Community Health Worker I

St Johns Community Health•Indio, CA

About The Position

Community Health Workers (CHW) may assist with a variety of concerns impacting individuals and families, including but not limited to, the control and prevention of chronic conditions or infectious diseases, behavioral health conditions, and need for preventive services. Additionally, CHW services can help patients receive appropriate services related to perinatal care, preventive care, sexual and reproductive health, environmental and climate-sensitive health issues, oral health, aging, injury, and domestic violence and other violence prevention services. CHWs tend to be members of the community they are serving and a larger component to linking health and social services for patients. Community Health Workers (CHW) provide a broad range of services focused on improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities through providing meaningful, culturally relevant connections to healthcare and healthcare related services, which address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) on par with the provision of general and specialty medical services. CHWs service is informed through the lived experience of the CHW and their families, social circles, and communities. This position provides will support individuals at risk for HIV in accessing, initiating, and adhering to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The role focuses on client engagement, education, and linkage to care, with an emphasis on culturally responsive and affirming services for diverse communities.

Requirements

2,000 hours of relevant experience, or completion of Community Health Worker certification course.

Nice To Haves

High School Diploma or GED
Bilingual (preferred).

Responsibilities

Outreach and Engagement – includes street, community, and online outreach to inform and educate community members and institutions about St. John’s and partner agency’s services and supports, and to engage individuals and families relative to those services.
Health Education – provide education to individuals, families, and communities surrounding general and specific health conditions and services to include, but not limited to, diabetes, heart/coronary disease, pulmonary disease, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, substance use disorders, mental illness, and the social determinants of health and how addressing these helps to improve overall medical and psychological well-being.
Screening and Linkage to Care – conduct various brief screenings with individuals and families to determine service needs and provide linked referrals with warm handoffs to services within St. John’s and in the community, ensuring services are those most culturally relevant to the individual/family.
Assessment and Service Planning – assess individuals and families using approved tools to measure whether the SDOH are sufficiently addressed. Create individual and family service plans and document service needs, action plans, and progress on meeting SDOH necessities.
Case Management, Care Coordination, and System Navigation – assist individuals and families in identifying the most culturally competent and relevant services in relation to the service plan, whether internal to St. John’s or within the community, and provide direct linkage, warm handoff, and follow up on all referrals wherever possible. Ensure appropriate communication between all medical and psychosocial service providers, both internal and external, to coordinate clinical and logistical needs in order to best serve patient outcomes.
Peer Support, Education, and Advocacy – provide individual support in the form of lay counseling to assist patients in managing their health and psychosocial service goals and action steps, may include appointment reminders, assisting with transportation, attending appointments with the patient to act as a cultural mediator with service providers, teaching how to navigate the larger service network within St. John’s and in the larger community
Conduct outreach and provide education on HIV prevention, PrEP, and sexual health.
Assist clients with PrEP eligibility screening, insurance navigation, and appointment scheduling.
Provide ongoing adherence support and follow-up to promote retention in PrEP care.
Distribute safer sex supplies and educational materials.
Collaborate with clinical staff and community partners to ensure seamless client services.
Maintain accurate records and reports for program monitoring.