Community Health Worker

Brightli • Franklin, IN

5d

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) serves as a liaison between healthcare providers, social services, and community resources. The role supports community health by helping patients access services, addressing barriers to care, and educating patients on reducing health risks. In the Foster Care program, the CHW focuses on children in foster care, children adopted from foster care, children involved with the Division of Youth Services or juvenile justice systems, and their families.

The CHW supports patient communication and empowerment, conducts community outreach, helps patients and families connect with health center and community services, and works with care teams to support care management and chronic disease self-management. The position may include phone follow-ups, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be reached. It also includes public education about qualified health plans (QHPs), impartial information about enrollment, and assistance reviewing coverage options and completing eligibility and enrollment forms. Information must be provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

For the Foster Care program, the CHW also helps foster parents access primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care for children, including required initial and follow-up visits. The role conducts annual or as-needed PRAPARE social determinants of health screenings, coordinates care and referrals, supports care transitions and follow-up, and connects families with community resources to meet basic social needs.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent. A related bachelor’s degree is preferred for the general CHW role; the Foster Care description specifies an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, public health nursing, health education, or a related field. Two years of relevant experience is preferred. The position also requires background checks, a valid driver’s license, required onboarding and ongoing training, and applicable certifications. Work is described as sedentary, with occasional lifting or moving up to 10 pounds and repetitive hand, finger, and arm movements for typing or writing.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent is required for the general Community Health Worker role.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred for the general Community Health Worker role.
• The Foster Care description specifies an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, public health nursing, health education, or a related field from an accredited school.
• Two years of experience in community health, human services outreach, and/or healthcare is preferred.
• Knowledge and competencies in harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and relevant treatment modalities.
• Knowledge of local community culture and values.
• Knowledge of customer and personal service principles, including assessing needs, meeting quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
• Ability to listen attentively and understand what others are saying.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas verbally so others understand.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for the general role; proficiency in the Google platform for the Foster Care role.
• Successful completion of background checks, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks.
• Evidence of being free of infectious and contagious disease before employment and annually thereafter; TB screening is expected for direct care staff.
• Completion of new-hire orientation and required training, including Relias training at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
• Current driver’s license in the state of residence, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance.
• Completion of applicable training requirements: Missouri staff must complete 36 hours within a two-year period; Kansas Residential Youth Homes staff must complete 18 hours annually.
• First Aid and CPR certifications within three months of beginning employment and upon renewal dates.
• Completion of applicable behavioral management training within 30 days of employment or at the first available class: CPI for Residential programs, or Peaceful Intervention or Verbal De-escalation for Outpatient programs.
• Completion of Direct Service Expectations within 30 days of employment.
• Extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the assigned program.
• For the Foster Care role, completion of a CHW training program through a recognized curriculum provider, education on the Missouri Foster Care program, trauma-informed training, training on common behavioral health conditions in children, and training on suicide prevention and substance use.

Nice To Haves

• The organization will strive to employ a Foster Care CHW with lived experience as a child in Missouri’s foster care program, as a parent in Missouri’s foster care program, or as someone who adopted a child from foster care.
• Experience working or volunteering with a child welfare, child advocacy, juvenile justice, or behavioral health organization.
• Experience in customer service, patient or peer coaching, medical patient interaction, community relations, outreach, data entry, or public speaking.
• A related bachelor’s degree for the general Community Health Worker role.
• Two years of experience in community health, human services outreach, and/or healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate communication and patient empowerment in interactions with healthcare and social service systems.
• Identify and troubleshoot barriers that may prevent patients from adhering to care.
• Conduct community outreach to recruit and engage high-risk patients.
• Serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate access and improve service quality and cultural competence.
• Assist primary care teams with care management processes, including guidelines, disease management, case management, and patient education to support chronic disease self-management.
• Build individual and community capacity through health education, social support, and advocacy.
• Collaborate with patients and care teams to develop solutions to barriers to healthcare goals.
• Connect patients with community resources and appropriate health center services.
• Follow up with patients by phone, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be reached.
• Carry out general support activities, special projects, and other assigned duties.
• Conduct public education about the availability of qualified health plans (QHPs).
• Distribute fair and impartial information about QHP enrollment.
• Assist individuals in reviewing health coverage options and completing QHP eligibility and enrollment forms.
• Provide information in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
• For the Foster Care program, assist foster parents in accessing primary medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare for children, with emphasis on required initial and follow-up visits.
• Conduct PRAPARE social determinants of health screenings for children and foster families annually or more frequently when a placement changes.
• Provide care coordination, including facilitating care transitions, supporting referrals, and providing or confirming follow-up.
• Refer and connect individuals and families with community resources to meet basic social needs.

Benefits

• Paid time off package for full-time employees.
• Health, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, and additional benefits for full-time employees.
• Initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive training.
• Career mobility and advancement opportunities, including promoting from within.
• A welcoming, warm, supportive work culture that values employee well-being, health, and happiness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED