Community Health Worker - Esperanza

Equal Opportunity Employer
The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status. This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia's employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY
Integrated Peer Models for Health Program (IPMH) is an established program of the Health Federation of Philadelphia that's funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to utilize and support Community Health Workers (CHWs) in serving populations facing multiple barriers to health and wellbeing, including behavioral health challenges, social drivers of health, and chronic disease, within the North Philadelphia Health Enterprise Zone (HEZ).
The Community Health Worker will occupy a unique and exciting position that works with the IPMH Program Team to support North Philadelphia patients of the faith-based Federally Qualified Health Center, Esperanza Health Center. For several days a week, this CHW will serve as a trusted member of Esperanza Health Center's integrated care team and work directly with patients who can benefit from supportive behavioral health interventions to reach their wellness goals. The CHW will work alongside the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) team, clinical teams, and social support networks to offer sustained supportive services, build trust, and ensure patients with complex health and social needs receive culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate, and community-based care.
This position is part-time, 30 hours or 4 days/week and supported by grant funding for the next 2 years.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Responsibilities/Duties

• Attend and actively participate in required Community Health Worker trainings and onboarding activities for the Health Federation and Esperanza Health Center.
• Conduct social needs screenings using standardized tools and assess client needs related to housing, food, transportation, employment, childcare, healthcare access, and other social services.
• Provide referrals to healthcare providers and community-based resources.
• Support patients with "warm handoffs," including making direct contacts with service providers, and scheduling appointments.
• Accompany patients to appointments when needed (e.g., social service intakes).
• Follow up to ensure successful connection and satisfaction with referred services.
• Collaborate with care team members to walk alongside and support patients through their wellness journey.
• Reinforce care plans and provide additional navigation or advocacy support.
• Help educate patients about available services, health system navigation, and community resources.
• Engage in monthly CHW learning collaborative sessions for professional development and peer learning.
• Share insights, challenges, and success stories to improve service delivery and relay community impact.
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those governing participant privacy and data security (e.g., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA])
• Participate in data collection and reporting
• Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned

Education

• H.S. Diploma/GED required
• Current Community Health Worker or Peer Support/Recovery Specialist Certification(s) Preferred

Skills/Experience

• Bilingual Spanish/English language proficiency required*
• Previous experience as a CHW, Certified Peer Specialist/Certified Recovery Specialist, or similar role required*
• Experience working within behavioral health settings preferred
• Lived experience in or deep understanding of North Philadelphia communities
• Passion for learning, health equity, and social justice
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop positive, longitudinal relationships, build trust, and establish rapport.
• Comfort meeting patients in person and making regular phone calls
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, including time management, listening skills, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making, priority setting, and work organization.
• Experience with completing administrative tasks, data entry, and navigating medical record systems is strongly preferred
• Experience using tools like Microsoft Office and Google Suite is a plus, and the ability to learn new technology tools is essential
• Familiar with local community resources and social service systems
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Willingness to work within a Christian faith-based healthcare institution several days/week

Work Environment: 60% Field Work, 40% Office Work. This position requires extensive time in the community conducting home visits and linking patients to care, plus regularly scheduled meetings and trainings. Standard office setting with extended periods at the workstation and periodic use of office equipment.

Position Type and Work Schedule: Part time position, 30 hours per week (4 days/week). Typical hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Schedule will be determined upon hiring with supervisor approval.


Travel : Local travel to multiple sites several times per week, as needed. Must be able to get around effectively within Philadelphia on public transportation.

Physical Demands: Ability to transport materials; walking for an extensive distance.

Salary and Benefits: $28.84, Our employees are our most valuable resource, so we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:

• Medical with vision benefits
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life, AD&D Insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan, with a company contribution
• Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
• Employee Assistance Program

Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy.


DISCLAIMER
The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "at will." The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.