AmeriCorps Community Connector I - General

CHRISTUS Health; Alamogordo (NM); On-site; USD 15,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living allowance

Health insurance

Education award

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health in New Mexico partners with AmeriCorps State and National to provide outreach, education, and navigation services addressing social determinants of health. The AmeriCorps Community Connector I works with clinicians and staff to screen, refer, and connect individuals to community resources, develop care plans, and track outcomes.

As a Community Connector I, you will support vulnerable populations, learn health system basics, and advance health equity through structured visits,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Proficiency with email, calendar, instant messaging, Word, and Excel is required.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are required.
• Ability to build positive, nonjudgmental relationships and use good judgment.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides social needs screening and links individuals to community resources through referral and navigation services.
• Assists individuals in developing action plans to address identified needs, encouraging goal-setting, identifying challenges, and monitoring progress.
• Educates individuals on healthcare, community resources, wellness, and disease prevention.
• Provides culturally appropriate support and builds trusting relationships through structured visits and follow-up communications.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Computer skills

Judgment and initiative

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Promotor(a) or CHW Certification

Job description

Description

CHRISTUS Health, as a recipient of grant funding, partners with AmeriCorps State and National to provide outreach, education, and navigation services to address the social determinants of health across each of the communities we serve. Significant goals of this partnership are to: 1) Serve communities with concentrated poverty, rural communities, and tribal communities; 2) Create workforce pathways for AmeriCorps members, including deliberate training, such as pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities, certifications, and hiring preferences or support; and 3) Enhance member experience by providing opportunities for skill attainment, personal growth, and connections to the community they are serving in support of a lifetime of civic participation.

To this end, CHRISTUS Health will engage with individuals to serve their communities as AmeriCorps service members. Members serve for a minimum of a one-year term and will not be considered employees of CHRISTUS Health. Members have the opportunity to receive Community Health Worker training and obtain state certification. A living allowance, health insurance, and end of service education award (managed by AmeriCorps State and National) are provided, but other CHRISTUS Health employee benefits will not be offered to individuals participating in this program.

More information about AmeriCorps is available here: Serve | AmeriCorps

Summary

Working collaboratively as part of a team of AmeriCorps Community Connector Members, Community Health Workers, clinicians, and administrative staff, the AmeriCorps Community Connector I provides culturally competent, patient‑centered screening, referral, and navigation services to connect individuals and families with appropriate social and medical resources. The role includes developing care plans, identifying barriers and goals, supporting communication between individuals and service providers, and delivering education on health, wellness, and community resources. The Community Connector I also collects and maintains referral and outcome data in accordance with established protocols and confidentiality requirements and supports initiatives aligned with the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Provides social needs screening and links individuals to community resources through referral and navigation services.
• Assists individuals in developing action plans to address identified needs, encouraging goal‑setting, identifying challenges, and monitoring progress.
• Educates individuals on healthcare, community resources, wellness, and disease prevention.
• Provides culturally appropriate support and builds trusting relationships through structured visits and follow‑up communications across various community settings.
• Maintains current knowledge of local community resources to effectively address identified needs.
• Facilitates communication and relationship‑building between individuals and healthcare or community resource providers.
• Collaborates with supervisors and the clinical team to coordinate care and address healthcare needs.
• Supports chronic disease self‑management and medication adherence.
• Promotes appropriate use of primary care and helps individuals identify primary care options and a medical home.
• Completes documentation and record keeping in compliance with organizational policies, state and federal regulations, and confidentiality standards.
• Partners with community‑based organizations to gather feedback on referral and navigation outcomes.
• Protects the confidentiality of all patient information and follows all privacy requirements.
• Committed to serving vulnerable populations and a willingness to learn about health issues, the healthcare system, and community resources.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education/Skills

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Computer skills (to include email, calendar scheduling, instant messages, Word documents, and Excel) required
• Strong organizational and communication skills required
• Must have good judgment, initiative, flexibility, and the ability to build positive, open‑minded, and nonjudgmental relationships
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Experience

• 1 year of experience in volunteering or working in a community setting, healthcare facility, public health department, or community-based organization preferred

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Promotor(a) or Community Health Worker Certification required within 6 months of hire

In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.

Work Schedule

MULTIPLE SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Work Type

Full Time