Community Health Worker/COVID Response

CASA INC & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:

CASA's mission to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant Communities. Our vision is rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Although CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:

The Baltimore Region Services department responds to the needs of Latinos, immigrants, and working class families, utilizing service provision models that promote building the power of the immigrant community and working class families at large. This includes community education, case management and services to address health disparities, build on community interest and assets, and work to impact trends that negatively affect Latinos, immigrants, and working class families.  The Baltimore Region service department includes Health and Emergency Social Services, Legal,  Immigrant Integration Programs, after school programing, vocational training, day labor   center, English classes and citizenship classes, amongst a few. Community members can also join CASA in becoming involved in community organizing and advocacy opportunities. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Health/Emergency Social Services Worker (CHW) is tasked with providing a wide variety of education, and service navigation assistance for CASA members in response to needs arising from emergency situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. The CHW will be expected to work in the Health and Social Services Program at CASA on a variety of projects designed to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the immigrant community of Baltimore, while providing much needed service navigation and case management in emergency programing such as eviction prevention, and health enrollment. Specifically, the CHW will work alongside a team of Health Promoters to implement a culturally proficient vaccine education project that will include recruiting, enrolling and screening community members to receive their vaccinations at CASA vaccination clinics. CASA seeks professional, bilingual (Spanish/English) or (French/English), and friendly candidates with excellent customer service skills and experience engaging with immigrant, and working class families.   

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support outreach and education on the different health services in the state 
• Support vaccination clinic and events efforts in the Maryland  alongside Health and emergency social services Manager
• Support  the project team to plan and conduct healthcare enrollment through individual appointments and  clinics designed to screen and enroll eligible community members into available healthcare coverage programs.
• Work alongside other team mates in the  CASA Health and Social Services team to provide needed Case management and social service navigation and application support for emergency services such as eviction prevention, cash assistance, food security, and health enrollment
• Preform full wrap around services triage to community  by identifying additional needs and referring members to additional CASA services and programs, ie – legal services, after school programing, adult education, community organizing and more.
• Interviews and evaluates individual members and their families in order to identify social, emotional, mental, physical and economic needs.
• Outreach in person in areas where our target population lives and congregates.
• Ability to guide community members in person or via telephone through health and
• social services.
• Participate in CASA actions, mobilizations and events as needed and required
• Understand, process, and promote CASA membership and services
• Must be able to work occasional nights and weekends.
• Others tasks as assigned  

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS:

• High School Graduate required, 
• CHW licensing or some college level courses preferred (in social or health sciences) 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency required. French proficiency a plus. Professional proficiency in 2 languages a must   
• Minimum 1-year experience working in customer service environment serving working class immigrant communities.
• Excellent customer service, problem solver, demonstrates initiative, great organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Adobe PDF Professional.
• The ability to effectively collaborate with co-workers and clients face-to-face and in meeting settings is required.
• Deep commitment to social change and to growing CASA as a membership organization in which members have decision-making authority.
• Ability to provide in person services and outreach to community members and patriciate in vacation clinic events 

BENEFITS DESCRIPTION:

Who is eligible?

• All full time and part time permanent positions working 20 hours or more per week.

What We Offer:

• Generous paid time off, including: annual leave starting at three weeks per year (proportional accrual per pay period), two weeks of sick leave, three days of personal leave, and additional compensatory leave for exempt employees.
• Sixteen (16) paid holidays per calendar year.
• Excellent Benefits Package including employer paid benefits as follow:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance (CASA pays 100%  of the premium costs for the employee up to our HMO plan, 55% for couples, 65% for children and 60% for family)
  • Basic life and AD&D
  • Long and Short Term Disability insurance 
  • Professional Development: Those pursuing a course of study related to work performed at CASA may be eligible for a reimbursement up to $2,000.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefits:
  • FSA Account including Dependent Care.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% employer discretionary match.
  • Accident, Critical Indemnity, Hospital insurance.
• Allowances:
  • Mileage reimbursements for those positions that are required to drive on CASA business.
  • Cell Phone stipend for those positions that are required to use their cellphone for CASA business.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; or reach for an object. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. All Personal Protective Equipment necessary to perform the duties of the position will be provided by CASA under the guidance of the Prince George's County Department of Health. 

ADA: CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

OSHA: A Health Information Specialist is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens. 

CASA Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status or national origin.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity.  Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.