Community Health Worker (Housing)

Community Health Worker

The City of Bloomington's Public Health Department is seeking a full-time Community Health Worker to assist community members in accessing and navigating health and social services, provide health education and resources, and promote community engagement opportunities to build community capacity for healthier living in the Bloomington, Edina and Richfield (BER) communities.

CITY VALUES & EXPECTATIONS

• Models and contributes to a positive work environment, culture of communication, engagement and safety.
• Communicates effectively and respectfully with employees and the general public, including but not limited to those of diverse racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Works cooperatively as a member of a team; develops and maintains effective working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members; consistently brings a high level of self-awareness and empathy to all personal interactions.
• Embraces the City's shared values and contributes toward accomplishing the City's vision and goals by being creative and innovative, and prioritizing continuous learning and clear communication.

Examples of Duties

• Specializes in housing-related supports and resources including local programs that improve housing access.
• Collaborates with residents to assess individual health, safety, and resource needs.
• Performs home visits in resident's homes independently.
• Provides systems navigation support and resource connection based on resident needs.
• Co-coordinates and facilitates health education groups in community settings or virtually.
• Performs rapid HIV screening, counseling, and linkage to care in community settings.

Assessment & Surveillance

• Maintains private and confidential information, using only the minimum amount of protected health information (PHI) necessary to accomplish job related responsibilities.
• Maintains and completes accurate and timely electronic documentation of work.
• Communicates information from clients to Public Health staff to assist in the evaluation of client's needs or input for community health projects.
• Works together with residents to develop a wellness plan; coaches and supports community residents to set and accomplish wellness goals.
• Participates in client case conferences and works with direct Supervisor, peer Public Health Nurses, and peer Community Health Workers regarding caseload.

Community Partnership Development

• Builds and maintains effective working relationships and communications with city employees, community agencies, local organizations, and health care facilities.
• Builds trusting relationships with families and community organization, serving as liaison/link between health/social services and the community while removing barriers that prevent community members from accessing certain health and social services.

Communications

• Provides culturally and linguistically appropriate public health information, education, and outreach to residents and professionals in the community, while following protocols and policies for assigned duties.
• Identifies and reinforces risk reduction behaviors. Provides appropriate education utilizing evidence based and/or state defined curriculum. Performs risk assessment, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy; increases health knowledge and education on variety of topics such as health literacy, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco, etc.
• Responds to inquiries about public health services and collaborates with other agencies in making appropriate referrals and links to community resources; facilitates appointments to health and social service organizations.
• Ensure residents attend and have access to scheduled appointments; helps coordinate patient transportation and accompaniment as needed.
• Advocates for residents and promotes building their leadership skills; assists them in effectively communicating with healthcare or social service providers by interpreting, translating, or providing cultural mediation related to health services or information.

Other

• Performs public health emergency response functions as trained and assigned within the department's emergency response plan.
• Performs cross-trained Community Health Worker duties as assigned in Public Health Department program areas of Community Health Services and Population Health.
• Performs other related duties as apparent or assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Skills in:
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Technology including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Writing, communication, interpersonal, and public relations.
• Paying exceptional attention to detail.
• Motivational Interviewing.
• Minimizing errors and maintaining high quality by checking or monitoring data and work in a timely manner, and by developing and maintaining systems for organizing work and information.
• Ability to:
• Effectively convey information to clients and the public.
• Process and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Maintain timely and accurate records and review work for accuracy.
• Handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
• Coordinate numerous demands simultaneously to successful completion.
• Communicate with persons of diverse backgrounds both verbally and in writing using tact and diplomacy.
• Work with a diverse team in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Establish effective working relationships with people of varied backgrounds.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Self-motivate to effectively plan, organize, and complete assigned work accurately and on time with little direct supervision.
• Follow safe working practices and procedures.
• Treat all people fairly and with respect without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity,
• Seek and consider diverse perspectives and ideas, provide a supportive work environment for a multicultural workforce, and show sensitivity to individual differences.
• Engage in personal reflection and development to address unconscious bias, recognize differences as opportunities to learn and gain by working together.
• Attend staff meetings and planning sessions as required; travel to designated work sites as needed.
• Work flexible hours; occasionally working evening and weekend hours to attend meetings/events to meet client needs.

MINIMUM/DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED.
• Certified as a Community Health Worker in MN and six months of experience working in a community health setting, OR 2 years of experience in community health work and currently enrolled in a CHW certificate program with a plan to complete within 6 months of hire.
• Bilingual fluency, i.e., skilled ability to speak, read and write in English, plus verbally fluent in Spanish or Somali.
• Valid driver's license, car insurance, and dependable car OR access to reliable transportation required to perform job duties.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• More than two years of experience working in a healthcare setting.
• Experience interacting with diverse cultures and interpreters.
• Experience using virtual online applications to teach.
• Experience with advocacy work, community organizing, or mentoring.
• Ability to speak a third language.
• Experience presenting in front of groups in person and/or virtually.
• A current resident of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, or Hennepin County.

Supplemental Information

This position does not supervise others.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $30.64 – $33.15 Hourly

2026 Full Salary Range: $30.64 – $41.94 Hourly

Full-Time; Non-Exempt; Non-Union; Benefits Eligible

The City of Bloomington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applicants who are black, indigenous or persons of color are encouraged to apply. We also encourage women, veterans, members of the LGBTQIA community, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change

Benefits for regular, full-time employees of the City of Bloomington (with the exception of 24 hour firefighters and 24 hour fire fighter/paramedics) include the following:

• 10 days paid vacation per year
• 13 days paid personal leave per year
• 13 paid holidays per year
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Employee health and dental insurance
• Paid employee life insurance