Community Health Worker

COPE Health Solutions•Santa Rosa, CA

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) helps patients and their families navigate and access community services and other resources, and supports the adoption of healthy behaviors. The CHW supports providers and Case Managers through integrated care management and community outreach, promoting, maintaining, and improving the health of patients and their families. The CHW provides social support and informal counseling and advocates for individual and community health needs. The CHW educates members about Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services, assists with enrollment, and serves as a primary liaison between members and needed services. The role supports patients and families as they navigate the health care system and build self-care and health care management skills. The CHW establishes trusting relationships, provides encouragement and follow-up, and uses basic motivational interviewing and goal setting. The position includes face-to-face outreach, appointment scheduling, needs assessment, care gap closure, and visits with members in clinics, facilities, homes, or other settings. Working with the care team, the CHW helps create individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans; connects members with health-related services and community resources; facilitates communication among members, families, colleagues, providers, and community organizations; and advocates for patients and families. The CHW documents member interactions in the medical record and other software within 24 hours of contact, maintains an assigned caseload, communicates consistently with the Case Manager, and complies with HIPAA requirements. This is a full-time or part-time position based in Chico, California, with travel up to 80%. The CHW reports to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has no direct reports. Weekend availability may be required based on program and operational needs. The role is non-exempt and offers a salary range of $26.00–$29.00 per hour.

Requirements

Valid California Driver’s License.
High school graduate or equivalent required.
Basic computer skills required.
Experience working in a multicultural setting.
Willingness to learn and understand different cultures, perspectives, and norms.
Good communication skills, including listening well and using language appropriately.
Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients.
Ability to work with diverse people, including children and teenagers.
Good organizational skills and ability to handle multiple priorities while remaining professional and calm.
Effective telephone skills.
Strong confidentiality practices due to the sensitivity of materials and information handled.
Ability to work independently, be self-directed and flexible, and prioritize work.
Ability to perform functions with minimal supervision and maintain accuracy in a high-volume setting.
Commitment to the mission of the COPE Health Solutions ECM Program and to teamwork and continuous improvement in patient and family care.
Availability to work weekends as required by program and operational needs.

Nice To Haves

Associate's Degree in Business Administration or a related field.
Successful completion of a formal Community Health Worker training program, such as one offered by a college or other educational institution.
Written and oral fluency in English and Spanish.
At least 1 to 2 years of experience working in a community-based setting.
Electronic medical record (EMR) experience.
Knowledge of and connectedness to the community served.
Ability to make suggestions on workflow or system efficiency and effectiveness.

Responsibilities

Educate members about ECM services, assist with enrollment, and serve as the primary liaison between members and services they may need.
Support patients and families as they navigate the health care system and transition toward improved self-care and health care management.
Establish trusting relationships with patients and families and provide general support and encouragement.
Provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with patients and families.
Bridge conversations with members and address barriers to health and social services access.
Conduct face-to-face outreach to members for appointment scheduling, needs assessment, and care gap closure.
Meet members in clinics, facilities, homes, or other settings to identify social determinants of health affecting their health and well-being.
Collaborate with the care team to create individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans.
Help members access health-related services and community resources, including accompanying them to specialist appointments and assisting with enrollment forms.
Facilitate communication among members, families, colleagues, and community-based organizations as needed.
Document member interactions in the medical record and other software within 24 hours of patient contact.
Follow up with patients by phone, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be found.
Help patients set personal health-related goals and attend appointments.
Refer patients to community agencies as appropriate and help them connect with transportation resources; provide appointment reminders in special circumstances.
Maintain effective working relationships with patients, visitors, and staff, and communicate the organization's mission effectively.
Work with medical providers and other clinical personnel to support comprehensive, coordinated care plans.
Maintain knowledge of community resources appropriate to patient and family needs.
Communicate consistently with the Case Manager about patient and family status and progress.
Act as a patient advocate and liaison between patients, families, and community service agencies.
Manage an assigned caseload of patients.
Maintain HIPAA compliance and protect confidential program, patient, and employee information.
Be punctual, use work time appropriately, and complete required work conscientiously, cooperatively, and in a timely manner with minimal errors.
Maintain a neat and professional appearance and demonstrate respect, honesty, dignity, excellence, and teamwork.