Mental Health Asssistant I - Community Health Worker

Mental Health Asssistant I - Community Health Worker - (MH5001.21)

Job Title

Mental Health Asssistant I - Community Health Worker

Job Description

SUMMARY: Responsible for outreach to adolescents aged 14-18 in Malheur County. CHW individual outreach work will include culturally diverse Medicaid eligible teens enrolled in Malheur County high schools. Assist individual adolescents to navigate complex health (physical, behavioral, dental) service and social service systems. Organize, facilitate, and/or present health promotion programs to medium sized groups of students and school-wide. Support providers in understanding and tailoring programs and services to meet the cultural needs of adolescents. The CHW will work under the direction of the Lifeways Special Projects Manager.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job:

• Provide direct services within the scope of a Community Health Worker.
• Referral tracking and management for adolescents in the school setting to access health & social services.
• Cataloging and navigating local and state health and social service resources.
• Provide timely and comprehensive follow up with providers to ensure adolescent is connected with services.
• Increase access to primary care through culturally competent outreach and enrollment strategies.
• Advocate for individual and community needs, and build individual and community capacity.
• Cultural mediation between communities and health and human service systems.
• Maintain client records per all HIPPA/FERPA and confidentiality regulations.
• Limited management of budget, reporting of expenditures to employer.
• Participation in Malheur Community Advisory Council (CAC) standing committees as assigned.

Job Requirements

Education and/or Experience:

• Associates Degree in health, wellness, behavioral health or social services plus two years’ experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in behavioral, physical, public and/or dental health or social services will be considered. Experience in outreach or community based work and/or familiarity with educational settings is desired.
• Applicant must have strong familiarity with the community and health and social service provider networks that serve Malheur County.
• Must demonstrate a bi-cultural understanding of barriers to health, including social determinants of health.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Must pass a drug test and criminal background check

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the job. The employee is frequently required to sit, walk, or stand; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and ability to talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• Hazardous Conditions : Risk of verbal and physical threats from clients. Use of keyboard and computer monitor (repetitive hand motions and potential eye strain). Possible exposure to airborne pathogens.
• Working Conditions : The noise level in the work environment is mild to moderate; 40% office-based, 60% field.
• Equipment / Materials Used : Common office machines including computer, printer, calculator, telephone equipment, tele-health system, copier, scanner, and facsimile. May drive your personal or Agency vehicle.