Community Health Worker

Institute on Aging; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Institute on Aging (IOA) seeks a Community Health Worker (CHW) to provide care coordination support with a preventative focus for CalAIM clients, collaborating with a Lead Care Manager.

You will maintain contact, complete referrals, conduct outreach, and provide education in a culturally sensitive manner. Home visits and accompanying clients to appointments are key responsibilities that support seniors and adults with disabilities to remain in the community.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma required or equivalent; CHW certificate preferred.
• At least 2 years’ experience as a Community Health Worker.
• Familiarity with the demographics of the population served.
• Experience with medical and psychosocial problems of functionally impaired adults and older adults.
• Experience with mental/behavioral health diagnoses and substance abuse disorders preferred.
• Computer literacy required.

Responsibilities

• Maintains regular contact with assigned clients to ensure referred services are delivered.
• Completes referrals and follow-up calls for primary care, behavioral health, home health, DME, and other services.
• Conducts outreach and engagement with newly referred clients where they are located.
• Provides education about health and mental health care systems in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Performs home visits and escorts clients to medical appointments as needed.
• Documents client activity within 24–48 hours and maintains clear charting for continuity of care.
• Collaborates with the Lead Care Manager to enroll and maintain Medi-Cal waiver participation.

Skills

Computer literacy

Detail oriented

Education

HS Diploma

Community Health Worker certificate

Job description

IOA is on the forefront of revolutionary healthcare models, reshaping the way people can age in place. Our innovative models transform lives, enhance communities, and save healthcare systems millions of dollars. Rather than focusing on archaic outdated design, we strive to consistently question the “status-quo” and create new and more innovative ways to help aging adults and adults with disabilities maintain their quality of life.

With over 23 programs, we offer multiple ways to aid seniors maintain their health, well-being, independence and participation in the community, fulfilling our mission.

IOA's Community Health Worker (CHW) provides care coordination support with a preventative health focus to CalAIM clients working in conjunction with the assigned Lead Care Manager. The CHW ensures clients’ connectivity to health care services by breaking down the barriers to accessing the health care system for clients with multiple biopsychosocial needs.

Responsibilities

• Maintains regular contact with assigned clients to ensure referred services are being delivered.
• Completes referrals and follow-up calls regarding on-going connectivity to primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, home health agencies, durable medical equipment companies, and/or other health care services.
• Conducts outreach and engagement activities for newly referred/authorized potential clients by meeting them where they are whether that be at home, in a hospital or nursing facility or in a shelter/on the street.
• Provides education to clients about health and mental health care and systems in a culturally appropriate manner that addresses potential barriers to engagement.
• Conducts home visits, acute hospital & skilled nursing facility visits, as well as escorts clients to medical and other appointments as clinically indicated.
• Assists Lead Care Manager in completing necessary documentation to enroll and maintain Medi-Cal waiver participation for clients (such as California Community Transitions & Assisted Living Waiver programs).
• Identifies, arranges for, and monitors appropriate community services based on a solid knowledge of Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other entitlement programs.
• Establishes and maintains a professional relationship with clients and their informal support network as appropriate, offering respect, dignity and support.
• Documents via progress notes all client-involved activity regarding identified problems within 24-48 hours, as needed.
• Maintains required paperwork and follows a clear, concise, and consistent system of charting to allow for continuity of care.
• Establishes and maintains open and effective communication with community providers, including physicians and other health care and social service workers. Provides appropriate information on all significant aspects of individual client care and program operations, while maintaining necessary confidentiality.
• Working closely with the entire interdisciplinary team, particularly as it pertains to clients’ ability to maintain living in the community.
• Attends and actively participates in team and program meetings, activities and problem-solving endeavors; contributes to open lines of communication within the team.
• Utilizes supervision appropriately; maintaining open lines of communication and providing updates on client activity.
• Understands and applies the regulatory and procedural requirements of the Institute on Aging.
• Attends continuing education classes and/or inservice training to increase knowledge, skills and attitudes related to case management, gerontology, family and community systems and other areas relevant to the client population.
• All other reasonably related responsibilities as assigned.

EDUCATION:

HS Diploma, Community Health Worker certificate preferred.

Background And Experience

• At least 2 years experience working as a Community Health Worker preferred.
• Lived experience navigating the health care system living with a disability or complex medical/behavioral health condition.
• Familiarity and experience with the cultural and geographic demographics of the population served.
• Experience with and understanding of the medical and psychosocial problems of functionally impaired adults and older adults.
• Experience working with individuals with mental and/or behavioral health diagnoses and substance abuse disorders highly desired.
• Detail oriented with good problem-solving skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Computer literacy required.

Compensation

Range: $30 to $32/hour

This amount is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education and other factors.

This range does not include any additional equity, benefits, or other non-monetary compensation which may be included.

Institute on Aging reserves the right to revise job descriptions or work hours as required.