Community Health Worker

Brightli • Indianapolis, IN

13d

About The Position

The Community Health Worker serves as a liaison between health providers, social services, community resources, and the people they support. The role helps improve community health by educating patients about reducing health risks, supporting access to services, and helping patients overcome barriers to care. Duties include outreach to high-risk patients, care coordination, patient education, connecting patients with community resources, and supporting enrollment in qualified health plans (QHPs) through impartial information and help reviewing options and completing forms. Follow-up may take place by phone, home visits, or in other settings where patients can be reached.

A separate Foster Care version of the role 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. This version supports foster parents in accessing primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care; conducts annual or placement-change-related PRAPARE social determinants of health screenings; coordinates care and follow-up; and connects families with community resources.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent. A related bachelor’s degree is preferred for the general role; the Foster Care version specifies an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in a related field. Two years of relevant experience is preferred. The position includes required background checks, orientation and training, a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance. Physical work is described as sedentary, with occasional lifting or moving of up to 10 pounds and repetitive hand, finger, and arm movements for typing or writing.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required for the general Community Health Worker role.
• A related bachelor’s degree is preferred for the general role.
• For the Foster Care role, an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health Nursing, Health Education, or a related field from an accredited school is specified.
• Two years of experience in community health, human-services outreach, and/or healthcare preferred.
• Knowledge and competencies in harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and relevant treatment modalities used in the field.
• Knowledge of the culture and values of the local community.
• Knowledge of customer and personal service principles, including assessing needs, meeting service-quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
• Ability to listen attentively and understand others’ points.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly 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 background check, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks.
• Evidence of being free from infectious and contagious disease before employment and annually thereafter; TB requirements apply as specified for direct-care staff and Kansas residential staff.
• Completion of new-hire orientation and required training, including Relias, at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
• Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance; valid driver’s license in state of residence.
• For Missouri staff, completion of 36 hours of training within a two-year period in accordance with 9 CSR 10-7.110 E 1; for Kansas Residential Youth Homes, 18 hours of annual training.
• First Aid and CPR certifications within three months of beginning employment and upon renewal.
• 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 Missouri’s Foster Care program, trauma-informed training, and training on common childhood behavioral health conditions, suicide prevention, and substance use.
• For the Foster Care role, the employer seeks a CHW with lived experience, such as having been a child or parent in Missouri’s foster care program, having adopted a child from foster care, or having worked or volunteered with a child-welfare, child-advocacy, juvenile-justice, or behavioral-health organization.

Nice To Haves

• Related bachelor’s degree for the general Community Health Worker role.
• Two years of community health, human-services outreach, and/or healthcare experience.
• Experience in customer service, patient or peer coaching, medical patient interaction, community relations, outreach, data entry, or public speaking.
• For the Foster Care role, lived experience related to foster care, adoption, child welfare, child advocacy, juvenile justice, or behavioral health.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate communication and patient empowerment when patients interact 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 the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
• Assist the primary care team with care-management processes, including guidelines, disease-management techniques, case management, and patient education for 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, or visits to other settings where patients can be reached.
• Conduct public education about the availability of qualified health plans (QHPs).
• Distribute fair and impartial information about QHP enrollment.
• Help individuals review health coverage options and complete eligibility and enrollment forms for QHPs.
• Provide information in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
• Perform general support activities and special projects as required; complete other duties as assigned.
• For the Foster Care role, help foster parents access primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care for children, with attention to required initial and follow-up visits.
• For the Foster Care role, conduct PRAPARE social determinants of health screenings for children and foster families annually or more often when a placement changes.
• For the Foster Care role, coordinate care, including transitions, referrals, and appropriate follow-up.
• For the Foster Care role, refer and connect individuals and families to community resources that address basic social needs.

Benefits

• Paid time off package for full-time employees.
• Health, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, and other employee benefits for full-time employees.
• Initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive training.
• Career advancement opportunities and promotion from within.
• Supportive workplace culture that promotes employee well-being and health.

What This Job Offers

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