Patient Navigator, Summer AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have joined forces to launch Public Health AmeriCorps. The Public Health AmeriCorps program supports the recruitment, training, and development of the next generation of public health leaders who will be ready to respond to the nation’s public health needs. 

The Public Health AmeriCorps program at Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) is seeking Patient Navigators to build the infrastructure needed for RMH-NY to advance health equity outcomes for underserved medically complex children and their families. This is a summer opportunity through Public Health AmeriCorps, consisting of 450 total hours, approximately 32 hours per week for 14 weeks, with a stipend of $7,534.80 for the full term of service. All hours must be completed by September 30, 2025. Patient Navigators will support the implementation of the New York State Medicaid Waiver by conducting screenings, facilitating referrals, and coordinating care for high-risk pediatric patients and their families. They will work in close collaboration with hospital partners, Social Care Networks (SCNs), and community-based organizations to ensure families are connected to services that address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), with a focus on improving health equity outcomes.

Role/Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Defining health disparities and social determinants of health
• Conducting social risk assessments 
• Communicating effectively and demonstrating culturally-competent communication
• Community canvassing and building strong partnerships
• Linking community referrals to patients

Responsibilities:

 Qualifications, Competencies, and Benefits

• High School Diploma equivalent required. Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a human services or related field preferred.
• Bilingual skills preferred
• Experience or Knowledge of Community Health Worker theory and practice to promote patient participation and engagement in self-care management.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish trusting relationships with families from diverse backgrounds.
• Empathy, compassion, and sensitivity to the emotional needs of families coping with a child's illness or injury.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Cultural competence and awareness of social justice issues, with a commitment to providing
• Basic computer skills required. 
   

Additional

Equal Employment Opportunity

Ronald McDonald House New York believes that all employees are entitled to Equal Employment Opportunity. We do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veterans, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic while meeting the mental and physical requirements for the job.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work for this job is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work may be required. 
• This is largely a sedentary role; some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.  
• This position may require standing or walking for extensive periods of time for major events.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This job operates in an office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• The office for this job is located in the same facility where RMH-NY provides temporary accommodations to pediatric patients and their families while the patients are undergoing active medical treatment at area hospitals.  For some RMH-NY guests, medical treatment may include radiation therapy.  While radiation therapy is never administered at RMH-NY, there is the potential for some radioactive material to be present in guests who have undergone radiation therapy.   Based on radiation measurements performed throughout RMH-NY, it is not expected that individuals working at RMH will receive radiation doses that would exceed the general public limit (100 millirem per year).
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud. Noise levels often increase with families and children who have temporary residence in the building as well as guests and musical performers for special events.
• This position requires flexible schedule at times to meet the needs of the families. Some weekends and evening hours are necessary.

Travel

• Some local/day travel will be necessary for the role.
• Some domestic travel may be required with overnight stays. 

Other

• This job description is an overview or major duties, activities and responsibilities required for the role.
• This description is not intended to be a complete listing of all tasks required for the role.
• Responsibilities will change with the needs of the organization.