Community Health Worker

Summary: Under the supervision of the Director of Grants & Health Equity, the Community Health Worker (CHW) will be responsible for helping patients to navigate and access community services, understand their health conditions, and determine patient priorities for healthy behaviors - while addressing disparities in health outcomes specific to the population(s) served. The CHW may serve any patient but also may have assigned focus population(s) (e.g., Pacific Islanders, Hispanic/Latinos, Black/African Americans). This is a 40-hour per week position and successful candidates must be bilingual in English and Spanish. Focus areas will include Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos

Essential Duties: Essential job duties within this position's scope of practice include the following items. Other duties must be performed as assigned or required.

ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs all job functions according to the mission and values of Crescent Community Health Center (Crescent).
• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations; standards of conduct; and policies and procedures to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical, and professional behavior.
• Maintains a professional, collaborative work environment to foster a positive public image for Crescent.
• Knows and adheres to all laws and regulations pertaining to patient health, safety, and medical information (e.g., HIPAA).
• Respects the confidentiality of individuals and groups, unless obligated to disclose under proper authorization or legal compulsion.
• Maintains accountability for their own actions and behaviors.
• Seeks feedback concerning their practice and is responsive to coaching as well as individual and organizational goals and standards.
• Embraces change and learning, taking personal accountability to seek experiences that enhance skills/competence in a healthcare practice and for the CHW role.
• Works collaboratively throughout the Health Equity team to support patient needs and address challenges.

CULTURAL MEDIATION FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains a strong working knowledge of focus populations served.
• Uses the principles of cultural humility to work with all patients.
• Helps improve patients' ability to effectively communicate with all health providers.
• Helps reduce cultural and socio-economic barriers between patients and providers.
• Serves as cultural brokers between patients and essential needs resources.

DIRECT SERVICE FUNCTIONS:

• Helps prevent illness and disease for at-risk populations by linking them to consistent medical care, screenings, and insurance/financial resource plans. May include support for specific diagnoses (e.g., cancer, diabetes, hypertension).
• Partners with care teams to facilitate plans that will impact positive changes in care for chronic conditions and other health challenges.
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of area resources for essential needs (e.g., food pantries) and connects patients when needed.
• Provides interpretation, if qualified, when needed for focus populations.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION FUNCTIONS:

• Assesses patient needs informally and formally to determine the key areas of social drivers of health for which patients need assistance, intervention, and services (e.g., transportation).
• Make referrals so that patients can access community resources to meet their needs.
• Maintains knowledge of internal, grant-funded patient support programs and coordinates access when needed.
• Works across all departments at Crescent to identify any gaps and provide continuity for improved patient care.
• Participates if requested in community-level assessments related to identifying needs, gaps, and priorities for focus populations or overall community health.
• Documents patient telephone calls, encounters, and other activities in the designated format and in health records systems (e.g., Epic).

CARE COORDINATION AND SYSTEM NAVIGATION FUNCTIONS:

• Supports patients by coordinating care from multiple service providers and by helping patients navigate complex health and social service organizations and programs in the community. This includes preventative (e.g., immunizations, fitness center) and treatment care (e.g., cancer care, medication access).
• Helps coordinate specialty provider services that accept patients' insurance coverage.
• Follows up with patients via phone calls, appointments, and visits to other settings where patients are located.

COACHING AND EDUCATION FUNCTIONS:

• Works toward a full understanding of health disparities unique to patients and uses proven techniques to empower patients toward successful health outcomes.
• Helps patients understand their health conditions; works with nurses, referral coordinators, primary care providers, and others to develop support strategies to improve patients' health conditions.
• Uses methods such as Motivational Interviewing, Teach Back, Strengths-Based Approach, and Client-Centered Care to help clients set health-related goals and reduce risk behaviors.
• Ensures patients have access to health education.

CAPACITY AND ADVOCACY FUNCTIONS:

• Facilitates clients in developing skills and confidence to promote and advocate for their own health and well-being. May include working with patients, their families, or others in the community.
• Advocates by sharing general health needs of focus populations in the service area.
• Works with other community entities to help identify health disparities and develop solutions for more equitable and inclusive health outcomes.

OUTREACH FUNCTIONS:

• Educates others in the service area on Crescent services and seeks to engage new patients in care.
• Supports outreach efforts, which may include exhibits, presentations, partnership building, and other activities designed to build strong healthcare-related support and resource systems.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must adhere to departmental standards regarding HIPAA and other privacy regulations.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter of suspected child or dependent adult abuse. Must meet federal/state laws regarding reporting, participate in mandatory training, maintain strict confidentiality, report within the specified timeframe, and notify supervisor as soon as possible of the need for the report.
• Must complete and remain in compliance with required trainings.

During a public health emergency, the employee may be required to perform duties like but not limited to those in their job description.

Education/Experience:

• Must be 18 years old.
• High school diploma strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in human service or related field desired.

Language Requirements:

• Must be bilingual in Spanish

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• CPR and Child/Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter trainings are required within 6 months of hire and at renewal periods thereafter.
• A valid driver license, verification of personal auto insurance, and the ability to become an authorized driver as detailed in the driver authorization procedure.
• Completion or registration to complete CHW Professional Skills certification within first 2 years on the job.

Must pass pre-employment drug test, background check, fitness for duty/physical/immunization checks and also successfully pass a language assessment in Spanish.

EOE