Community Health Worker - Los Angeles

About Amity

Amity Foundation is a safe place where people can change in an environment that fosters trust; where new values can be formed; responsibility developed, and lasting relationships built. Amity is dedicated to the inclusion and habilitation of people marginalized by addiction, homelessness, trauma, criminality, incarceration, poverty, racism, sexism, and violence. Amity is committed to research, development implementation, and dissemination of information regarding community building.

Remembrance, Resolution, Reconciliation, Restoration, Renewal

Job Summary

The Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Community Health Worker (CHW) is responsible for care coordination, improving health outcomes, enhancing satisfaction, and reducing unnecessary healthcare utilization. ECM is a comprehensive, student-centered approach to healthcare that aims to improve outcomes for high-need populations. This involves the coordination of medical, behavioral, and social services to address the full range of student needs, focusing on those with complex and chronic conditions. ECM programs are designed to optimize care delivery, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and improve the overall quality of life for students. The intention of our services is to help people who have not been able to get the needed help in terms of Housing, Mental Health, Substance Abuse treatment, and linkages to community resources to help minimize recidivism. The role of the ECM CHW is to help create a supportive network of services and resources for the client to prevent reincarceration and support long term permanent housing goals.

Essential Duties

• The CHW is a field-based member of the ECM Care Team who has lived experience in the ECM Students’ community and serves as the bridge between the ECM Student and the healthcare system.
• Focuses support on ECM Students who are difficult to engage and/or who have cultural or linguistic barriers to care via field-based contacts including accompaniment to appointments.
• Assists the RN Care Manager, BH Care Manager, and Care Coordinator in panel management by performing delegated activities as assigned.
• Assists the ECM Care Team in engagement efforts of eligible ECM Students in the clinic and within the community.
• Assists Students in navigating the healthcare system and community resources.
• Follows up by phone and in person with eligible ECM Students and students enrolled in ECM.
• Helps Students successfully participate in their medical and/or behavioral health care by overcoming barriers to care, and sharing information on barriers with the multi-disciplinary team and providers.
• Engages with Students, both in-person and on the phone, in a manner that utilizes evidence-based approaches (such as Motivational Interviewing) and promotes collaboration between the Student and their medical/behavioral team.
• Collaborates on Student care issues with other ECM Care Team Members, participating in weekly systematic case reviews and ad hoc case reviews, and consults with Registered Nurse Care Manager and/or the Behavioral Health Care Manager before taking any action that is clinical in nature.
• Accompanies ECM Student to office visits, as needed, and in the most easily accessible setting, within IEHP guidelines.
• Engages Students in the hospital through in-person visits when able.
• Engages those eligible but not yet enrolled, as well as those currently enrolled in ECM, to re-engage for follow-up after discharge.
• Distributes health promotion materials.
• Assists with scheduling Students with other ECM Care Team members as appropriate.
• Connects ECM Students to other social services and supports they may need.
• Advocates on behalf of the Students with healthcare professionals.
• Monitors treatment adherence (including medication and Shared Care Plan goals).

Education and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, public health, or related field; or associate’s degree
• And minimum of two years’ experience in client-related field, providing case management and community outreach.

OR

• The equivalent of a high school diploma and three cumulative (3) years of experience of administrative responsibility in providing outreach, substance abuse counseling, reentry services, and case management within a culturally diverse population.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships with students, families, team members, and community partners.
• Understand various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds within a multicultural environment.
• Knowledge on how to administer assessments, substance abuse counseling, reentry services, and case management within a culturally diverse population, preferably with both men and women.
• This position requires local travel and the ability to navigate public transportation with students.

Preferred: Bilingual, fluent Spanish/English oral and written skills are highly desirable.

Certifications or Licenses

• Required: Community Health Worker certification through California’s HCAI Department (when certification opens).
• Preferred: Driver’s License

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in the community and within the organization.
• Knowledge of contract parameters, objectives, milestones, and other deliverables.
• Knowledge of contracting process and associated local, state, federal and other regulations.
• Ability to integrate budgetary and service utilization data, forecast expenditures, and respond to ensure both effective provider utilization and budget compliance.
• Ability to multi-task, identify problems, provide recommendations to management teams, and implement any applicable systems.
• Ability to work constructively with diverse people and with parties that may have divergent perspectives and interests.
• Ability to clearly express concepts and direction, both orally and in writing, and to prepare complex reports, policies, and procedures.
• Understand and appropriately apply Amity policies and procedures and adhere to agency-wide practices and regulations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient with software such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Email, Internet, etc.).

ADA Information

Physical Requirements:

• Faculty must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently required to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
• Frequently required to type for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to reach, walk, climb, pull, push, grasp, stretch, stoop.
• Frequently required to talk, hear, see, and use repetitive motions.
• Frequently able to communicate in verbal and written form.
• Frequently able to use all types of vision, such as close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception, to complete daily tasks.
• Required to wear comfortable and office appropriate clothes.

Mental Demands:

• Ability to change direction as priorities shift.
• Ability to thrive in an environment that requires one to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to professionally work under pressure with difficult or temperamental & faculty.
• Ability to handle mental and emotional stress related to the position.

Work Conditions:

• Community based and Office setting.

Environmental Conditions:

• The noise level in the work environment is moderate but can be loud.
• The temperature in the work environment is usually moderate to cool but can be cold or hot.

Travel:

• May travel locally by vehicle.

$23 - $25 an hour

Full-Time

On-site

Non-Exempt