Community Health Worker Specialist - Jefferson Einstein Hospital

Jefferson Health Plans • Philadelphia, PA

2d

About The Position

The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) was established at Einstein in 2016 in the tradition of the Healing Hurt People Program of Drexel University. TIP provides intensive follow-up care to young people aged 14-30 who have been treated in the emergency department for injuries related to violence, including assaults, stabbings and gun violence. The program aims to help these patients recover from the substantial social and psychological effects of violence. Starting with the initial injury and continuing for up to nine months afterwards, members of the team meet with clients on a regular basis to identify their needs and to connect them with services to support their recovery. The team works with clients on basic needs such as coordinating medical follow-up, health benefits, housing and legal help, runs support groups where clients can meet others who have been through similar situations, and helps with educational needs and job services to advance life goals and build hope for the future. Throughout this process, the team also provides trauma-informed counseling to help clients cope with the psychological effects of violence, working closely with Einstein’s Department of Behavioral Health to provide more intensive care for issues such as depression, substance abuse, or post-traumatic stress symptoms. Job Description The Community Health Worker Peer (CHWP) also referred to as Peer Specialist is key member of the team providing comprehensive social services support and long-term interventions that result in mental and emotional wellbeing in addition to the medical care to support physical wellbeing to victims of violent injury. The CHWP position requires the ability to engage with young adults and their caregivers in the immediate aftermath of a potentially traumatic event (violent injury). CHWPs are trained to conduct all visits in a trauma-informed manner, and to model effective ways of engaging with resources to support healing. This job requires a significant amount of community/home-based work, and a willingness to engage with a diverse range of neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The primary role of the CHWP is to assist in engaging with clients during their involvement with TIP and to increase connection and empowerment of individuals impacted by violent injury and broader community violence. The CHWP is responsible for engaging youth and young adults (ages 14-30) who were treated at Einstein or referred by a community agency after suffering a violent injury. This includes conducting bedside, home, community, and office visits, and phone outreach, in order to engage patients and offer TIP services. For those who become TIP participants, the CHWP is responsible for providing peer support, linkages to community supports and resources, support around navigation of health and social services, engagement with the participant’s family members or natural supports when possible, and co-facilitation of trauma informed groups. The CHWP works closely with the TIP Social Worker/Program Manager, conducting joint sessions as needed. This position requires providing service to the following age population(s) _ALL in a manner that demonstrates an understanding of the functional/developmental age of the individual served.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Respect and honor for client’s rights and responsibilities and demonstration of professional boundaries and ethics
• Sensitivity to and compassion for the diverse experiences of individuals who have experienced potentially traumatic events
• Must express a basic belief that people can change in positive ways
• Willingness to encourage and inspire others to make positive changes and find alternatives to acting out violently through support, modeling and coaching
• Ability to work well with others as part of a team approach and in groups, willingness to communicate honestly and to ask questions

Responsibilities

• Conducting bedside, home, community, and office visits, and phone outreach, in order to engage patients and offer TIP services.
• Providing peer support
• Providing linkages to community supports and resources
• Providing support around navigation of health and social services
• Engagement with the participant’s family members or natural supports when possible
• Co-facilitation of trauma informed groups

Benefits

• Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts.
• Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service.
• All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees