Community Health Worker

Brief Description

Position Summary

The Community Health Worker will support implementation of Lowell Community Health Center’s OBHPP-funded perinatal behavioral health promotion and prevention program, with a particular focus on community outreach, prevention education, participant recruitment and engagement, resource navigation, referral coordination, and connection to community-based supports.

The position will work across clinical and community settings to identify and engage eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals, strengthen referral pathways, support participation in the ROSE program, and build relationships with community organizations and other referral partners.

This is a grant-funded position supported by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention (OBHPP). Continued employment in this position is contingent on the availability of grant funding and program needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for establishing and maintaining trusting relationships in the community, with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with patients/families.
• Conduct intake interviews with patients, including enrolling and/or referring patients into primary care and other programs.
• Assist patients with completing applications and registration forms that support their health care needs.
• Connect with community members via multiple avenues such as faith-based organizations, community organizations and other outreach locations.
• Motivate patients to be active, engaged participants in their health.
• Provide referrals for services to community agencies and programs as appropriate.
• Effectively communicate the mission of Lowell Community Health Center.
• Maintain accurate documentation of work and prepare appropriate records.
• Contribute to a positive experience for patients and families, providers of care, and community-based social service organizations.
• Perform all job functions in compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and Lowell CHC policies and procedures, including HIPAA privacy requirements.
• Participate in staff meetings.
• Conduct community outreach and prevention education related to perinatal behavioral health, postpartum depression prevention, stress management, coping strategies, and available health and social supports.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, health care providers, and other community partners to support outreach, referrals, and engagement of pregnant and postpartum individuals.
• Support implementation of the program’s community engagement strategy, including participation in community events, outreach activities, educational activities, and other settings where eligible participants and community members may be reached.
• Support participant recruitment and enrollment activities for the ROSE program, including outreach to eligible prenatal patients and coordination of referrals from clinical and community sources.
• Provide resource navigation and follow-up for participants, connecting individuals and families to health, behavioral health, social service, and other community resources as appropriate.
• Support ROSE program implementation and participant engagement, including coordination of participant communication, reminders, follow-up, and postpartum follow-up activities.
• Support development and maintenance of internal referral pathways across Lowell CHC departments and external community referral pathways to improve access to perinatal behavioral health prevention and support services.
• Collaborate with program staff and community partners to develop, distribute, and use culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach and educational materials.
• Maintain accurate documentation of outreach activities, referrals, participant contacts, resource navigation, and other program activities needed for program monitoring and grant reporting.
• Assist with collection and tracking of program and outreach data, including participant recruitment, enrollment, referrals, outreach activities, community partner engagement, and other required program measures.
• Participate in program evaluation, quality improvement, and quarterly and annual reporting activities as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to advocate effectively for racially and ethnically diverse communities and a strong commitment to racial and social justice and health equity.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, including providers, nurses, social workers, and other health care staff.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and online workplace communication platforms.
• Well organized and detail oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment.
• A strong commitment to serving the underserved and vulnerable populations of the local community.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills including demonstrating active listening skills, empathy, and respect.
• Ability to build rapport and trust with community members and agencies; navigate the health care system and advocate for self and others.
• Experience in community work, understanding of basic public health education concepts in health care strongly recommended.
• Creativity, flexibility, sound judgment, ability to take initiative and work well within a team.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and educationally diverse staff and clients.
• Positive attitude, ability to show empathy and compassion.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Compliance with Lowell CHC policies and procedures applicable to this position.
• Proficiency/mastery of CHW core competencies in providing supportive non-clinical interventions.
• Experience with community outreach, participant recruitment, health education, resource navigation, or partnership development strongly preferred, particularly with pregnant/postpartum individuals, families, or populations experiencing barriers to care.
  
  

Experience

Three years of health or social services experience, preferably in a health care setting or community-based organization.

• Experience working as a patient navigator/community health worker preferred.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Written and oral fluency in English and Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese preferred.
• Completion of a CHW comprehensive outreach education program, such as CHEC or AHEC Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate (COEC), strongly preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients.
• Understanding of multi-cultural beliefs, practices, and culture.
• Interest in Health Care
  
  

Additional Position Information

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

LICENSE AND TRANSPORTATION: Reliable transportation required; driver's license preferred.

HOURS: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., onsite. Some evenings and weekends required.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Office and community-based settings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. The employee is regularly required to talk and hear and may lift or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. Community-based work may involve exposure to heat, rain, wind, and snow. The noise level is usually moderate