Community Health Worker

The Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is a private, not for profit, health and human services planning, research/public education and advocacy organization that serves as the umbrella for public and non-profit agencies serving Long Island's poor and vulnerable individuals and families.

The Health Empowerment Alliance of Long Island (HEALI) is Long Island's Social Care Network (SCN) of community-based organizations (CBOs) and healthcare providers building a person centric model that integrates healthcare, social care, and behavioral health care. HWCLI is the lead entity for the HEALI Social Care Network. The SCN brings together social service and health care providers from across Nassau and Suffolk counties through identification, care coordination, integration, and provision of tailored funding to provide enhanced healthcare equity.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Community Health Worker
HWCLI seeks an energetic, passionate, and socially conscious individual to support HWCLI's mission by supporting the overall HWCLI's expanded resource and service navigation responsibilities as the lead of the Social Care Network under the 1115 Medicaid Waiver. Reporting to the Director of Social Care and Navigation, the Community Health Worker position is a non-clinical role that will conduct health-related social needs screening, referral to appropriate services, and follow up with clients. Community Health Worker may directly help Medicaid members improve their health outcomes through resource linkages and follow- up. The Community Health Worker will document in Unite Us and any of the documentation system as required.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct screening and interviews with Medicaid members
• Identification and verification of eligibility by utilization of appropriate screenings for clients
• Verification of demographic information in the documentation platform and other program documentation systems
• Confirmation of a client's desire to receive social care services
• Consent documentation
• Outreach client by virtual, telephonic means or in-person in care setting to perform screenings, establish resource needs, connect to those resources, and follow up to determine if need is met
• Utilize Unite Us to complete referrals and assist navigating to the appropriate health and social care services - either existing federal, state, or local social care infrastructures or social care services covered by the waiver
• Develop care plan for clients based eligibility of services and identification of needs
• Adhere to standards for completion of appropriate screenings with initial assessment screening and follow up screenings or surveys within set timeframes
• Monitor status and progress of referrals of clients to ensure service is provided
• Receive and process referrals from various sources related to health-related social needs (on platform and off-platform referrals)
• Efficiently and effectively review all referral resources such as calls/emails/lists identified for assistance in a set timeframe
• Identify barriers to referred services, intervene as necessary on behalf of the members
• Provide support on challenging referrals
• Provide information of access and coordination of resources
• Provide culturally appropriate social care education and information
• Meet monthly productivity and role expectations
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required
• 2-3 years of relevant work experience
• Experience in the community health care setting. Experience as a health coach and/or community health care worker and/or patient navigator.
• Valid Drivers License preferred and reliable transportation
• Bilingual preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Computer skills required including various office software and the internet; experience with MS Office software preferred
• Knowledge of state and federal benefits system
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with people of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Ability to complete required trainings and additional certifications or trainings as assigned
• Organizational and time management skills
• Ability to prioritize and demonstrate flexibility in day-to-day functions
• Ability to work in a high demand role due to multiple calls daily. Sensitivity to diversity of cultures, language barriers, health literacy, and educational levels
• Ability to respond to change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish work activities and objectives
• Ability to shift strategy or approach in response to the demands of a situation

Benefits:

• Salary range: $50,000- $55,000/year.
• Employer-paid health insurance for single individuals
• Retirement plan with Employer contribution after 1-year, flexible spending accounts, disability insurance, paid time-off
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic environment on a new state-wide initiative to improve health equity
• Location Requirement: Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of Nassau and Suffolk Counties or be willing to relocate prior to their start date. This position requires regular in-person meetings and travel throughout Long Island.
• Hybrid work environment, ability to travel to office and local partners required
• Schedule: Monday - Sunday, nights/weekends as needed.

This is a grant-funded position scheduled to end in March 2027.