Community Health Worker I

Description

POSITION: Community Health Worker I
DEPARTMENT: Community Wellness Department
REPORTS TO: Program Manager I/II
WORK HOURS: Full-Time, 40 hours per week, 100% FTE
STATUS: Union, Non-Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY
The Community Health Worker I (CHWI) is a trusted member of and/ or a person who has an unusually close understanding of the community served in the delivery of health-related services through either working directly with providers or their partner organizations. This trusting relationship with the community enables CHWI’s to serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate members’ access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of services delivered. CHWI’s build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Engage community members to build knowledge and skills for self-directed change and community development.
2. Manage program operations related to groups: Obtain sign-in sheets, provide transportation vouchers, purchase program and food supplies, and prepare food and refreshments, in a manner that is both healthy and consistent with cultural norms.
3. Greet all members in a courteous and professional manner to create and maintain a welcoming atmosphere.
4. Refer and provide warm hand offs to community members in need of health and social services.
5. Connect individuals to the health system/ medical homes
6. Provide information to members about the range of services available at NAHC. Provide referrals to other agencies and community-based resources.
7. Collect data related to community health needs and work with the NAHC data team to provide data in a timely manner.
8. Advocate for enforcement or development of public and/or institutional policies that address individual or community needs.
9. Provide health-related transportations and other social supports that are barriers to access to care.
10. Disseminate educational resources to support health promotion and chronic disease self-management.
11. Provide informal social support (individually or in group).
12. Educate medical and social providers about community needs.
13. Advocate for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers.
14. Attend community meetings or health fairs to conduct program outreach, understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
15. Provide direct support for NAHC community events, including organizing, setting up, staffing and tabling. Table at community outreach events.
16. Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
17. Interpret, translate, or provide cultural mediation related to health services or information for community members.
18. Provide feedback to health service providers regarding improving service accessibility or acceptability.
19. Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required.
20. Advise community groups/members of basic health, sanitation, hygiene matters.
21. Teach basic concepts of health promotion and disease prevention.
22. Employ basic behavior change strategies that promote and encourage positive behavior change.
23. Member Care: Demonstrate understanding and apply working knowledge of safety policies and ensuring safe member practices.
24. Employee Safety: Safely performs all duties; follows required protective protocols to ensure personal safety as well the safety of others.
25. Must maintain compliance with ergonomic safety standards; be mindful of posture and regularly practice ergonomic stretches.
26. Actively participate in internal quality improvement teams and work with member proactively to drive quality improvement initiatives in accordance with the mission accreditation standards when assigned.
27. Work well under pressure, meet multiple and often competing deadlines; and at all times demonstrate cooperative behavior with supervisors, subordinates, colleagues, clients and the community.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. High School Degree or its equivalent is required.
2. Able to engage members and conduct community assessment
3. Must have outstanding oral and written communication skills.
4. Ability to support and advocate for community member’s needs.
5. Experienced in providing culturally-based communication and care.
6. Must be a team player, and have superior communication skills – verbal and written.
7. Demonstrates and possess superb customer service skills.
8. Knowledgeable about substance abuse and mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native/other Indigenous populations.
9. Ability to De-escalation tense situation; training in De-escalation within 3 months of hire.
10. Trained in mandated reporting within 3 months of hire.
11. Trained and capable to teach basic health, sanitation, hygiene matters within 6 months of hire.
12. Trained in basic concepts of health promotion and disease prevention within 6 months of hire.
13. Trained in basic behavior change strategies within 6 months of hire.

Benefits: Native American Health Center (NAHC) considers our employees to be our most valuable resource and offers an excellent benefit package: competitive salaries, personal time off (PTO) or sick/vacation leave program, and an employer contribution 403(b) retirement plan to full-time regular status employees. We also provide medical, vision, dental, flexible spending, group term and voluntary life insurance coverage for employees and their dependents—with a percentage of employee contribution for dependent medical premiums.

Note to Applicants: Please be advised a post job offer, pre-employment Physical and TB test are required as a condition of employment.
Additionally, you may be asked to get a Department of Justice Fingerprinting clearance as a contingency for an offer of employment. Criminal clearances are obtained to protect the welfare and safety of clients receiving services at NAHC.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin or other non-merit factors.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Native American Health Center abides by the mandates of the ADEA (protecting individuals 40 years and older) and considers age a non-merit factor in all employment decisions and considerations.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Native American Health Center abides by the mandates of the ADA and considers disability a non-merit factor in all employment decisions and considerations. Furthermore, NAHC will make any practical, feasible, and reasonable arrangements to accommodate qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Salary : $23 - $27