Community Health Worker

COPE Health Solutions•Sacramento, CA

7d•$26 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) helps patients and families navigate health care and community services, access resources, and adopt healthy behaviors. The CHW supports providers and Case Managers through integrated care management and community outreach, with activities focused on 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 between members and needed services. The CHW builds trusting relationships with patients and families, provides ongoing follow-up, motivational interviewing and goal setting, and helps members overcome barriers to accessing health and social services. The role includes outreach and follow-up in clinics, homes, facilities, and other settings, as well as assistance with appointments, referrals, transportation resources, and enrollment forms. Working collaboratively with the care team, the CHW contributes to individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans; facilitates communication among members, families, colleagues, and community organizations; and documents member interactions in the electronic medical record and other software within 24 hours of contact. The CHW manages an assigned caseload, communicates member status to the Case Manager, coordinates with providers and clinical personnel, and maintains HIPAA compliance. The position is based in Sacramento or Santa Rosa, California, and requires travel of up to 80%. The schedule may be full-time (40 hours) or part-time (20 hours).

Requirements

Valid California Driver’s License.
High school graduate or equivalent.
Experience working in a multicultural setting.
Willingness to learn about and understand different cultures, perspectives, and norms.
Basic computer skills.
Good communication skills, including listening well and using language appropriately.
Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients.
Good organizational skills and ability to handle multiple priorities while remaining professional and calm.
Effective telephone skills.
Strong confidentiality practices when handling sensitive information.
Ability to suggest workflow or system efficiency improvements.
Ability to work independently, be self-directed and flexible, and prioritize tasks.
Ability to perform functions with minimal supervision and maintain accuracy in a high-volume environment.
Commitment to the mission of the COPE Health Solutions ECM Program and to professional conduct, respect, honesty, dignity, excellence, and teamwork.
Ability to be punctual, use time appropriately, complete required work promptly with minimal errors, and maintain a professional appearance.
Ability to protect confidential program, patient, and employee information.
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.
One to two years of experience working in a community-based setting.
Electronic medical record (EMR) experience.
Understanding of the community served and community connectedness.

Responsibilities

Educate members about ECM services, assist with enrollment, and serve as the primary liaison between members and needed services.
Support individuals and families as they navigate the health care system and improve 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, address barriers to health and social services, and conduct face-to-face outreach for appointment scheduling, needs assessment, and care gap closure.
Meet members in clinics, facilities, or homes to identify social determinants of health affecting their health and well-being.
Collaborate with the full care team to develop individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans for enrolled members.
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 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.
Help patients connect with transportation resources and provide appointment reminders in special circumstances.
Maintain effective working relationships with patients, visitors, and staff, and communicate the organization’s mission.
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 to evaluate patient and family status and clearly report progress.
Act as a patient advocate and liaison between patients, families, and community service agencies.
Manage an assigned patient caseload and maintain HIPAA compliance.
Maintain availability to work weekends as required by program and operational needs.