Community Health Worker

Job Code: CHW - 111
Revision Date: September 21, 2026

Starting Salary: $18.59 hourly; $38,667 annually

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Overview

We are an agency committed to innovative behavioral health services in trauma-informed care that promote healing and recovery to instill a sense of empowerment and foster a lifelong sense of resilience.

General Description

The Community Health Worker (CHW) works directly within the community to support individuals with substance use disorders and those with a history of substance use. The CHW provides overdose reversal medication, connects individuals to substance use and mental health services, and addresses medical needs through resource linkage and care coordination. This role supports individuals who are ready to build a foundation for recovery. The targeted population includes individuals who use substances, particularly those who are marginalized or stigmatized, experiencing housing instability or who are unhoused, who inject substances, who live with or are at risk of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) or HIV, who face greater barriers to entering treatment, and those seeking to strengthen and sustain their recovery from substance use disorders.

This class works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position, as necessary.

• Engage in assertive outreach in locations and times where eligible populations are likely to be found.
• Distribute Opioid Overdose Reversal Kits
• Distribute other overdose prevention and public health response tools that may include but not limited to; opioid reversal medication education and information, Pre-Exposure Prophylactic treatment (PrEP) education and information, infectious disease prevention kits, wound care kits, first aid kits and hygiene kits and/or other health care kits.
• Promote and encourage entry into substance use disorder and/or mental health services including intervention, treatment, or recovery by providing linkage and support.
• Provide information, referrals, linkage and support to other services and community resources to help individuals in the eligible population improve their lives.
• Refer to other System Agency-funded programs as appropriate.
• Promote and encourage entry into medical services including HIV, HCV, HBV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) testing or treatment.
• Use Motivational Interviewing techniques and skills when appropriate to help individuals enhance their confidence and motivation for change.
• Provide group facilitation as needed.
• Must be knowledgeable and able to discuss topics such as communicable diseases associated with substance use, and topics that touch on sexuality. Must demonstrate competency in discussing opioid overdose and demonstrate ability to train individuals to use opioid overdose reversal medication and overdose prevention and public health response materials.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Requires High School Diploma or GED. Prefer a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or possession of any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Experience with trauma-informed services; cognitive behavioral therapies, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT); and motivational therapies including the use of incentives, preferred.

Required Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of trauma-informed theories, principals, and practices (includes multi-faceted understanding of concepts such as community trauma, intergenerational and historical trauma, parallel processes, and universal precautions), preferred.

Physical Demands

Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment)

• Involves routine and frequent exposure to:
• Bright/dim light; Dusts and pollen.
• Extreme heat and/or cold; Wet or humid conditions.
• Wind and/or Dust.
• Vibration; Smoke, Fumes, and/or noxious odors.
• Traffic; Moving machinery/vehicles.
• Uneven terrain, constructional areas
• Electrical shock; Heights.
• Radiation; Disease/pathogens.
• Toxic/caustic chemicals; Explosives; Violence.
• Other extreme hazards not listed above.
• Regularly works outreach environments that may be uncontrolled, unpredictable, and subject to changing safety conditions.
• Potential exposure to individuals experiencing intoxication, withdrawal, behavioral health crises, and other circumstances involving unpredictable behavior.
• Potential exposure to blood and other bodily fluids, used syringes/needles, drug paraphernalia, and potentially infectious materials or people.

Special Certifications and Licenses

• Must be able to be credentialed as a Community Health Worker (CHW) within the timeframe designated by EHN.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
• Must be able to pass a TB, criminal background, and drug screen.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance (ADA)

Emergence Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Emergence Health Network to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Other Job Characteristics

• Staffing requirements, including criteria that staff have diverse disciplinary backgrounds, have necessary State required license and accreditation, and are culturally and linguistically trained to serve the needs of the clinic's patient population.
• Credentialed, certified, and licensed professionals with adequate training in person-centered, family-centered, trauma informed, culturally-competent and recovery-oriented care.
• Responsible for adhering to the EHN common purpose and service framework to continuously provide exceptional care to all constituents.

Note: This Class Description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Emergence Health Network and an employee and is subject to change by the Emergence Health Network as its needs change.