Community Health Worker

COUNTY OF CARLTON • Cloquet, MN

1d • $56,316 - $67,022 • Hybrid

About The Position

Carlton County Public Health and Human Services is seeking a Community Health Worker to implement, monitor, and coordinate initiatives critical to achieving measurable outcomes for eliminating health disparities. This role involves cultivating partnerships with sectors influencing health, historically marginalized and high social vulnerability communities, and a myriad of diverse community partners and constituents. The Community Health Worker will design, deploy, and engage with the community to maximize the effectiveness of foundational public health responsibilities. They will act as a connector, communicator, advocate, and liaison between the internal team, family/community, and the private health system, public health and social services system, and other community-based services. Understanding the socio-cultural norms of the population and promoting well-being while focusing on population health and health equity is key. The role also involves working on the implementation of foundational public health capabilities and includes training to obtain a community health worker certification to further support community integration of public health communications while building trusting relationships with community members and partnerships with service providers.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in a related field (public health, community health, education, human services, or directly related field) from an accredited college or university; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of clerical experience working with the public; or two (2) years of clerical or Community Service Aide experience in a public agency or private non-profit organization; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job.
• CPR and AED
• National Incident Management System: ICS 100, 200, 700, 800, and 300
• Community Health Worker Certification (can be completed after hire)
• Risk Communication
• Public Information Sharing
• ALICE Training
• Safe Assure Training
• Annual Limited English Proficiency, Civil Rights, Cultural Awareness, and others as assigned
• Other public health training and orientation as part of onboarding
• Valid driver’s license and proof of personal vehicle insurance.
• Community Health Worker Certificate
• MUST DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO WORK POSITIVELY IN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT AND FUNCTION CONSTRUCTIVELY DURING CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
• MUST FULLY SUPPORT THE CORE VALUES AND MISSION OF CARLTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES.
• Knowledge of the community being served.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology, health promotion/wellness, and chronic disease prevention and management.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in independent (i.e. one on one client services) and team-based situations (i.e. collaboration with interdisciplinary team to provide services and collaborate with community partners).
• Ability to understand and interpret Public Health and Human Services Department policies and procedures.
• Ability to work with people of diverse economic, cultural and social backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including listening well, and using language appropriately.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public, partnering organizations, and co-workers.
• Ability and willingness to participate in required professional development.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement and motivation to clients.
• Ability to keep information private and confidential.
• Ability to work varied hours including days, evenings, and some weekend hours.
• Knowledge of general office procedures.
• Knowledge of state, county and agency computer systems related to Public Health.
• Skill in clear and precise oral and written communication.
• Ability to organize and coordinate job activities.
• Ability to accurately and rapidly process detailed information.
• Ability to solve routine day-to-day issues.
• Ability to develop organized recordkeeping systems to control and systematize work flow.
• Ability to assess clients’ needs for programs and deal effectively with multiple and sometimes conflicting demands for resources.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.
• Knowledge of agency policies and procedures relating to the program(s) to which assigned.
• Skill in interviewing clients, gathering information and recording accurate observations.
• Ability to understand and interpret complex rules, policies, practices and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and serve as a bridge between staff, partners, and families/communities for integrating health equity strategies and practices within public health programs.
• Integrate equity strategies within the team – monitor local activities and outreach within the community, assist in reviewing procedures with an equity lens, assist in equity assessments within the programs, assist in training procurement or other activities.
• Assist in development and implementation of communication strategies as identified within the Public Health Unit.
• Provide support with health communication strategies – become trained in risk communication and public information sharing.
• Assist with media relations, social media, and community facing information sources (i.e. the county website).
• Public Health communications – create, collaborate, coordinate, monitor, and implement public health messaging to the community in partnership with the Regional Communications Coordinator and the team.
• Maintain public health webpage, social media submissions, and other communications.
• Assist in program coordination with Public Health Specialists’ and Public Health Supervisor’s support to address the areas of public health responsibility – become trained and certified as a community health worker for deeper integration of public health strategies in the community.
• Community Health Assessment - tracking/evaluation/reporting – participating in meetings and assisting with coordination and facilitation logistics.
• Assisting with Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) activities within the team – monitoring data by reviewing population data trends and local data, outcome measurement monitoring and recording, assisting in development and implementation of community conversations (surveys, meetings, town hall discussions, social media, etc), participating in planning and assessment activities.
• Support timely and locally relevant information to partners and the community on emerging and on-going maternal child health trends.
• Ability to identify local maternal and child community health partners and their capacities.
• Assist with data collection, management, analysis, and reporting to support public health strategies, planning, and performance measurement.
• Maintain and update public health electronic health record, or other systems, with plans, documentation, applicable forms, or related information – in partnership with Public Health team.
• Assist with electronic charting oversight and training as needed.
• Engage in community relationship building and partnerships to develop connections among the public health system and engaged families/communities.
• Coordinate and implement events to support community initiatives.
• Motivate and empower public health internal/external partners, along with families/communities, to be active, engaged participants in advancing health equity.
• Assist with the coordination of health care and community services for advancement of public health initiatives.
• Regular community outreach (schools/hospitals/clinics) - maintaining relationships with partners and referral resources.
• Know the landscape for wait times for important community partners – mental health, chemical counseling, etc.
• Event Logistics: assist in planning and implementation.
• Complete billable and non-billable activities, including chronic disease, disease prevention, mental health, and health education.
• Educate families/communities regarding how to navigate the health care system and community programs/services.
• Assist Public Health team in referral processes.
• Assist families/communities in connecting to preventive health services and creating community opportunities for wellbeing, while advancing health equity.
• Effectively work with people from diverse backgrounds to reduce cultural and socio-economic barriers that exist between families/communities and the health care system.
• Participate in quality improvement and performance management processes.
• Actively participate in internal/external meetings.
• Participate in orientation of new staff.
• Maintain positive working relationships in all areas of work.
• Continuously expand knowledge and understanding of health care systems and community resources, services, and programs.
• Provide support to emergency response efforts as needed – including for public health activation in potentially around clock operations.

Benefits

• 41 hours personal paid time off
• 12 paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling
• Opportunity for part-time remote work
• Comprehensive insurance including medical, dental, vision
• Advancement/professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee well-being valued and culture of self-care
• PERA pension plan
• Limited evening and weekend hours may be worked for some positions.
• Minnesota Rural Public Health Nurse Loan Forgiveness program may be applied for if meet criteria
• Family Health Insurance - Monthly Premium of $350.58
• Single Health Insurance - Paid in Full by Employer
• HEALTH INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES COVERED IN FULL WITH A VEBA ACCOUNT FUNDED BY EMPLOYER

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree