Community Resource Advocate

Community Resource Advocate

Reports to: Community Program Supervisor

Category: Non-Exempt

Appalachian Mountain Health (AMH) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive primary care to low-income, medically underserved and uninsured populations. AMH's mission - to provide culturally competent, high quality healthcare to the medically vulnerable population in western North Carolina - is rooted in a primary care and preventive services medical home model with fees for services adjusted on the basis of a patient's ability to pay.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility of the Community Resource Advocate is to serve AMH patients through connecting them to community resources that will support their ability to achieve self-sufficiency and self-efficacy. The Community Resource Advocate will help patients access Public Benefits such as Medicaid, and various other community resources. They will support patient in navigating care within AMH, including referrals to the Behavioral Health team, and dental services. They will provide information and referrals to community supports and treatment options for mental health and substance use disorders. They will maintain professional and respectful relationships with community partners in order to preserve a database of active community resources to share with AMH patients.

This includes:

• Primarily responsible for coordination of services to assist clients in increasing stability factors in their lives through accessing community resources; including but not limited to Medicaid Applications, financial services, supportive shelter, transportation, and food resources such as SNAP, WIC, TANF, and community food banks.
• Support patients in accessing care resources including referrals to behavioral health programming, dental care, and referring to supportive programming like Detox, Recovery Services, and Crisis Services when appropriate.
• Identify patients who may need additional supports in advance of their scheduled appointments through scrubbing the schedule each week and reaching out to patients ahead of the appointment to help problem solve barriers that may have limited their access to services.
• Encourage patients to achieve self-efficacy acting as a liaison to community resources allowing patient to take over self-advocating once initial contact has been made.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and patient specific documentation within the patient's medical record for each unique encounter with a patient.
• The Community Resource Advocate will keep an up-to-date Community Resource database and will maintain collaborative relationships with community partners to insure AMH patients are well represented within the region.
• Maintain a caseload of a minimum of six patient encounters per day.
• Works in collaboration with AMH teammates to provide excellent wrap around services to enhance patient care.
• Adhere to AMH's policies and procedures; and supports an environment based in mutual respect, using ethical communication with staff and patients.
• Will attend all mandatory AMH meetings, and Behavioral Health Team meetings.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience and knowledge of community resources, and public benefits.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and community building skills.
• Skilled at time management, well organized, with ability to meet deadlines, and respond to staff and patient requests in a timely manner.
• Proficient with technology, with experience in documenting in Electronic Health Records.
• Ability to work within a healthcare setting and relate well to people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, as well as have a passion for working with at-risk, culturally diverse populations.
• Ability to read, understand and follow program guidelines and service materials.
• Willingness to work within the clinic schedule and be available for the clinic during hours of operation.
• Openness to accepting feedback and willingness to adjust where it is necessary for program adherence and staff and patient safety.
• Strict adherence to all Federal and State regulations as it applies to healthcare, health information, patient care, and documentation of patient care

Education:

• High school or equivalent

Experience:

• Customer service in a medical setting: 1 year (Preferred)
• Medicaid applications (Preferred)
• Knowledge and understanding of community services (Preferred)
• Computer skills: 1 year (Required)

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• Sitting for long periods of time working at a computer
• Ability to sustain concentration in a noisy and fast-paced environment
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases, biohazards, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinical setting
• Possible travel within western North Carolina

Benefits:

• 403(b) Retirement plan
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays - 11 days
• Employee Celebration paid day

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and education. The position is full-time (40 hours per week), hourly and not exempt from some provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The position will be eligible for benefits (e.g. medical, dental, life, short- and long-term disability, retirement) and report to the Community Program Supervisor.

AMH is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, citizenship, disability or veteran status.