• • BLS - Basic Life Support through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association Upon Hire - Preffered
  • Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) or completion of an approved 160-hour competency based Community Health Worker training program certified by DSHS Within 6 Months Required