Community Health Worker – Esperanza

Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Health Federation of Philadelphia is seeking a part-time Community Health Worker to support Esperanza Health Center in North Philadelphia. You will help connect patients with social services, provide culturally responsive care, and coordinate with the Integrated Peer Models for Health (IPMH) team.

This grant-funded position (30 hours/week, 4 days) involves field work and office tasks, with collaboration across MAT and clinical teams to improve access and outcomes for patients facing multiple

Qualifications

• Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency required.
• Previous CHW or peer support certification preferred.
• Experience in behavioral health settings preferred.
• Knowledge of North Philadelphia communities is a plus.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently and maintain professional boundaries.
• Comfort with community-based work and patient outreach.

Responsibilities

• Attend and participate in required Community Health Worker trainings and onboarding.
• Conduct social needs screenings and assess housing, food, transportation, employment, childcare, healthcare access, and other services.
• Provide referrals to healthcare providers and community resources; support warm handoffs and scheduling.
• Accompany patients to appointments when needed; follow up on referrals.
• Collaborate with care team to support patients' wellness journeys and reinforce care plans.
• Educate patients about services and navigation, and share insights to improve service delivery.
• Participate in monthly CHW learning collaborative sessions and data reporting; comply with HIPAA.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

CHW experience

Interpersonal skills

Data collection & reporting

HIPAA compliance

Education

HS Diploma or GED

CHW/ Peer Certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Electronic Medical Records

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Integrated Peer Models for Health Program (IPMH) is an established program of the Health Federation of Philadelphia that is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to utilize and support Community Health Workers (CHWs) in serving populations facing multiple barriers to health and wellbeing, including behavioral health challenges, social drivers of health, and chronic disease, within theNorth Philadelphia Health Enterprise Zone (HEZ).

The Community Health Worker will occupy a unique and exciting position that works with the IPMH Program Team to support North Philadelphia patients of the faith-based Federally Qualified Health Center, Esperanza Health Center. For several days a week, this CHW will serve as a trusted member of Esperanza Health Center's integrated care team and work directly with patients who can benefit from supportive behavioral health interventions to reach their wellness goals. The CHW will work alongside the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) team, clinical teams, and social support networks to offer sustained supportive services, build trust, and ensure patients with complex health and social needs receive culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate, and community-based care.

This position is part-time, 30 hours or 4 days/week and supported by grant funding for the next 2 years.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties

• Attend and actively participate in required Community
• Health Worker trainings and onboarding activities for the Health Federation and Esperanza Health Center.
• Conduct social needs screenings using standardized tools and assess client needs related to housing, food, transportation, employment, childcare, healthcare access, and other social services.
• Provide referrals to healthcare providers and community-based resources.
• Support patients with "warm handoffs," including making direct contacts with service providers, and scheduling appointments.
• Accompany patients to appointments when needed (e.g., social service intakes).
• Follow up to ensure successful connection and satisfaction with referred services.
• Collaborate with care team members to walk alongside and support patients through their wellness journey.
• Reinforce care plans and provide additional navigation or advocacy support.
• Help educate patients about available services, health system navigation, and community resources.
• Engage in monthly CHW learning collaborative sessions for professional development and peer learning.
• Share insights, challenges, and success stories to improve service delivery and relay community impact.
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those governing participant privacy and data security (e.g., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA])
• Participate in data collection and reporting

Education

H.S. Diploma/GED required
Current Community Health Worker or Peer Support/Recovery Specialist Certification(s) Preferred

Skills/Experience

• Bilingual Spanish/English language proficiency required*
• Previous experience as a CHW, Certified Peer Specialist/Certified Recovery Specialist, or similar role required*
• Experience working within behavioral health settings preferred
• Lived experience in or deep understanding of North Philadelphia communities
• Passion for learning, health equity, and social justice
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to develop positive, longitudinal relationships, build trust, and establish rapport.
• Comfort meeting patients in person and making regular phone calls
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, including time management, listening skills, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making, priority setting, and work organization.
• Experience with completing administrative tasks, data entry, and navigating medical record systems is strongly preferred
• Experience using tools like Microsoft Office and Google Suite is a plus, and the ability to learn new technology tools is essential
• Familiar with local community resources and social service systems
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Willingness to work within a Christian faith-based healthcare institution several days/week

Work Environment:

60% Field Work, 40% Office Work. This position requires extensive time in the community conducting home visits and linking patients to care, plus regularly scheduled meetings and trainings. Standard office setting with extended periods at the workstation and periodic use of office equipment.

See full posting here: https://healthfederation.org/community-health-worker-esperanza