Pediatric Community Health Worker

Pediatric Community Health Worker

The Pediatric Community Health Worker (PCHW) is an integral member of the integrated pediatric care team who builds trusting, culturally responsive relationships with children, caregivers, and community partners to address developmental, medical, behavioral, and social needs, with a focus on reducing health disparities and improving equitable access to care. The PCHW engages families, provides education, care coordination, and linkage to resources; supports goal-setting and navigation across health, behavioral health, educational, and community systems; and participates in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing training.

Reports To: Behavioral Health Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Range: $20 - $27 Per Hour

Location: Orange, Greenfield, and Turners Falls

Primary Responsibilities

Engagement & Support

• Build trusting, culturally responsive relationships with patients and caregivers using strategies such as motivational interviewing and problem-solving.
• Assess family needs, strengths, risks, and barriers to accessing care; assist caregivers in setting goals and developing actionable plans.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and informal counseling to support family well-being, resilience, and readiness for change.

Education

• Educate caregivers on typical child development; behavioral and mental health conditions, symptoms, diagnoses, management strategies, and available services.
• Provide psychoeducation to help families identify escalating symptoms and understand when emergency or urgent care may be needed.
• Serve as a cultural mediator among families, health care teams, schools, and community services; strengthen families' self-advocacy and informed decision-making.

Care Coordination

• Support families in navigating medical, behavioral health, educational, and community service systems; coordinate referrals, transitions, and follow-up appointments.
• Collaborate with PCPs, BHCs, caregivers, and community partners to ensure integrated, continuous care.
• Monitor progress using evidence-informed practices and help remove obstacles to care; maintain up-to-date knowledge of local resources.

Panel Management Expectations

• Manage a pediatric population panel (up to 3,000 patients), with a subset receiving active, ongoing support at any given time based on clinical and social needs.
• Provide 24–30 hours per week of direct patient, family, and collateral engagement; allocate remaining time to documentation, supervision, interdisciplinary consultation, training, meetings, and administrative responsibilities.

Integrated & Telehealth Care

• Participate in integrated care models alongside primary care and pediatric teams.
• Deliver services via secure telehealth platforms as applicable and in alignment with organizational policies and licensure requirements.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete timely, accurate documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
• Adhere to organizational, legal, ethical, and regulatory standards, including privacy and confidentiality.

Required Skills, Education & Experience

Education & Training

• High school diploma or equivalent and at least 2 years of experience in a community-based medical or behavioral health setting; Associate or Bachelor's degree in a human services field preferred.

Licensure & Certification

• State Community Health Worker (CHW) certification (if applicable) strongly encouraged.

Experience

• Experience working with diverse pediatric populations and families within the local community; lived experience as a parent, guardian, or caregiver preferred.
• Bilingual and/or bicultural candidates strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain trusting relationships using motivational interviewing and problem-solving approaches.
• Ability to deliver clear, culturally responsive health and behavioral health education and facilitate mutual understanding across families, care teams, and community systems.
• Knowledge of medical, behavioral health, educational, and community resource systems; strong coordination and communication skills; comfort with EHR and tele-enabled workflows.
• Peer experience.

Work Environment

Community health center and community-based settings with onsite and telehealth encounters; population includes underserved children and families with varied psychosocial needs. Some collaboration occurs in schools and community agencies.

Physical Demands

Duties require ability to sit, stand, walk, use hands, communicate clearly, and engage in in-person and virtual interactions. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Working Conditions

Work performed in outpatient and community settings and, when applicable, via telehealth. Some local travel between sites, homes, schools, and community partners may occur. The position may involve exposure to stressful situations related to patient and family needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Community Health Center of Franklin County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an employment contract. Duties and responsibilities may be modified or assigned as organizational needs evolve, consistent with the scope of the position.