Community Health Worker- School Based

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers•Saginaw, MI

10h•Onsite

About The Position

This role focuses on providing essential health and social services to students within a school-based setting. The Community Health Worker (CHW) will engage patients and families in care planning, collaborate with school officials and community partners, and assist with intake and care coordination. Key responsibilities include communication and outreach to patients, navigation of health and social service systems, health education and advocacy, and maintaining accurate documentation. The CHW will also support community engagement initiatives and participate in team activities and professional development.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Current MiCHWA Community Health Worker certification required.
BLS certified.
Valid driver's license.
One (1) year of work experience in health services, public health, or a related field, specifically involving school-age youth, is required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Problem-solving skills.
Ability to utilize cultural competency skills to engage persons of diverse backgrounds with cultural compassion, sensitivity and competence.
Ability to use computer applications to include electronic medical records, Microsoft Word, Excel, and database entry.
Understanding of medical terminology.
Flexibility to accommodate evenings and weekends when necessary.
Able to communicate effectively with, and relate to diverse populations in a professional and courteous manner.
Demonstrated customer service skills.
Teamwork and problem-solving abilities.
Independence in job organization.
Ability to demonstrate initiative.
Must be able to sit, stand, and/or walk for an entire workday.
Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, and/or twist while holding up to 25 lbs. frequently, up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
Reliable transportation, valid driver's license and liability auto insurance is required.
May require travel within service area and between GLBHC site locations.

Nice To Haves

3+ years of work experience in health services, public health, or a related field, specifically involving school-age youth, preferred.
Associates degree in healthcare related field preferred.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities

Actively engage patients and families in culturally responsive care planning, building trust through ongoing, respectful communications and shared decision making.
Serve as a liaison between the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) team and families to ensure their voices are integrated into care delivery.
Collaborate with school officials and community partners to identify students in need, coordinate appropriate referrals, and support access to school-based health and social services.
Build strong networks to improve student outcomes and care continuity.
Assist with initial intake and assessments using Social Determinants of Health frameworks.
Participate consistently in team huddles and care planning meetings, providing valuable updates on patient progress and care plan outcomes.
Maintain consistent, multimodal communication with patients (in-person, phone, electronic).
Perform targeted outreach to patients lost to care or with missed appointments, ensuring re-engagement aligned with grant deliverables and organizational priorities.
Support the planning and execution of community outreach events, health fairs, and other GLBHC-sponsored activities.
Collaborate with SBHC staff to implement health promotion and outreach initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and access to services.
Serve as a liaison to schools and the broader community, promoting SBHC services at off-site and district events.
Guide patients through enrollment in health plans, SBHC services, and external social service systems.
Coordinate referrals and support follow-through to reduce care barriers and ensure timely access to the services needed.
Provide supportive counseling, health education, and advocacy.
Advocate for patients to overcome barriers to care and foster behavior change through skill-building and coordinated education efforts with the SBHC team.
Maintain accurate, timely, and policy-compliant documentation across all required systems.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, state and federal regulations (including HIPAA), and grant requirements.
Contribute to quality improvement initiatives by supporting data tracking, outcome monitoring, and reporting efforts.
Support the facilitation of the Community Advisory Council by organizing meetings and encouraging active participation from parents and community members.
Gather meaningful feedback and communicate community input to the care team to ensure services reflect the needs and perspectives of those served.
Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development activities as required.
Support other team members in non-routine tasks during peak periods or special projects.
Aid in the onboarding and mentorship of new CHW staff or interns when requested.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the organization.