Community Health Worker

Casa Esperanza•Boston, MA

1d•$22 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

Casa Esperanza is currently seeking a Bilingual Community Health Worker who is passionate about public health and understands the impact social determinants of health have on a person’s ability to recover. The Bilingual Community Health Worker will be a part of Casa’s new PALS: Promotores Amplificando La Sabidura initiative focused on reducing rates of drug overdose deaths and suicide in a social and community context. PALS is an innovative Promotores Model collaborative that incorporates culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible Community Health Workers into a trauma-informed continuum of care to build the capacity of Latines to address health quality problems in their communities. The PALS Bilingual Community Health Worker will address health equity and access to health for Latines struggling with mental health and substance misuse using strategies that combine innovative outreach service delivery models and community engagement. Outreach strategies and action plans are oriented towards the completion of pre-established objectives and involve many cross-sectoral collaborations with internal organizational partners and external partners in the community.

Requirements

Knowledge of the local healthcare system and community resources.
Must be available to work weekends and evenings, as needed.
Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
Experience doing outreach to individuals at risk for addiction, mental illness, trauma, and violence.
Crisis management skills.
Ability to provide education, service planning, and health navigation.
Knowledge of care coordination and community resources.
Familiarity with substance use field including motivational counseling, cognitive behavioral theory, AA/NA 12-step philosophy, and stages of change theory.
Knowledge of co-occurring disorders.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Computer skills, minimum Microsoft Word.
Experience in group facilitation.
Awareness of the intersection of culture, addiction, mental illness, trauma, health, and homelessness.
Ability to meet the physical and training requirements of the position.
Bilingual English/Spanish required.
Two years’ experience in community-based outreach.
Bachelor’s degree or three years of relevant work experience, or lived experience
Have either a Community Health Worker (CHW) certification or a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), or willingness to acquire one within one year of employment
Knowledge of SUD and mental health treatment, the recovery process and resources, supported employment and/or vocational and education services, housing supports, and HIV services
Experience doing outreach and engagement with individuals with a history of or at risk for justice involvement, HIV, addiction, mental illness, trauma and violence
Able to work weekends and evenings, as needed
Familiar with social, health and cultural issues specific to the Latine population
Ability to work as a team member and independently
Solid knowledge of community resources and effective teaching/coaching skills.
Understanding of harm reduction principles and techniques
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills and crisis management skills
Be in good standing with their board of professional licensure, as applicable.
Computer skills, minimum Microsoft Word
A valid Massachusetts driver’s license is required.
A clear DMV driving record is also required.

Responsibilities

Work with Promotores Project Manager to develop and implement an outreach and community mapping strategy for reaching at-risk Latines.
Conduct weekly outreach to individuals in hotspot locations to educate and support individuals in varying stages of recovery and assist with referrals for food, clothing, shelter, detoxification, and/or medical services.
Deliver educational presentations to community groups, and events regarding signs of substance abuse and mental illness; recovery resources; medical consequences of addictions and medically assisted treatments; and available family support resources.
Provide bilingual health education services to promote engagement in healthy activities.
Provides peer health education through health education records and home visits to assess client needs and concerns as they relate to their family, their community, and their health.
Provide supported referrals to Casa's Continuum of Care, including Outpatient, ATS/CSS, OBAT, and Residential Treatment.
Collaborate with community partners on outreach and infection control strategies.
Plans and leads group sessions and discussions on assigned health topics.
Makes referrals to family support, health, and social service agencies in the area, and follows up with individuals to ensure they receive needed services.
Reduces stigma and other barriers to initiating or continuing health care by providing good information to both community members and health care providers.
Develops relationships with local health care and social service providers to facilitate information sharing and service provision.
Represent the agency by providing education and participating in Boston community health events.
Maintain all client records and necessary reports within Casa’s Electronic Health Record, Evolv.
Participate in weekly clinical meetings and multidisciplinary team meetings.
Actively participates in, and successfully complete, trainings provided by Casa and other agencies.
Biweekly supervision with Program Coordinator.
Assist in all reporting as required by Program Coordinator.
Other duties as required.