Job Summary:

This position will be a UT Health San Antonio, Population Neuroscience Core at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases. The goal of this position is to assist in protecting, maintaining, and building trust between the participants of the San Antonio Heart and Mind Study (SAHMS) and the clinical research team by understanding the participants’ needs and capacities; facilitating participant compliance with the research study; supporting participants as they improve their self-care; and educating the research team about their participants’ story and the contextual determinants of their health.

SAHMS is a closed population-based study aiming to understand disparities in dementia in the San Antonio community. Participants were part of a study initiated in 1979 to examine ethnic differences in heart disease. It enrolled Mexican American and non-Hispanic White participants randomly selected from three sociocultural diverse neighborhoods (i.e., low-, middle-, and high-income) in San Antonio, Texas. SAHMS will enroll survivors of the heart study in SAHMS, focused on a comprehensive assessment of brain health.

The candidate will be a key team member to re-establish the connection with these participants, explaining the aims of the study, providing information about study procedures, and answering any additional questions participants may have about their participation in research.

Preferred Qualifications:

· English and Spanish language proficiency.

· Basic computer knowledge (word/excel) and ability to work occasionally at home.

· Reliable transportation.

· Successful completion of a Community Health Worker formal training program such as from a college or other educational institution is preferred.

· State of Texas Promotor(a)/ Community Health Worker certification with renewal as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Work collaboratively with SAHMS PI, Dr. Claudia Satizabal, and the SAHMS team on the protocols to re-establish contact with participants.

2. Act as the community liaison to recruit SAHMS participants for the research study.

3. Contact participants through home visits or over the phone, assess their willingness to participate in the study, and identify barriers to research participation.

4. Provides participants with appropriate and relevant educational materials.

5. Enhances participant’s individual and community capacity by growing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities available through the Glenn Biggs Institute, such as counseling, social support, and advocacy.

6. Assists participants in connecting to appropriate health care information and services.

7. Provides participants with reminders of upcoming visits and the next steps after the research study.

8. Follow up with participants after study visits, collect feedback, and assess satisfaction.

9. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Education:

High School Diploma or GED is required.

Expereince:

One (1) year related experience is required.

Additional Licenses and Certification:

Successful completion of a Community Health Worker formal training program such as from a college or other education institution is preferred.