PATH Community Health Worker

Community Health Center; Meriden (CT); On-site; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Health Center of Middletown seeks a PATH Community Health Worker to bridge clients with substance use disorders to health and social services, offering culturally sensitive outreach, recovery support, and care navigation. This role supports the PATH Program and implements strategic outreach plans.

The CHW will partner with primary care teams, social workers, and treatment centers to ensure holistic, continuous care, while collecting data and supporting referrals.

Qualifications

• Must have high school diploma/GED plus at least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery.
• Deep understanding of the local community culture, language, and SUD challenges.
• Training in motivational interviewing and crisis intervention.
• CHC approved CHW training certification must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Build trust with individuals actively using substances through outreach and linkage to services.
• Provide outreach in shelters, MHU, and community organizations to engage high risk patients.
• Advocate for clients and facilitate access to care with minimal barriers.
• Establish partnerships to enable timely referrals and maximize resources for PATH Program participants.
• Assist with housing, transportation, insurance enrollment, and scheduling medical or behavioral health appointments.
• Enter and submit PATH data within 7 days of encounters across SPARS, eCW, and other assigned systems.
• Provide community education on harm reduction and disease transmission, and advocate for health needs.
• Make referrals and provide follow up for other healthcare services as indicated by the Path Team.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Crisis intervention

Cultural competency

Community resource knowledge

Strong communication

Education

High school diploma/GED

Tools

CHW training certification

Job description

Job Summary

The PATH Community Health Worker (PCHW) serves as a bridge between individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and the healthcare or social service systems. They provide culturally appropriate outreach, recovery support, care coordination, and system navigation, while advocating for clients' needs and offering essential social support. The PCHW is the first point of contact for most of the participants in the PATH Program and responsible for implementation of the strategic outreach plan.

Job Description

Job Summary

The PATH Community Health Worker (PCHW) serves as a bridge between individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and the healthcare or social service systems. They provide culturally appropriate outreach, recovery support, care coordination, and system navigation, while advocating for clients' needs and offering essential social support. The PCHW is the first point of contact for most of the participants in the PATH Program and responsible for implementation of the strategic outreach plan.

Role And Responsibilities

• Build trust with individuals actively using substances through street outreach, home visits, or shelter visits, connecting them with harm reduction and treatment options.
• Provide outreach and engagement in diverse settings like MHU, shelters, and community organizations to empower high risk patients to engage in substance use services.
• Establish a presence in the community as an advocate for substance use health services for high risk individuals, ensuring seamless pathway to care with the least barriers possible.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships and collaborations in the community in order to facilitate timely referrals and maximize the resources available to patients in the PATH Program.
• Assist clients in overcoming barriers to care by helping with housing, transportation, insurance enrollment, and scheduling medical or behavioral health appointments.
• Use techniques like motivational interviewing to help clients identify personal goals, build a foundation for recovery, and develop relapse prevention strategies.
• Collaborate with primary care teams, social workers, and treatment centers to ensure holistic, continuous care.
• Collect, enter, and submit all data for PATH Program within 7 days of encounters including the SPARS, eCW, and any other assigned data system.
• Provide community education on harm reduction (e.g., overdose prevention), disease transmission (HIV/HCV), and advocate for individual and community health needs.
• Make referrals and provide follow up for other healthcare services as needed or indicated by the Path Team.

Qualifications & Requirements

Must have high school diploma/GED + at least 2 years of relevant work experience

Lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery

Possess a deep understanding of the local community’s culture, language, and specific SUD challenges.

Training in motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, and knowledge of local socio-economic resources and community partners.

CHC Approved CHW training certification must be obtained with 90 days of hire.

Organizational Summary

Location:

Community Health Center of Middletown

City

Middletown

State

Connecticut

Time Type

Full time

Compensation And Benefits

$23-24/hr

At Moses/Weitzman Health System, we are committed to supporting the health, well-being, professional growth, and financial security of our employees. Eligible employees may have access to a comprehensive total rewards package that can include competitive compensation, health and wellness benefits, retirement savings opportunities, paid time off, professional development and tuition assistance programs, employee assistance resources, flexible work arrangements where applicable, and other company-sponsored benefits. Specific benefit offerings and eligibility requirements may vary based on position, work location, scheduled hours, and applicable plan terms. Learn more about our benefits and career opportunities on our Careers website.