Community Health Worker

COPE Health Solutions•Santa Rosa, CA

9d•$26 - $29

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) helps patients and 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 role 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 to needed services. The position builds trusting relationships with patients and families, supports their navigation of the health care system, and helps them develop self-care and health care management skills. The CHW works with the care team to create individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans, connect members with health-related services and community resources, and coordinate communication among members, families, colleagues, and community-based organizations. The role includes face-to-face outreach and follow-up by phone, home visits, and visits in other settings. The CHW assesses needs and social determinants of health, assists with appointment scheduling and care gap closure, supports goal setting and appointment attendance, provides referrals and transportation-resource connections, and documents member interactions in the medical record and other software within 24 hours of contact. The CHW manages an assigned patient caseload, communicates consistently with the Case Manager, collaborates with medical providers and clinical personnel, and maintains HIPAA and other confidentiality requirements. The position is based in Santa Rosa, California, with travel up to 80%. The posting lists full-time (40 hours) and part-time (20 hours) schedules.

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 about 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, prioritize, and perform functions with minimal supervision.
Ability to work at a high-volume level of accuracy.
Commitment to the mission of the COPE Health Solutions ECM Program and to professionalism, respect, honesty, dignity, excellence, and teamwork.
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 suggest workflow or system improvements.

Responsibilities

Educate members about ECM services, assist with enrollment, and serve as the primary liaison between members and services they may need.
Support individuals and families as they navigate the health care system and transition toward improved self-care and health care management.
Build trusting relationships with patients and families and provide general support and encouragement.
Provide follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with patients and families.
Conduct face-to-face outreach for appointment scheduling, needs assessment, and care gap closure, and help remove barriers to health and social services.
Meet members in clinics, facilities, or homes 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.
Document interactions with and on behalf of members in the medical record and record care management information in the EMR and other software within 24 hours of contact.
Follow up with patients by phone, home visits, and visits to other settings where they can be found.
Help patients set personal health-related goals and attend appointments.
Refer patients to community agencies and help them connect with transportation resources; provide appointment reminders in special circumstances.
Maintain effective working relationships with patients, visitors, staff, medical providers, and other clinical personnel to support comprehensive, coordinated care.
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 and maintain HIPAA compliance.
Maintain availability to work weekends as required by program and operational needs.
Perform duties professionally, punctually, conscientiously, cooperatively, and accurately while maintaining confidentiality.