Community Health Worker (VHD02494)

Virginia Information Technologies Agency • Roanoke, VA

3d • $39,000 - $43,000

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is an integral member of the Virginia Department of Health’s public health team in the Population Health Program at the Roanoke City/Alleghany Health District. The CHW supports individuals and families in clinic and community settings, connecting community members—especially priority populations—with essential resources and services to improve health and quality of life. The role serves as a liaison between the community and healthcare services, using culturally sensitive communication and care.

The CHW supports health improvement initiatives, health promotion and education, program development, disease prevention, capacity building, service coordination, and program evaluation. The position collaborates with community networks and partners to identify and implement public health initiatives with potential for positive impact. This is a restricted position funded solely through the Title V Maternal and Child Health Grant through June 30, 2027; continued employment depends on the continued availability of funds.

The role includes client navigation and care coordination; development and delivery of health education; community outreach and engagement; support for community health assessments and improvement plans; and program support, evaluation, reporting, and communication of findings. With proper training and competency validation, the CHW may take client measurements and assist with risk-reduction strategies, point-of-care testing, and laboratory specimen collection. The position may also assist with language interpretation.

The position may require other assigned duties and, during an emergency declaration or other public health business needs, adjustment of work hours, location, or duties and participation in training. If designated as a mobile worker, work may include field work and teleworking from an alternate location, with periodic attendance at the assigned office for meetings or training.

Requirements

• Knowledge of social determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental influences on health and disparities in access to resources and services.
• Familiarity with mental and behavioral health and how these needs intersect with physical health outcomes.
• Basic knowledge of public health principles, including public health practices, epidemiology, disease prevention, health promotion, social service systems, and the roles of government agencies and community organizations.
• Experience working with priority or underserved communities and understanding their challenges and resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations while respecting cultural norms, practices, and values.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills, including use of plain language and adapting communication to different communities.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, community members, and stakeholders; collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and use internet-based tools and applications for data entry, communication, and research.
• Provide required documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity to hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; a one-time Tdap dose; Tdap or Td boosters every 10 years; and the current season’s influenza vaccination.
• Employment is contingent on satisfactory background and registry checks, exclusion-list check, employment reference check, and E-Verify; other checks may be required for certain positions.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in a second language, particularly a language relevant to the community served.
• Previous experience in a public health or community-based agency, including familiarity with service coordination and support for public health initiatives.
• Community Health Worker certification, or ability to obtain certification after hire.

Responsibilities

• Help clients complete forms, applications, eligibility documents, and referrals needed to access services and community resources.
• Help clients navigate healthcare systems and processes, and participate in care coordination and case management for district core programs.
• Communicate sensitively and in a culturally competent manner with diverse populations.
• Perform administrative tasks related to client navigation and outreach event management.
• Develop and deliver individual and community-based education on diseases, prevention, and health promotion to encourage positive health behaviors.
• Educate individuals and communities about navigating health and social services systems.
• Build relationships and work with community partners to provide educational activities for vulnerable populations.
• Participate in local coalitions and groups focused on health, aligning activities with agency needs.
• Document and respond to community organizations’ requests for information about health department programs and services.
• Coordinate and support community-based initiatives addressing social determinants of health and health disparities.
• Develop or obtain educational materials from credible healthcare and community sources for public use.
• Use evidence-based strategies and policy, systems, and environmental change approaches to improve community health and address health disparities.
• Identify target audiences, strategies, interventions, and programmatic problems, and provide guidance on effective resolutions.
• Integrate health literacy and cross-cultural communication across work activities.
• With appropriate training and competency validation, take client measurements, support comprehensive risk reduction, and assist with point-of-care testing or laboratory specimen collection.
• Support clinical and outreach teams with inventory management of outreach and educational supplies.
• Serve as a liaison among district programs, schools, community members, and local agencies.
• Participate in the design, implementation, and analysis of individual- and community-level assessments, Community Health Assessments, and Community Health Improvement Plans.
• Participate in evaluation of CHW services and programs.
• May assist with reports for local, state, or federal funders and requests for proposals during grant applications.
• Share results and findings with stakeholders through methods such as presentations, social media, or journal articles.
• May assist with language interpretation.
• May perform other assigned duties and assist the agency or state government during emergencies, including adjusting work hours, location, or duties and participating in training as required.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement plans, including a 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Sick leave
• Family/personal leave
• Annual leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed