Community Health Worker

Community Health Worker (CHW)

Salary Range: $23.00-$24.88 per hour

Position Overview

The Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is seeking a dedicated Community Health Worker (CHW) to serve as a peer support member of its ODR Navigation Team. The ODR Navigation Team functions as a crisis support resource for community providers serving individuals with histories of homelessness, severe and persistent mental illness, and justice involvement. These clients are diverted from Los Angeles County jails into community-based services and receive intensive clinical case management to support their transition, stabilization, and path toward permanent supportive housing. The Navigation Team receives client referrals from the ODR programs and takes a proactive approach to stabilizing clients at risk of mental health decompensation. If necessary, the team may assess for and support the mental health hospitalization of clients meeting criteria for a mental health hold.

As a peer-focused role, the CHW brings lived experience, empathy, and strong rapport-building skills to help clients navigate complex systems, remain engaged with services, and feel supported during moments of acute stress or psychiatric instability. This position works closely with clinicians, case managers, and housing providers to support crisis de-escalation, field-based interventions, and hospitalizations when needed.

Currently, ODR has a hybrid work schedule with a combination of workdays in the office, in the field and remote. This may change at discretion of DHS.

Essential Functions

Crisis Support & Field-Based Engagement

• Provide field-based support during client crises, working alongside clinicians and case managers to help de-escalate situations using trauma-informed, person-centered approaches.
• Assist in identifying early signs of crisis and collaborate with providers and the Navigation Team to respond appropriately.
• Support team-based clinical interventions, including assisting with or participating in "hands-on" involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations under the direction of clinical staff.
• Provide transportation support for clients during hospitalizations, evaluations, or other urgent care needs, following safety protocols and program guidelines.

Peer Support & Collaboration

• Build trusting, nonjudgmental relationships with clients based on shared experience, respect, and cultural humility.
• Offer emotional support, encouragement, and guidance to help clients engage with mental health treatment, housing services, and community resources.
• Assist clients in understanding and navigating their care plans, appointments, and expectations from service providers.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case consultations with the ODR Navigation Team, community agency providers, and justice partners.
• Work collaboratively with ICMS teams, mental health clinicians, hospitals, and law enforcement partners to support continuity of care.
• Provide client-centered insights and observations that inform crisis planning, engagement strategies, and ongoing treatment approaches.

Support With Hospitalizations & Care Transitions

• Assist clients through the hospitalization process, including transportation, intake support, communication with hospital staff, and ensuring accurate transfer of information.
• Help clients re-engage with community providers following discharge and support their transition back to stable housing and services.
• Maintain professional documentation related to crisis response activities, field visits, and support provided during hospitalizations.

Outreach & Engagement

• Conduct field-based outreach to locate clients who may be disengaged, at risk of crisis, or experiencing barriers to services.
• Support motivation-building and engagement strategies that promote treatment adherence and housing stability.
• Serve as a role model for recovery, resilience, and community reintegration.

Minimum Requirements

• Lived experience with behavioral health challenges, homelessness, justice involvement, or similar systems, and willingness to use that experience in a professional peer support role.
• Experience providing peer support, street outreach, community health work, or similar direct client support.
• Ability to work in the field and respond to community-based crisis situations.
• Strong communication, empathy, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification as a Community Health Worker, Peer Specialist, or related credential (or willingness to obtain).
• At least 2 years experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, co-occurring disorders, or complex trauma histories.
• Familiarity with LPS processes, psychiatric hospitalizations, and Los Angeles County service systems (DHS, DMH, DPH, LAHSA, etc.).
• Ability to speak a second language commonly used in Los Angeles County communities.

Core Competencies

• Trauma-Informed Peer Support
• Harm Reduction
• Cultural Humility & Lived Experience Advocacy
• Crisis De-Escalation & Safety Awareness
• Team-Based Collaboration
• Adaptability & Field Readiness
• Compassion, Patience & Professional Boundaries

Education/Experience

• Minimum 2 years customer service experience

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances

• Successful clearing through the Live Scan process with the County of Los Angeles

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Proficient skill set in using an array of Microsoft Office Suite software programs such as Word, Outlook, and TEAMS, etc.
• Typing skills

Physical Demands

Stand: Frequently

Walk: Frequently

Sit: Frequently

Handling: Occasionally

Reach Outward: Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally

Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally

Lift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 35 lbs

Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 35 lbs

See: Constantly

Taste/Smell: Not Applicable

Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions

Occasionally = (0 - 2 hrs/day)

Frequently = (2 - 5 hrs/day)

Constantly = (5+ hrs/day)

Work Environment

General Office Setting, Indoors Temperature Controlled

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.