COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER (CHW) Opioid Education, Naloxone Distribution & Community Outreach

Delta Health Center•Mound Bayou, MS

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will support Delta Health Center, Inc. (DHC) in implementing community-based opioid education, overdose prevention, fentanyl test strip (FTXS) distribution, and naloxone education and distribution throughout DHC’s six-county service area. The CHW will plan, coordinate, schedule, and conduct public outreach and patient education at DHC primary care clinics and in the communities it serves. This includes delivering evidence-based education and conducting one-on-one and small-group Opioid Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) sessions for friends and family members of people with diagnosed or suspected opioid use disorder (OUD). The CHW will represent DHC in the community and build relationships with patients, families, community organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, local agencies, and other partners. The position supports project goals for public and patient education, FTXS distribution, and OEND, including a minimum of 24 outreach and education events during the 12-month project period. Duties also include navigation and referrals, grant documentation and reporting, and maintaining confidentiality. The position requires regular travel across the six-county service area and may involve evening and weekend events. Work takes place in clinics and a variety of community, educational, faith-based, and public-event settings.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience working with patients, families, community members, or vulnerable populations.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to conduct public presentations and small-group educational sessions.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to travel throughout DHC’s six-county service area.
Ability to maintain accurate documentation and meet grant reporting deadlines.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA requirements.
Knowledge of community health and health-promotion principles.
Understanding of opioid use disorder and overdose prevention.
Ability to communicate sensitive health information respectfully and understandably.
Strong public speaking, organizational, time-management, relationship-building, documentation, and data-collection skills.
Ability to work effectively with diverse populations, maintain professional boundaries, and manage multiple outreach activities and competing priorities.
Commitment to reducing stigma associated with substance use disorder and increasing access to prevention and treatment resources.

Nice To Haves

Community Health Worker certification.
Experience in a community health center, healthcare, public health, behavioral health, or social-service environment.
Experience with opioid education, overdose prevention, harm reduction, naloxone distribution, or substance use disorder services.
Previous experience working with grant-funded programs.
Experience conducting community outreach, health education, or public presentations.
Bilingual or multilingual skills, when applicable to the communities served.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, schedule, and conduct at least 24 public outreach and education events during the 12-month project period.
Conduct outreach at DHC primary care clinics and throughout its six-county service area; maintain an annual outreach calendar.
Provide opioid and fentanyl-related education and adapt presentations and materials for different audiences and literacy levels.
Present to patients, families, community groups, faith-based organizations, schools, civic organizations, and other audiences; participate in health fairs, mobile health activities, clinic events, and other outreach opportunities.
Promote awareness of OUD, overdose prevention, treatment, recovery, and community resources, and maintain relationships with community partners.
Distribute fentanyl test strips (FTXS), educate recipients about their purpose, use, limitations, and safe handling, and maintain inventory and distribution records.
Provide one-on-one and small-group OEND sessions, educate participants about overdose risks, signs, emergency response, and naloxone, and distribute naloxone in accordance with policies and requirements.
Encourage appropriate discussion of treatment and recovery resources and refer participants to behavioral health, substance use treatment, primary care, and community services.
Serve as a link among patients, families, DHC providers, and community resources; assist with resource navigation, referrals, follow-up, and barriers to care within the CHW role.
Use a respectful, nonjudgmental, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach with people affected by substance use.
Maintain confidentiality and protect patient information in accordance with HIPAA and DHC policies.
Document outreach, education, FTXS and naloxone distribution, referrals, attendance, partnerships, and other grant-related activities; track objectives and performance measures.
Prepare timely reports, assist with data collection and program evaluation, meet grant deliverable timelines, and promptly communicate barriers to the supervisor.