PATH Community Health Worker

Moses/Weitzman Health System•New Britain, CT

13d•$23 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

The PATH Community Health Worker (PCHW) serves as a bridge between individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and the healthcare or social service systems. They provide culturally appropriate outreach, recovery support, care coordination, and system navigation, while advocating for clients' needs and offering essential social support. The PCHW is the first point of contact for most of the participants in the PATH Program and responsible for implementation of the strategic outreach plan.

Requirements

high school diploma/GED + at least 2 years of relevant work experience
Lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery
Possess a deep understanding of the local community’s culture, language, and specific SUD challenges.
Training in motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, and knowledge of local socio-economic resources and community partners.
CHC Approved CHW training certification must be obtained with 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

Build trust with individuals actively using substances through street outreach, home visits, or shelter visits, connecting them with harm reduction and treatment options.
Provide outreach and engagement in diverse settings like MHU, shelters, and community organizations to empower high risk patients to engage in substance use services.
Establish a presence in the community as an advocate for substance use health services for high risk individuals, ensuring seamless pathway to care with the least barriers possible.
Establish and maintain strong partnerships and collaborations in the community in order to facilitate timely referrals and maximize the resources available to patients in the PATH Program.
Assist clients in overcoming barriers to care by helping with housing, transportation, insurance enrollment, and scheduling medical or behavioral health appointments.
Use techniques like motivational interviewing to help clients identify personal goals, build a foundation for recovery, and develop relapse prevention strategies.
Collaborate with primary care teams, social workers, and treatment centers to ensure holistic, continuous care.
Collect, enter, and submit all data for PATH Program within 7 days of encounters including the SPARS, eCW, and any other assigned data system.
Provide community education on harm reduction (e.g., overdose prevention), disease transmission (HIV/HCV), and advocate for individual and community health needs.
Make referrals and provide follow up for other healthcare services as needed or indicated by the Path Team.