Description

The Community Health Worker (CHW) possesses a strong desire to improve the health and conditions of the community in which they themselves live and relate to. The CHW serves as a liaison with professional and paraprofessional people and agencies, acting as an advocate for individuals with unmet needs. Community Health Work necessitates a detailed knowledge of community resources and strong interpersonal skills. The CHW assists patients with navigating the healthcare system and encourages them to take an active role in their healthcare. The CHW will bring linguistically and culturally responsive healthcare directly to the community and provide social support as needed. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Maintains strict confidentiality sharing information with appropriate staff, following HIPAA guidelines and Center Policies and Procedures for release of information in the various internal and external agencies with whom you are working.
• Provide interpretation for Spanish-speaking LLP (Limited Language Proficiency) patients during interactions with staff, appointments with OOCH providers and within the community for health-related issues.
• Utilize the roles of medical interpretation, conduit, clarifier, cultural broker and advocate. 
• Provide written translation of OOCH forms, provider recommendations, or documents for patients as needed. 
• Conducts a needs assessment either through informal conversation, or through a standardized screening tool, such as the PRAPARE.
• Identify any barriers patient may have such as low-level reading and/or illiteracy, and work to reduce these barriers.
• Utilize local community resources to provide linkage for financial hardship and basic needs, allowing the patient to afford medication, insurance, OOCH sliding fee program, Rx Financial Assistance programs, food, clothing, and shelter, etc.
• Assists patients with accessing health-related services, including making appointments outside of OOCH, ensuring the necessary arrangements for transportation, disabilities, illiteracy, interpretation, etc 
• Assists Case Manager to follow up on caseload and communicate with patients.
• Registers new patients, schedules and confirms appointments at OOCH, as needed. 
• Assists patients with prescription renewals and refills, and paperwork for different health and human services programs. 
• Provide transportation to OOCH, outside providers and to community resources. 
• Works with patients and community agencies to increase awareness of health promotion and disease prevention programs. Develops effective working relationships to reduce barriers in the community for at risk patients.
• Provides clinically approved educational materials in the appropriate language and at the appropriate literacy level, as directed by supervisor. 
• Work in tandem with field team staff to provide a link from outreach to in-office services. 

Field Team: 

• Travels to area worker camps to promote the center and recruit patients.
• Registers MSAWs in the camp setting and conducts orientation for new and returning MSAW patients.
• Creates field caseload for case management and follow up.
• Assists patients leaving the area to find care in their new location.
• All other duties as assigned by supervisor

Requirements

Skills and Qualifications

• Bilingual – Spanish and English preferred
• Excellent customer service skills 
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Digital literacy, including Microsoft Programs, email, internet browsers and other commonly-used computer programs and accessories
• Able to gain respect of and build rapport with the agricultural worker community, including attending events on behalf of the organization.
• Flexibility in scheduled hours and work sites, including evenings and sometimes weekends

Required Education / Experience 

• Experience working in the human, or health services fields
• Education/certification in human, or health service preferred
• Current New York State driver’s license
• High School Diploma or GED