Community Health Worker - Central Health

Central Health; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Health in Austin, TX seeks a Community Health Worker to serve as a trusted liaison between the community and healthcare and social service providers. You will support members in navigating programs, completing applications, and accessing resources with a focus on health equity.

You will educate, advocate, and provide culturally competent information, using motivational interviewing and referrals to help individuals access care and maintain self-sufficiency across our care continuum.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• BLS certification preferred or required upon hire.
• Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) or completion of a 160-hour program within 6 months required.

Responsibilities

• Act as a liaison between members, providers, health plans, Central Health, and community agencies.
• Provide culturally appropriate educational information and effective communication tailored to literacy and health literacy needs.
• Coach participants to advocate and manage health and social resources.
• Manage caseload, document activities and plans of care per standards.
• Provide ongoing follow-up, motivational interviewing, and goal setting.
• Support access to programs, scheduling, transportation, and other resources.
• Assist with access to health services and overcoming barriers to care.
• Continuously learn about community resources and provide referrals as appropriate.
• Attend trainings and maintain CHW certification; support patient portal access and navigation.

Skills

Cultural mediation

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Community outreach

Patient navigation

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High School Diploma

Associate's Degree preferred

Bachelor's Degree preferred

Job description

Overview

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted member of the community, with an understanding of the culture, language, socio-economic status, and life experiences of the community served. The CHW acts as a liaison and provides cultural mediation between healthcare, social services, and the community. The CHW helps Central Health members and patients access needed services and resources, as well as, building individual, community, and system capacity through health knowledge and self-sufficiency. The CHW may provide a variety of services including social support, clinical education, advocacy, assistance with applying for health care coverage and resources. The CHW will be responsible for patient documentation, project organization, and team collaboration. The CHW provides services through informing, outreach, patient navigation, and community health education. The CHW may provide services through community outreach, the Central Health Navigation Center, Central Health Clinics, or other health care settings.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Act as a member/patient advocate and liaison between the member/family, provider, health plan, Central Health, and community service agencies.
• Provides culturally appropriate educational information within scope of practice and effectively communicates to patients in a standardized manner with consideration to literacy, health literacy, resource management, software utilization and navigation, and technological ability.
• Coaches participants to advocate and manage their health and social resources.
• Manages assigned caseload, documents activities, plans of care (when applicable), and reports results in an effective manner in accordance with organizational standards.
• Provides ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with members/families.
• Provides the patient/member perspective to inform messaging, activities, and effective ways to outreach and navigate the healthcare system.
• Helps members in utilizing resources, assisting with completion of applications for programs for which they may be eligible and/or including scheduling appointments, transportation, and supporting patient success.
• Assists members in accessing health related services and overcoming barriers to obtaining needed medical care and social services.
• Continuously learns about community resources and provides referrals to patients/members and their families as appropriate.
• Provides assistance, documents activities, plan of care, and results in an effective manner while strictly adhering to the policies and procedures in place to improve access to healthcare by building an equity-focused, comprehensive, high functioning, and affordable system of care.
• Attends trainings, continuing education, and professional development programs to maintain active Community Health Worker Certification.
• Provides information, education, and support in accessing the patient portal (MyChart).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of enterprise and community resources and the ability to provide referrals to patients/families as appropriate.
• Ability to provide community resources and provide referrals to patients and families as appropriate.
• Working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Products.
• Ability to communicate proficiently to a wide range of audiences in a clear and professional manner.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to members.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective work relationships with coworkers, clients, members, and providers.
• Ability to be flexible and willingness to learn new responsibilities and to work in changing environment.
• Skilled in coaching participants to effectively advocate and manage their health and social resources.
• Ability to exhibit compassion, vulnerability, and empathy when working with employees and patients and advancing Central Health's mission of health equity and DEI goals.
• Ability to provide person centered care that is inclusive and culturally competent.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks in a calm and orderly manner.

Qualifications

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's Degree preferred.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.

Experience:

• One (1) year of experience working in a multi-cultural, community based setting preferred.
• Bilingual in English, Spanish, and/or other foreign language preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:

• BLS - Basic Life Support through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association Upon Hire - Preffered
• Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) or completion of an approved 160-hour competency based Community Health Worker training program certified by DSHS Within 6 Months Required