Community Health Worker

Community Health Worker

The Community Health Worker provides navigational, case management, and home/community-based services to individuals recently released from incarceration with chronic diseases including those affected by substance misuse and/or behavioral health issues who are presently at or are referred to the Transitions Clinic Program at the Rhode Island Hospital Center for Primary Care in Providence, RI. For this particular position, the Research CHW will focus on individuals with hepatitis C treatment initiated while incarcerated.

A Community Health Worker is "a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy." (APHA CHW Section)

Specifically, the role of the community health worker is to:

• Operate in a supportive role within an interdisciplinary health care team utilizing an integrated care and treatment model.
• Provide peer outreach, case management and navigational services to recently released prisoners with chronic medical, behavioral and substance use conditions.
• Collaborate with the medical home- primary care (PCP), behavioral health, and social work providers, to deliver interventions that will maximize patient health outcomes.
• Facilitate patients obtaining remaining hepatitis C medications from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, encouraging adherence to medication, providing brief surveys to patients enrolled in a research study, assist patients in obtaining test-of-cure after completing their hepatitis C treatment.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

Responsibilities:

Under supervision of the Justin Berk, MD (PI) and with oversight from the Center for Primary Care and Center for Health and Justice Transformation Transitions Clinic teams, the Transitions Clinic CHW is responsible for performing the following essential job functions:

• Recruits patients to the Center for Primary Care's Transitions Clinic Program by conducting outreach activities at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Adult Correctional Institutions and in the community. This role will function specific to research needs.
• Builds trust with recently released chronically ill individuals with co-morbid substance use and mental illness to provide support, empowerment, education and case management services.
• Advises patients and others regarding health care and other community services available to them; assists patients in utilizing services; makes follow-up contacts when required.
• Conducts periodic assessments of patient's physical activity, dietary habits, cigarette smoking habits, housing and employment status, and social and economic resources.
• Educates clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and self-management of their chronic illness under the direction of CPC staff.
• Educates patients about the health care system, appropriate sites of care, and self-navigation to help them build skills to become self-sufficient and manage their health independently.
• Documents work with patients through appropriate record keeping that follows the clinic's policies and procedures; assists with gathering data relevant to program evaluation as appropriate.
• Operates effectively in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting by participating regularly in clinic program meetings and attending patient medical visits upon request.
• Participates in team meetings and assist as needed in any activities related to the clinic or the Brown University Community Health Institute.
• Serves as liaison between the professional staff and the community; including developing relationships with various stakeholders in the re-entry community.
• May transport ambulatory patients between their homes and clinics, hospitals or other social agencies, and meet with patients at home, in the hospital, or in community settings other than the Center for Primary Care.
• Attends ongoing training for community health workers.
• Practices clear, effective, consistent communication with clients and colleagues.
• Demonstrates privacy and confidentiality, meeting all related training and practice requirements of the Brown University system.
• Works nights and weekends as required.
• Assist research participants with obtaining medications, completing research surveys, and obtaining necessary blood work at Brown University Health labs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of verifiable experience providing information, education, intervention and/or referral services to culturally diverse populations.
• Recent experience (last 5 years) working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a health care setting preferred.
• Prior incarceration preferred.
• Community Health Worker certification in Rhode Island preferred.
• Experience working with health care systems, substance use treatment programs, and/or community-based organizations.
• Experience with motivational interviewing, advising/counseling clients, and/or participating in health promotion and health education activities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organization, thorough record-keeping, follow through, and ability to juggle multiple priorities in fast-paced environment with multiple collaborators.
• Demonstrated excellent attendance and reliability.
• Willingness to travel to and work in various environments, including prison/jail settings, street outreach, home visits at SRO, patient's residence or homeless encampment.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Valid driver's license and excellent driving record and reliable personal transportation.
• Experience living or working in South Providence and experience working with formerly incarcerated individuals, LGBT individuals, and/or people with severe mental health issues preferred.
• Prior experience using an electronic health record preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Pay Range: $19.97-$32.96

EEO Statement: Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital - 593 Eddy Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Work Type: M-F 8-4:30 Flexible hours dependent on research participant schedules.

Work Shift: Day

Daily Hours: 8 hours

Driving Required: Yes