Community Health Worker (VHD02494)

DHRM • Roanoke, VA

2d

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is an integral member of the Virginia Department of Health’s Population Health Program team at the Roanoke City/Alleghany Health District. The CHW supports individuals and families in clinic and community settings, connecting them with essential resources and services to improve health and quality of life. As a liaison between the community and healthcare services, the CHW provides culturally sensitive communication and care, particularly for priority populations, and supports health promotion, education, disease prevention, capacity building, service coordination, and program evaluation.

The position collaborates with community networks and partners to identify, prioritize, and implement public health initiatives with the potential for positive impact. It requires strong community engagement skills, the ability to navigate and coordinate services, and a commitment to health equity and the well-being of the population. The role may include client measurements and point-of-care testing or specimen collection following appropriate training and competency validation, as well as language interpretation.

This is a restricted position funded solely by the Title V Maternal and Child Health Grant through June 30, 2027. Funding availability is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date, and continued employment depends on continued funding. The position may be required to support agency or state emergency responses and, as directed by VDH, adjust work hours, location, or duties and participate in training to meet public health needs. If designated as a mobile worker, the role includes field work and telework from an alternate location when not in the field or during emergency closings, with periodic attendance at the assigned office for meetings or training.

Requirements

• Knowledge of social determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental factors influencing individual and community health and disparities in access to resources and services.
• Familiarity with mental and behavioral health and its relationship to physical health outcomes.
• Basic knowledge of public health practices, epidemiology, disease prevention, health promotion, social service systems, and the roles of government agencies and community organizations.
• Experience working with priority or underserved communities and understanding of their challenges and resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations while recognizing and respecting cultural norms, practices, and values.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing and verbally using accessible plain language, and to adapt communication style to different communities.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, community members, and stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Ability to use a personal computer and internet-based tools and applications for data entry, communication, and research.
• Health-care personnel must provide documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity to hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; a Tdap dose and boosters every 10 years; and the current season’s influenza vaccination.
• Employment is contingent on satisfactory background and related checks, including state and federal criminal history, child abuse and neglect registry, HHS OIG exclusion list, employment references, and E-Verify.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in a second language, especially a language relevant to the community served.
• Previous experience in a public health or community-based agency, including familiarity with service coordination and supporting public health initiatives.
• Community Health Worker certification, or the ability to obtain certification after hire.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients with forms, applications, eligibility documents, and referrals needed to access services and community resources.
• Help clients navigate healthcare systems and processes.
• Participate in care coordination and/or case management for district core programs.
• Communicate sensitively and in a culturally competent manner with diverse populations.
• Perform administrative tasks related to client navigation and outreach event management.
• Develop and deliver individual and community-based education on diseases, prevention, and health promotion practices.
• Educate individuals and communities about navigating health and social services systems.
• Build relationships and work with community partners to provide educational activities for vulnerable populations.
• Participate in and collaborate with local health-focused coalitions and groups, aligning efforts with agency needs.
• Document and respond to community organizations’ requests for information about health department programs and services.
• Coordinate and support community initiatives addressing social determinants of health and health disparities.
• Develop or obtain educational materials from credible healthcare and community sources for public use.
• Use evidence-based strategies and policy, systems, and environmental change approaches to improve community health and address health disparities.
• Identify target audiences, strategies, interventions, and programmatic problems, and provide guidance on effective resolutions.
• Integrate health literacy and cross-cultural communication across work activities.
• With appropriate training and competency validation, perform client measurements, support risk-reduction strategies, and assist with point-of-care testing or laboratory specimen collection.
• Support clinical and outreach teams with inventory management of outreach and educational supplies.
• Serve as a liaison among district programs, schools, community members, and local agencies.
• Participate in the design, implementation, and analysis of individual- and community-level assessments, community health assessments, and improvement plans.
• Participate in evaluating CHW services and programs.
• May assist with reports for local, state, or federal funders and requests for proposals during grant applications.
• Participate in sharing results and findings with stakeholders through presentations, social media, journal articles, or other communication methods.
• May assist with language interpretation and perform other duties as assigned.
• May be required to assist with emergency declarations and adjust work hours, location, duties, or training to meet public health business needs.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement plans, including a 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Sick, family/personal, and annual leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed