Farmworker Health Specialist

Farmworker Health Outreach Position

High County Community Health (HCCH) is a federally funded Community and Migrant Health Center. The mission of the HCCH team is to provide quality, patient centered, culturally appropriate, affordable and compassionate care that serves the whole person. Integrated Care services are available in Avery, Burke and Watauga Counties and the surrounding rural communities.

The Farmworker Health Outreach worker will be responsible for completing outreach, basic health assessments, health education, referrals, and follow-up to migrant and seasonal farm workers. This position requires flexible hours (evenings and weekends) and a valid NC driver's license. This position is dependent upon grant funding.

Supervised by Director of Outreach, nature of supervision is moderate. May supervise student interns and practicum students when needed.

The Farmworker Health workers place within the care team is to provide primary clinical support services to the patient. They contribute in clinical ways (such as taking blood pressure, blood glucose levels, encouraging medical office follow-up as indicated) that the physician may not be able to, considering the locations visited outside of the office.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Works with team to plan and coordinate nightly visits to outreach camps, ensuring that all camps are visited in a timely manner and all necessary follow up visits are completed.
• Provides direct outreach to farmworker camps and families several evenings each week (6:00-9:30PM). Works with Farmworker and outreach teams (including interns and volunteers) to complete health assessments with farmworkers and their families at farmworker locations to ascertain services they may need.
• Works with team to disseminate information to farmworkers regarding clinic, local, and state services which respond to farmworker needs.
• Provides individual client health education, as well as group camp presentations on topics of need and interest to farmworkers. Refers farmworkers to HCCH services as appropriate. Is responsible for leading team education efforts on at least one health education topic per year with the goal of fulfilling grant requirements.
• Responsible for client case management services (i.e. assessment, referral, follow-up, and re-assessment) for farmworkers and their families in designated portions of the service area (Avery, Watauga, and Caldwell counties) in a timely manner.
• Transports and interprets for farmworker medical and social service appointments using program vehicle as available. May occasionally need to use personal vehicle and submit request for mileage reimbursement.
• Documents all farmworker encounters on appropriate forms.
• Works with team to enter all farmworker encounter data into database on a daily basis including tracking of clinical measures and all related data for UDS reporting.
• Will be staff or have program staff present with Newland evening clinic operations and interpreting.
• May supervise and recruit student interns.
• Works with team to help plan and implement projects (to be decided), including advocacy, community relationship building, and specific projects responsive to farmworker needs.
• Complies with all High Country Community Health employee requirements (including drug screening prior to hire date).
• Provides medical interpreter and document translation services to HCCH patients for staff when needed.
• Provides patient transportation to HCCH patients (and when required, family members)
• Coordinates farmworker (and their family members when necessary) transportations among outreach team members. When necessary, provides transportation to HCCH patients, farmworkers and their families.
• Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Education and Formal Training:

• Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's degree with expertise in: Public Health, Nursing, Spanish, Health Advocacy, Social Advocacy and/or similar fields preferred. Knowledge of farmworker and/or migrant health issues also preferred. Demonstrated project management and supervisory skills. Prior experience conducting outreach is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Ability to fluently and effectively communicate in both spoken languages and mastery of both written languages (including reading) English/Spanish.
• Ability to interview farmworkers with tact and cultural sensitivity in order to obtain necessary information to make appropriate referrals and follow-up.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cordial working relationships with state and local agencies, growers, other employees, and clients involving frequent and difficult negotiation and interaction.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to manage tasks independently.
• Demonstrates flexibility, reliability, and dependability.
• Ability to learn and use web-based data input and tracking program.
• Supervisory, leadership and mentoring skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

Physical Requirements:

• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This job has a medium level of physical activity related to home visits in substandard conditions. Long periods of sitting may be required for this position. Occasional lifting of boxes and supplies is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Training Requirements:

• Patient Centered Medical Home Orientation
• Medical Interpreter Training
• CPR certification
• HIPPA Compliance
• OSHA
• Overview of Motivational Interviewing and SBIRT model
• New Employee Orientation
• Annual training reviews
• Trauma Informed Care
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Customer Service Excellence
• Quality Improvement
• Health Literacy
• Other trainings as needed to meet the needs of the organization

Critical Demands of the Job:

• Must be able to maintain timely travel among two clinical sites in Avery and Watauga counties.
• Valid driver's license. Significant amount of driving required over a large geographic area.
• Handle multiple requests and prioritize appropriately.
• Attention to details and prompt follow-up.
• Must be able to lift 10-15 pounds.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, reach, and stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able to work evenings M-Th until 9 PM or later
• Hours can be irregular at times in order to accommodate the varied needs of the organization

Working Conditions:

• Well-lighted environment with comfortable surroundings when in office.
• Must be able to perform home visits to substandard housing located in remote locations.
• Duties may include some occupational risk with exposure to bodily fluids.
• Background check required as a condition of employment

HCCH provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HCCH complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

HCCH conducts background checks on all final candidates. Employment is contingent upon a clear background check or approval of the CEO.