Community Health Worker

The Division of General Internal Medicine – Geriatrics is seeking a part-time candidate who is detail-oriented and results-driven to join the New Mexico ICOPE program as a Community Health Worker. ICOPE is a World Health Organization (WHO) program implemented in China, India, Mexico, France, and other countries, but not in the United States. New Mexico has the most rapidly growing percentage of adults aged 65 and over, with 26.4 percent of the population as Seniors in 2030. New Mexico also ranks in the top three among the US states in poverty rates among this age group. New Mexico (NM) will be the first US state to implement ICOPE. The program takes a community-based approach to building person-centered, long-term care systems with a coordinated model of care. Every six months, the program assesses vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, psychological well-being, and malnutrition risk in each enrolled member aged 65 years or older to identify any decline in these intrinsic capacities and to provide early interventions that contribute to healthy aging. Key factors for healthy aging include social care support, caregiver support, and urinary incontinence. Seniors will be offered resources and services available in New Mexico. We are looking to implement the program with a target ~42,000 seniors across the state, with close to half of them outside the Albuquerque area.
The ICOPE program requires close communication and engagement with the community for the success of its implementation, as the program is tailored to put seniors' perspectives first and provide them with personalized care plans for healthy aging. One key role for this engagement will be achieved with a Community Health Worker to extend the reach of the program to our extensive rural areas in New Mexico.

The ideal candidate for the Community Health Worker position will have experience working with the community of New Mexicans. The candidate will also have a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities to reach out to community services, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a variety of university and community stakeholders. The stakeholders might include health care providers, funding agencies, university and federal researchers, and patients.

Specific responsibilities and duties:

• Community Engagement & Outreach
• Build trust and maintain relationships with older adults, families, and local organizations in rural communities.
• Conduct outreach activities to raise awareness about the ICOPE program and available services.
• Organize or participate in community events, health fairs, and local meetings to engage and educate residents

Health Screening & Assessment Support

• Assist with basic health screenings aligned with ICOPE’s domains (mobility, cognition, vision, hearing, nutrition, psychological well-being).
• Help identify older adults at risk or needing more comprehensive care or referrals.
• Care Navigation, Promotion & Coordination
• Help seniors navigate ICOPE resources from healthcare and social service systems.
• Support ICOPE activities for local nurses, primary care providers, and social workers.
• Provide culturally sensitive information on healthy aging, chronic disease management, fall prevention, nutrition, and other relevant topics.
• Distribute ICOPE educational and promotional materials and facilitate small group discussions with local seniors.

Data Collection & Reporting

• Provide regular reports to supervisors and contribute to evaluations of program effectiveness.

Collaboration & Training

• Participate in ongoing training related to ICOPE, community health, and aging-related issues.
• Collaborate with local health departments, tribal health organizations, community centers, and faith-based groups.

See the Position Description for additional information.

• Possession of a valid New Mexico driver's license is a requirement for this job.
• Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
• Fingerprinting, and subsequent clearance, may be required for this position depending on assignment.
• May be required to obtain a Community Support Worker (CSW) certification within six months of hire.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• Successful candidate must submit to post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check.

High school diploma or GED; at least 1 year of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Ability to effectively adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to effectively connect with community services in New Mexico to promote ICOPE.
• Experience working in rural areas of New Mexico.
• Ability to communicate effectively with New Mexican seniors.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and understanding of rural New Mexican communities' unique values, beliefs, and practices, including tribal and Hispanic populations.
• Communicate in seniors' preferred language (English/Spanish) when possible.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.