Community Health Worker- School Based

Glbhc•Saginaw, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will serve as a liaison between the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) team and patients/families. This role focuses on patient and family engagement, school and community collaboration, intake and care coordination, communication and outreach, navigation and resource coordination, health education and advocacy, documentation, compliance, quality reporting, and community engagement. The CHW will actively engage patients and families in culturally responsive care planning, build trust through respectful communication and shared decision-making, and ensure patient voices are integrated into care delivery. They will collaborate with school officials and community partners to identify students in need, coordinate referrals, and support access to health and social services. The role involves assisting with initial intake and assessments using Social Determinants of Health frameworks, participating in team meetings, and maintaining communication with patients. The CHW will also perform outreach to patients lost to care, support community outreach events, and promote SBHC services. Additionally, they will guide patients through enrollment processes, coordinate referrals, provide health education and advocacy, maintain accurate documentation, and support the facilitation of the Community Advisory Council. The position requires participation in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development, as well as supporting team members during peak periods. Marginal duties include aiding in the onboarding and mentorship of new CHW staff or interns and performing other assigned duties.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Current MiCHWA Community Health Worker certification required.
Must be BLS certified.
Must have a valid driver's license.
One (1) year of work experience in health services, public health, or a related field, specifically involving school-age youth, is required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Problem solving skills.
Ability to utilize cultural competency skills to engage persons of diverse backgrounds with cultural compassion, sensitivity and competence.
Ability to use computer applications to include electronic medical records, Microsoft word, Excel, and database entry.
Understanding of medical terminology.
Flexibility to accommodate evenings and weekends when necessary.
Able to communicate effectively with, and relate to diverse populations in a professional and courteous manner.
Demonstrated customer service skills, teamwork and problem solving, independence in job organization and be able to demonstrate initiative.
Must be able to sit, stand, and or walk for an entire workday.
Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, and or twist while holding up to 25 lbs. frequently, up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
Full time; Flexible and varied.
Must maintain regular and timely attendance.
Some evenings and weekends may be required.
Maintains flexibility in work assignments and adapts to changing departmental needs.
Reliable transportation, valid driver's license and liability auto insurance is required.
May require travel within service area and between GLBHC site locations.

Nice To Haves

3+ years of experience preferred.
Associates degree in healthcare related field preferred.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities

Actively engages patients and families in culturally responsive care planning.
Builds trust through ongoing, respectful communications and shared decision making.
Serves as a liaison between the SBHC team and families to ensure their voices are integrated into care delivery.
Collaborates with school officials and community partners to identify students in need, coordinate appropriate referrals, and support access to school-based health and social services.
Build strong networks to improve student outcomes and care continuity.
Assists with initial intake and assessments using Social Determinants of Health frameworks.
Participates consistently in team huddles and care planning meetings, providing valuable updates on patient progress and care plan outcomes.
Maintains consistent, multimodal communication with patients (in-person, phone, electronic).
Performs targeted outreach to patient lost to care or with missed appointments, ensuring re-engagement aligned with grant deliverables and organizational priorities.
Supports the planning and execution of community outreach events, health fairs, and other GLBHC-sponsored activities.
Collaborates with SBHC staff to implement health promotion and outreach initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and access to services.
Serves as a liaison to schools and the broader community, promoting SBHC services at off-site and district events.
Guides patients through enrollment in health plans, SBHC service, and external social service systems.
Coordinates referrals and supports follow-through to reduce care barriers and ensure timely access to the services needed.
Provides supportive counseling, health education, and advocacy.
Advocates for patients to overcome barriers to care and fosters behavior change through skill-building and coordinated education efforts with the SBHC team.
Maintains accurate, timely and policy-compliant documentation across all required systems.
Ensures compliance with organizational policies, state and federal regulations (including HIPAA), and grant requirements.
Contributes to quality improvement initiatives by supporting data tracking, outcome monitoring, and reporting efforts.
Supports the facilitation of the Community Advisory Council by organizing meetings, encouraging active participation from parents and community members.
Gathers meaningful feedback and communicates community input to the care team to ensure services reflect the needs and perspectives of those served.
Participates in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development activities as required.
Supports other team members in non-routine tasks during peak periods or special projects.
Aids in the onboarding and mentorship of new CHW staff or interns when requested.
Performs other duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the organization.