Community Health Worker (Community Programs)

Johns Hopkins University•Baltimore, MD

58d•$16 - $26•Hybrid

About The Position

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) is seeking a motivated, energetic, and caring individual to serve as a Community Health Worker for the Neighbor Care Pathways (NCP) research study. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to improving health and well-being of the local Baltimore community through being part of the new NCP care navigation program pilot focused on helping older adults (age 50+) age well at home and in their community, while maximizing independence and dignity. Working in close collaboration with an interdisciplinary care team, the Community Care Navigator will be responsible for program outreach, participant enrollment, and the hands-on, day-to-day delivery of personalized comprehensive care navigation services, and outcome assessments following structured NCP protocol guidelines. This includes home- and telehealth- based assessment of the type of support(s) older adults need based on the individual's specific circumstances, the severity and complexity of their health conditions, their interests and preferences, and their overall health (in coordination with clinical team members), development of a person-centered action plans with goal setting based on individual's unique motivations and realistic expectations for outcomes, working with participants to implement the action plan including providing support for developing successful self-management skills to increase empowerment and self-confidence, foster a trusting alliance with participants by providing patients and families with health/disease education and skill building techniques, provide active care coordination, facilitation, and linking to available services and resources and monitoring and updating the action plan as needed. The Community Care Navigator will receive initial program training and ongoing supervision and support from the program team prior to working with participants that includes training on the program protocols, education about health aging, identifying and linking to local community resources and services, how to engage families and establish rapport, cultural competency, working in an interdisciplinary team, home visit safety, and health information privacy and human subjects research policies, as well as regular, ongoing supervision and support by a clinical team. Candidates who are native to, or who have familiarity/experience working within, the neighborhoods of Johnston Square, Greenmount West, or Oliver in East Baltimore City are highly encouraged to apply.

Requirements

High school diploma or graduation equivalent.
Two years of related experience.
Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Strong understanding of health-related community-based resources and supports.
Must be willing to complete all training programs associated with this position.
Must have transportation to, from, and around the targeted community.
Must be comfortable working in the Community, visiting people in their home's, and interacting regularly with older adults and/or their caregivers.
Excellent interpersonal and communication required with ability to develop rapport and provide good customer service.
Comfortable working closely and cooperatively with others and ability to adapt well to team functions.
Applicants must be dependable, self-directed, and motivated.
Excellent organizational skills required, with ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
Commitment to culturally competent practices and compassionate care.
Commitment to maintaining patient privacy and maintaining HIPAA and IRB standards at all times.
Willingness to work off-site up 50-75% of the time.
Current Community Health Worker certification (Maryland).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree in health sciences, psychology, sociology, or related field.
Prior experience working as a community health worker, Patient Navigator, Certified Health Education Specialist, Case Manager, Care manager or similar position in community-based settings and/or healthcare systems.
Familiarity with research practices, clinical studies or trials and IRB procedures.
Familiarity with motivational interviewing and patient activation practices.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Motivated and self-directed with ability to work collaboratively with other study staff.
Strong organizational skills with ability to work independently and prioritize multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

Complete training on competencies related to intervention delivery components, protocols, and community-engaged, person-centered research/human subject's research. This includes training on program recruitment, health assessment and care planning, health care system navigation, communication, cultural humility, health advocacy, Neighborhood Care Pathways, and on resources available to older adults in the community.
Establish trusting and effective relationships with community members and local providers and support community awareness of the program and participant recruitment through multiple community engagement strategies (e.g., attending community center events, community association meetings).
Respond to inquiries about the program, including face-to-face, over the phone/text, and web-based conversations and collect program referral data.
Coordinate, conduct, and record information from initial intake screenings and refer older adults who enroll for a more comprehensive screening, including obtaining informed consent.
Conduct comprehensive in-home assessments and home visits as needed, following protocol guidelines and under supervision of the clinical care team.
Working closely as part of an interdisciplinary care team, to develop and implement person-centered action plans.
Conduct regular visits (face-to-face, telephone, telehealth) with community residents at home offering assistance and support to them in achieving their action plan goals.
Collaborate and communicate with internal and external health and services professionals as needed to coordinate care and meet individual's goals.
Monitor action plans over time and document outreach and follow-up activities and enter timely, accurate, and comprehensive information in the data system.
Assist older adults in accessing health and community resources (help making appointments, completing program applications, connecting to transportation services, etc.).
Provide both formal and informal education about healthy aging, self-management, problem-solving techniques, and coping techniques.
Provide general emotional support.
Assist with administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments.