Community Health Worker - Full time - Detroit metro area
 Henry Ford Health System | |
 United States, Michigan, Detroit | |
 Feb 03, 2026 | |
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GENERAL SUMMARY: A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. Under the leadership of the Office of Community Health, Equity & Wellness' CHW Hub Manager, and in partnership with designated onsite leaders as needed, the CHW role serves as a trusted liaison between healthcare, social services, the community and patients to promote access to healthcare services, improve health and equity outcomes, increase access and utilization of primary care services, and support cost-savings and quality related objectives. The CHW advocates for patients, providing culturally appropriate health education, information, and support. Either integrated directly within a clinical care team or assigned to a specific project, they play a critical role by addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), connecting individuals to services, and ensuring the delivery of patient-centered, culturally relevant care. PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: * Identify patients' non-medical/social determinant of health needs such as food security, housing, transportation, and social support. Provide referrals to appropriate social service agencies and track outcomes. * Collaborate and liaise with the clinical care team to ensure continuity of care, help develop personalized care plans, and provide follow-up support, including conducting home visits and telephonic check-ins. * Provide direct outreach and support to care teams and patients to improve patient recruitment and retention, adherence to care instructions and utilization of primary and preventive care services, aiming to reduce no-show rates and unnecessary emergency department usage. * Conduct community outreach to engage patients and foster trust within the community, helping to connect healthcare services with the community. * Provide culturally competent health education and coaching to patients, both individually and in group settings, focusing on disease prevention, health promotion, and chronic disease management. * Advocate for patients by identifying barriers to care (e.g., insurance enrollment, transportation, housing, language), facilitating access to resources, and supporting individuals in navigating both healthcare and social service systems. * Empower patients by promoting health literacy and providing guidance on effective self-management of chronic conditions, system navigation systems and selfadvocacy. * Document patient encounters, maintain accurate records, and contribute to the evaluation of community and/or population health initiatives by collecting relevant data to monitor health outcomes within Henry Ford's electronic health record and/or other prescribed documentation tools. * Provide patients with information on HFH classes, support groups and related services and assist with recruitment and enrollment, if necessary. * Attends on-going trainings and continuously expands knowledge and understanding of community resources, prescribed curriculums, IRB protocols and other related policies and procedures of assigned caseload or project. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: * High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent. * Previous experience as a community health worker, preferred. * Previous experience conducting health education, or working with underserved populations, preferred. * Previous experience conducting home and/or clinic visits with patients and their primary care providers, preferred. CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURES REQUIRED: Certification as a Community Health Worker or a willingness to become certified within six months of hire. SKILLS & COMPETENCIES: * Ability to build trust with the community and maintain ethical standards of care. * Knowledge of local health resources and the social service system. * Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work with diverse communities. * Cultural competency, particularly with underserved or marginalized populations. Must meet or exceed core customer service responsibilities, standards and behaviors as outlined in the Henry Ford Health Customer Service Policy Must practice the customer skills as provided through on-going training and in-services. PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS: Depending on the specific needs of assigned work, there may be variations of inperson, hybrid or remote office-based work with frequent community outreach, including home visits and attendance at community events. Must have a valid State of Michigan driver's license and automobile insurance. Additional Information
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