Community Health Worker

Position Summary:


The Community Health Worker (CHW) provides community support services by partnering with other community agencies to help at risk / high risk individuals and their families navigate complex social service and health care systems to services to promote healthy behaviors and manage conditions that affect their health and social well-being. This culturally and geographically connected individual serves as a link between underserved communities and existing community resources. Through client visits and community engagement, these individual assists clients in overcoming barriers to health, social services, education, and employment and other Social Determinants of Health.Under the direction of the CHW Supervisor, the CHW is responsible for providing and coordinating health education and disease management education, assisting individuals with navigating the health and social care systems, and providing case management services (under supervision). The CHW will work within an interdisciplinary team and will serve as a bridge between the patient and the medical system by building trusting relationships with community members served by the health care entities or program(s). Home visits will be required for some interventions; however, the CHW team may also provide education and services in other settings such as group sessions, health fairs, clinics, and other community locations as well.

Qualifications:


CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
Driver's License Illinois upon hire and Proof of Auto Insurance upon hire

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Familiarity and experience working with underrepresented populations. AndMinimum of 2 years* experience as a CHW or a similar/related position (community health, public health, health education, or some type of equivalent). AndPassion for and dedication to working with community members AndPunctual, reliable and willing to learn AndOutstanding interpersonal communication skills. AndOrganized. AndProficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint preferred

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Community Health Worker certification through an approved program

Essential Functions:

• Perform assessment on assigned clients at assigned intervals along with Social Determinants of Health screenings.
• Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
• Advocate for clients when they are unable to speak for themselves.
• Continuing to update plans and promoting adherence to facilitate positive outcomes.
• Refer community members to needed health services.
• Document all client interactions and assessments.
• Establish trusting relationships with patients.
• Assists client with problem-solving barriers to health by identifying, locating, connecting to, and navigating needed community and medical system services. This may also include accompanying clients to appointments and assisting with completion of forms to access needed services.
• Link clients to and inform them of available community resources.
• Educates clients on how to obtain care and self-manage their conditions.
• Builds individual/client, community, and team capacity.
• Attends interdisciplinary care team discussions.
• Canvases community centers, homeless shelters, and other identified "hot spot" neighborhoods to find and enroll individuals who meet the criteria for being at risk / high risk.
• Accept responsibility for other duties, as assigned.
• Provides meaningful and sustainable partnerships within the underrepresented and marginalized populations.
• Preferred fluent in both English and Spanish.
• Focus, as directed, on health nutrition interventions and physical activity in the proposed project areas.

• Maintains a client caseload. Performs social determinants of health screening to identify needs and develops plan to address health equity needs.
• Remain apprised of current CHW policies, procedures, and standards
• Remain apprised of current CHW best-practices
• Include complementary education and outreach, when appropriate (e.g., flu prevention and immunizations).
• Increases program visibility by performing outreach in the community (i.e., schools, health fairs, senior centers), participating in community education initiatives, and providing collaboration and referrals with community providers.
• Work with the CHW Supervisor to identify, develop, and implement innovative community outreach and engagement of high-risk populations.
• Work with the community through peer led focus groups to gather data on the factors most affecting healthy lifestyles, especially around nutrition and physical activity in the proposed project areas.