Peer Community Health Worker - Reentry

St Johns Community Health•Los Angeles, CA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position will work with and assist individuals who are preparing to be released from jail (or have recently been released), have chronic diseases (including substance use disorder and/or mental health issues), and are in need of support services (outreach, counseling, navigational, and case management services). As a Peer Community Health Worker, shared lived experiences with potential clients is strongly desired.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required
Knowledge of community resources in area of residence
Comfortable working with diverse populations including formerly incarcerated individuals, undocumented individuals, LGBT populations, communities of color, and those experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, and/or mental illness
Exceptional ability to connect and engage with people
Good oral and written communication skills
Detail oriented, organized and possess time management skills
Able to work flexible job hours
Willingness to work in various environments, including jail settings, street outreach, home visits, homeless encampments and/or shelters
Persons with a history of incarceration or homelessness strongly encouraged to apply

Nice To Haves

Shared lived experiences with potential clients is strongly desired
Prior experience working with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and/or homeless individuals is desirable
Prior experience as a health navigator, peer support worker, outreach worker or is desirable
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred (read, write, speak)

Responsibilities

Provide outreach, case management and navigational services to a caseload of up to 30 recently released, chronically ill individuals with co-morbid substance use and mental illness individually in navigating health and social services per quarter
Empower, support, and educate clients in their re-integration process through mentorship
Operate in a supportive role within an interdisciplinary health care team utilizing an integrated care and treatment model
Maintain outreach activity calendars and logs according to program standards
Collaborate with primary care providers and behavioral health providers to provide health and behavioral interventions that will maximize patient health outcomes
Provides support, empowerment, education and targeted case management services to clients
Conducts assessments of client’s history with medical/dental/behavioral health services, social and economic resources for purposes of linkage
Educates clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and self-management of their chronic illness
Educates clients about the health care system and facilitates relationship building between the two
Documents work with clients through appropriate record keeping that follows St. John’s policies and procedures
Links clients to needed services and facilitates access to community resources
Advises clients and others regarding health care and other facilities available to them; assists patients in utilizing services; makes follow-up contacts when required
Attend regularly-scheduled and impromptu meetings and maintain communication with program team members and supervisor
Attend appropriate community resource meetings and trainings, as assigned
Work in collaboration with other departments and agencies when required
Other duties may be assigned or may be modified as business needs dictate