Community Health Worker

Community Health Educator

The NYC Ghanaian Mental Well-being Program is a research study that seeks to understand the dynamic complexity underlying acculturative stress and mental well-being among Ghanaian immigrants living in New York City.

For this project, we are seeking a part-time health educator for a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a culturally tailored health education program, administered between September 2026 and January 2027.

Position Summary

The Community Health Educator will implement a culturally tailored, virtual, five-week mental well-being education program for Ghanaian adults in New York City. The educator will facilitate weekly interactive group sessions, primarily through Zoom, and create a welcoming, respectful, and culturally responsive learning environment.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include (but may be limited to):

• Participate in facilitator training, supervision, and program meetings.
• Facilitate a five-week mental well-being intervention according to the program curriculum.
• Lead engaging health education sessions for adults using Zoom and other virtual platforms.
• Use culturally relevant examples and approaches that reflect the experiences and perspectives of Ghanaian participants.
• Facilitate sensitive discussions about mental illness, mental well-being, stigma, stress, coping, resilience, and help-seeking.
• Use Zoom features such as breakout rooms, chat, polls, and screen sharing to support interactive learning.
• Maintain attendance and other required program documentation.
• Communicate participant concerns or referral needs to the project team according to established procedures.
• Perform data entry associated with health education program.
• Complete detailed field notes.
• Maintain research equipment.
• Complete mandatory trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Experienced community health educator; or a bachelor's degree in public health, health education, social work, psychology, nursing, or a related field.
• Experience facilitating adult health education classes or group programs via Zoom.
• Experience with research, including strict adherence to research protocols.
• Solid understanding of research ethics, privacy and confidentiality rules and practice.
• Ability to follow research protocol and handle and protect confidential and sensitive data with integrity.
• Experience working in immigrant communities is essential. Experience working with African immigrants is desirable.
• Strong cultural competency and knowledge of West African cultures; experience working with Ghanaian communities strongly preferred.
• Must be tech-savvy and able to troubleshoot for research participants and self (Wi-Fi connection, Zoom, cell-phones, questionnaires, website access, etc.).
• Ability to handle multiple digital devices at the same time, e.g., cellphone, hotspot, iPad.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and group facilitation skills.
• Must be able to work at least 10 hours per week, days, nights (EST), and/or weekends.
• The position is temporary and can be in person or remote (United States only).
• Completion of CITI training courses in social and behavioral research with human subjects is required for all staff. CUNY Provides free access to the needed CITI trainings and refresher courses as needed.

Preferred:

• Experience working with Ghanaian or African immigrant communities in New York City.
• Familiarity with culturally adapted health interventions.
• Familiarity in one or more Ghanaian languages such as Twi, Fante, Ga, or Ewe.
• Experience with community-based participatory research or community-engaged programs.

Pay Range:

$30.00-$40.00/hour

RFCUNY Benefits RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.