Purpose of Position: Part of what makes a CHW such an effective member of a health care delivery team is the flexibility and diversity of what they can do within the clinic and in the community. CHWs primarily work in underserved communities and are a resource to help advance goals of improved care coordination, health equity, and population health. They assist individuals and communities by working in a broad range of capacities that include care coordination, case management, health coaching, health education, health assessment and screening, resource linking, medication management, remote care, patient follow-up, and social and literacy support.

Reports To: Director of Behavioral Health and Social Services
Supervises: Not Specified

Qualifications:

• • Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or Sociology.
• • Must have 1 year of experience in community outreach, social service or behavioral health.
• • Strong interpersonal and social skills with an ability to collaborate with a variety of individuals from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• • Create connections between vulnerable populations and the health care system.
• • Assist with care coordination and care transitions for clients.
• • Assist clients with enrollment in programs and benefits for which they are eligible.
• • Outreach to clients to identify those who need assistance and to increase awareness of services.
• • Increase client self-efficacy to achieve wellness.
• • Promote wellness by encouraging cultural competence among health care professionals serving vulnerable populations.
• • Help clients to manage chronic conditions through education about their treatment plan and working with the provider to ensure the plan is acceptable to the client.
• • Assist clients to obtain preventive services referring and linking the client to a primary care physician and providing information about various screening.
• • Advocate for vulnerable populations within the health care system and the community at large.
• • Build relationships and interact professionally with local health and social service providers.
• • Seek appropriate professional development opportunities.
• • Assist clients to navigate the behavioral health and human services systems.
• • Build capacity within the clinic and the community at large to address behavioral health issues and awareness.
• • Complete AHEC CHW Certification and Mental Health First Aid training.
• • Complete Behavioral Health assessments with identified patients.
• • Develop Wellness Plans for patients identified with significant PHQ9 depression score.
• • Perform other tasks as assigned by the direct supervisor.

Requirements:

• • Openness to working closely with clients who struggle with issues related to mental illness and addiction at all levels.
• • Respectful sensitivity and non-judgmental attitude towards clients who may suffer from multiple traumas and/or disabilities.
• • Ability to convey a strong presence one-on-one, in meetings, and in the community.
• • Must be able to maintain professional boundaries.
• • Ability to commute to multiple PCHS locations and community events often within the same day.

Physical Demands:

• • Requires full range of body motion, eye, and hand coordination.
• • Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• • May occasionally lift and carry of up to 50 pounds.
• • May be in unsecured communities promoting services.
• • Requires the ability to commute to multiple PCHS locations and community events often within the same day.