RETENTION OUTREACH WORKER - CORE CENTER

Cook County•Chicago, IL

9d•$45,796 - $58,721•Onsite

About The Position

The Retention Outreach Worker promotes Cook County Health’s strategic goals and community partnerships. The role conducts outreach to people living with HIV, including meeting patients at Stroger Hospital and other Cook County Health facilities to support initial engagement and linkage to care. The worker builds relationships with patients receiving or re-engaging in HIV primary care at Cook County Health HIV Integrated Program sites, supports follow-up and care plans, helps address barriers to care, assists with access to public benefits and entitlements, and conducts home visits. The position also builds relationships with government officials, community leaders, and other community partners; supports health-plan outreach and engagement; organizes and represents CountyCare at community events; and communicates patient needs to multidisciplinary care teams. This is a grant-funded position under the 2025 CCH Ryan White Title IV-PT D grant, which is scheduled to expire July 31, 2030, with potential renewal.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; proof must be provided at the time of interview.
At least one year of direct-service experience in HIV service provision.
Experience working in a hospital or outpatient setting.
Ability to travel to work sites throughout Cook County and to community events.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends; the position may require two to three weekends per month during the summer season.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Access.
Knowledge of healthcare-industry principles, practices, and policies, and Microsoft Office.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to staff, patients, and diverse community audiences.
Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and composure as a CCH representative.
Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize projects and tasks; develop productive relationships; and work effectively with employees and customers at all organizational levels.
Ability to handle situations with tact, persuasiveness, and diplomacy; multitask; meet deadlines in a fast-paced, stressful environment; and prepare clear, accurate reports.
Self-directed and innovative, with attention to detail, accuracy, and precision.
Ability to perform physical exertion involving hands, legs, and fingers, including lifting, pushing, pulling, prolonged standing and walking, climbing stairs, operating equipment and devices, and moving light to moderate weight.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with clients with multiple needs and comfort handling high client volumes in a fast-paced environment.
Bilingual.

Responsibilities

Contact patients who need care coordination at Stroger Hospital and other Cook County Health facilities, establish rapport, and help link them to CCHIP sites.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships with government officials, community leaders, and community partners in Cook County.
Remind patients of appointments and help address barriers to care, including transportation and childcare.
Accompany patients to their first CCHIP site visit and orient them to site services and how to access them.
Maintain an integrated contact database of community, religious, business, and government partners.
Recommend and implement community events that support CountyCare goals and membership growth.
Distribute health and wellness literature and give presentations at community meetings.
Organize health fairs and other community events, and represent CountyCare at events and activities.
Assist with managing health-plan advisory council and member-engagement meetings.
Identify issues requiring attention and follow up to ensure they are addressed.
Stay current on insurance coverage news to support presentation topics.
Prepare monthly reports on outreach activities and other written communications, correspondence, and reports as required.
Attend required CCH, CCHIP, and Hektoen trainings and meetings and comply with applicable policies and procedures.
Communicate individual client needs and concerns to multidisciplinary care teams at CCHIP sites and other CCH locations.
Perform other duties as assigned.