Community Health Worker

Description

Under general supervision, engages one on one with participants from a variety of backgrounds to identify their medical, behavioral, and/or social health and wellbeing needs; works with the participant to develop a care plan; and connects the participant to community resources to improve their health. Obtains and records information contributing to the participant's barriers to good health and acts as a liaison to identify and navigate community resources using an evidence-based model to reduce barriers to health and wellbeing. Provides navigation services and Medicaid outreach in office, clinic, and community settings. This position is based in the Kalkaska office and covers Kalkaska and Crawford Counties.

Essential Duties

• Provides basic screening for health and social service needs. Identifies barriers and necessary pathways to ensure connection to a variety of needed health and social services.
• Conducts scheduled visits with participants, including home visits, as needed to meet participant needs.
• Acts as an advocate and liaison between the participant and other service providers, and helps the participants understand, accept, and follow medical recommendations.
• Provides education and outreach to participants through in-person consultation and written material.
• Assesses eligibility for health insurance coverage and provides enrollment assistance.
• Adheres to established program policies and procedures including utilization of pathways, case conferencing, and timely data collection and reporting. Tracks and documents activities and results according to established procedures and timelines.
• Effectively engages with participants to quickly build trusting, authentic relationships.
• Provides information and social support on health behaviors. Makes referrals to external service provider agencies and internal agency programs as appropriate.
• Prepares and maintains participant-related documentation in electronic health record.
• May provide outreach calls to patients and/or program participants based on referral/outreach lists.
• Participates in ongoing training to maintain professional excellence in the CHW field.
• Maintains confidential information.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• May be assigned to perform duties within one program, where additional certification is not required.
• Maintains up-to-date vaccines including flu (influenza), in accordance with CDC guidelines: Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers.

Requirements

• Ability to read, write, communicate and calculate at a level normally acquired through completion of high school. Associates degree preferred.
• Ability to work effectively in the ED environment as well as in partnership with a variety of hospital staff.
• Experience in human services, social work, and/or public health preferred.
• Community Health Worker Certification required or ability to attain within one year of employment.
• Ability to accurately record services and data within established time frames
• Basic computer and software application skills; ability to learn and effectively utilize software applications including electronic health record.
• Emotional and mental maturity necessary for establishing and maintaining good working relationships and rapport with participants, community partners, team members, and health department staff.
• Communication skills necessary to interact appropriately with participants, human service agencies, medical professionals, peers, co-workers, hospital staff, and the public through listening, speaking and understanding.
• Strong customer service skills in-person and via telephone with professionalism.
• Confident self-starter, with ability to organize and prioritize work; work effectively within a team as well as independently.
• High-level discretion and commitment to comply with established participant confidentiality and health information integrity, policies and procedures.
• Reliable transportation with valid Michigan driver's license and certificate of insurance to travel to participant homes, community locations and other offices for work, training, or meetings.