Community Health Worker - Central Health

Central Health•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted community member who understands the culture, language, socioeconomic status, and life experiences of the community served. The CHW serves as a liaison and provides cultural mediation among healthcare, social services, and the community. The role helps Central Health members and patients access services and resources while building individual, community, and system capacity through health knowledge and self-sufficiency. The CHW may provide social support, clinical education, advocacy, and assistance with applications for healthcare coverage and other resources. The role includes patient documentation, project organization, and collaboration with the team. Services are delivered through informing, outreach, patient navigation, and community health education, and may take place in the community, at the Central Health Navigation Center, at Central Health Clinics, or in other healthcare settings.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW), or completion of an approved 160-hour competency-based Community Health Worker training program certified by DSHS, required within six months.
Knowledge of enterprise and community resources and ability to provide appropriate referrals to patients and families.
Working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office products.
Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a wide range of audiences.
Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to members.
Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with coworkers, clients, members, and providers.
Flexibility and willingness to learn new responsibilities and work in a changing environment.
Skill in coaching participants to advocate for and manage their health and social resources.
Ability to demonstrate compassion, vulnerability, and empathy while advancing Central Health’s mission of health equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
Ability to provide person-centered, inclusive, and culturally competent care.
Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks in a calm and orderly manner.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree preferred.
Bachelor’s degree preferred.
One year of experience working in a multicultural, community-based setting preferred.
Bilingual in English, Spanish, and/or another foreign language preferred.
BLS – Basic Life Support through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association preferred upon hire.

Responsibilities

Act as a member and patient advocate and liaison among members and families, providers, health plans, Central Health, and community service agencies.
Provide culturally appropriate educational information within scope of practice, communicating in a standardized manner that takes literacy, health literacy, resource management, software use and navigation, and technological ability into account.
Coach participants to advocate for and manage their health and social resources.
Manage an assigned caseload; document activities and plans of care when applicable; and report results in accordance with organizational standards.
Provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with members and families.
Share the patient and member perspective to inform messaging, activities, outreach, and healthcare-system navigation.
Help members use resources and complete applications for programs for which they may be eligible; assist with appointment scheduling and transportation, and support patient success.
Help members access health-related services and overcome barriers to medical care and social services.
Maintain knowledge of community resources and provide appropriate referrals to patients, members, and families.
Provide assistance and document activities, plans of care, and results in accordance with policies and procedures to improve healthcare access and support an equity-focused, comprehensive, high-functioning, and affordable system of care.
Attend training, continuing education, and professional development to maintain active Community Health Worker certification.
Provide information, education, and support for accessing the patient portal (MyChart).