Community Health Worker

Community Health Worker

The Community Health Worker (CHW) serves as an essential member of the JCOD Care Management team and supports justice-involved individuals transitioning from incarceration into stable community living. Through a housing-first, trauma-informed, and person-centered approach, the CHW engages participants in supportive services that promote health, housing stability, successful reentry, community integration, and long-term self-sufficiency.

The CHW functions as a trusted liaison between participants, healthcare systems, behavioral health providers, housing resources, benefits systems, and community-based organizations. This position provides direct participant engagement, care coordination support, health promotion, advocacy, resource linkage, and field-based case management activities aligned with SCHARP's supportive services model and departmental performance standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Participant Engagement & Reentry Support

• Conduct outreach, engagement, and participant enrollment activities for individuals returning to the community following incarceration.
• Establish therapeutic and professional helping relationships that promote trust, participant empowerment, and sustained engagement.
• Complete intake activities and assist participants with understanding program expectations and available supportive services.
• Support participant transition planning and continuity of care following release.

Care Management & Service Coordination

• Collaborate with Care Managers and interdisciplinary teams to implement individualized care plans and participant-driven goals.
• Support participant navigation across healthcare, behavioral health, housing, employment, education, and public benefits systems.
• Coordinate referrals and follow-up for medical, mental health, substance use treatment, and specialty services.
• Monitor participant progress and identify barriers to engagement, service access, and retention.

Health Promotion & Wellness Support

• Provide health education and coaching that supports participants' ability to manage health conditions and make informed lifestyle decisions.
• Promote preventive healthcare utilization including primary care appointments, medication adherence, and wellness practices.
• Utilize motivational interviewing and strengths-based engagement strategies to support participant self-management and behavior change.
• Support participants in addressing social determinants of health impacting stability and well-being.

Housing Stability & Community Reintegration

• Assist participants in securing and maintaining stable housing placements.
• Conduct home visits and community-based visits to assess participant adjustment, environmental concerns, and supportive service needs.
• Support life skills development including budgeting, transportation planning, appointment management, and independent living skills.
• Collaborate with housing and property management partners to address barriers impacting tenancy success.

Documentation, Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete participant documentation in agency-designated systems.
• Complete case notes, participant contacts, care coordination activities, and required program documentation within established timelines.
• Participate in chart audits, quality assurance reviews, and program reporting requirements.
• Maintain compliance with confidentiality standards, HIPAA requirements, and agency policies.

Team Collaboration & Program Participation

• Participate in case conferencing, interdisciplinary team meetings, supervision, and training activities.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external community partners to strengthen participant outcomes.
• Contribute to program performance goals related to participant engagement, retention, housing stability, and service utilization.
• Support departmental initiatives and continuous quality improvement efforts.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, or related field preferred.
• Community Health Worker certification preferred (or ability to obtain within required timeframe).
• Minimum one (1) year of experience working with reentry populations, homelessness services, supportive housing, healthcare navigation, behavioral health, or community-based services preferred.
• Experience conducting field-based outreach and participant engagement strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, Housing First principles, motivational interviewing, and care coordination practices preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong participant engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively with justice-involved and high-acuity populations.
• Understanding of community resources, public benefits systems, and care navigation practices.
• Effective documentation, organization, and time management skills.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries while providing compassionate support.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer 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.