GENERAL SUMMARY
A Community Health Worker serves as a liaison between the community and health care, government and social service systems. CHW’s assist individuals and communities in adopting healthy behaviors and risk reduction techniques. Conducts street outreach in the community to promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. CHW’s provide information on available community resources and complete referrals to such agencies, provides social support and informal counseling, advocates for individuals and community health needs, and provides harm reduction training and supplies. May collect data to help identify community health needs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of a function does not preclude management from assigning essential duties not listed herein if such duties relate to the position.
- Advocates for individual and community health needs.
- Build relationships with community members.
- Discusses health concerns with members of the community openly and comfortably.
- Distributes flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents.
- Follows up with community members about health referrals.
- Helps people understand their health conditions.
- Identifies or connect members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups to community resources.
- Maintains updated and timely client records .
- May provide HIV/HEP C testing, referrals and educational materials.
- Participates in community meetings/events as needed.
- Provides harm reduction training and supplies.
- Provides informational counseling and social support.
- Refers community members to needed health and social services.
- Translates or interprets health information for clients.
- Works with individuals and communities to identify priority health needs.
- Performs other related duties as required.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
- High School diploma or equivalency.
- One (1) year of experience working with the population of focus.
Licenses or Certifications
Other Requirements
- Must be able to obtain Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) CHW certification within 6 months from start date of employment.
- Must maintain a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance coverage, be able to travel as needed, and be able to meet on a consistent basis the driving record requirements of the Company’s auto insurance carrier if you drive your vehicle during company business.
- Must be able to work in harsh climate conditions.
- Must maintain required credentials and mandatory training requirements to ensure compliance with all State regulations and CHCS policies.
- Must be able to meet the physical requirements to complete Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) and CPR training including lifting up to 12 lbs. and supporting up to 55 lbs.; bending, stooping and getting on and off the floor without assistance.
- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) is a proven safe and harm-free method of behavior modification. All consumer-facing employees of CHCS must take NCI courses facilitated by the CHCS Training team within the first 45 days of employment.
- NCI is intended to support human service professionals in giving aggressive, disruptive, or out-of-control people the best care and welfare possible, even in the most violent situation.
- NCI training provides staff with the skills to safely recognize and respond to everyday crisis situations that may involve more challenging behaviors. It focuses on prevention and offers proven strategies for safely defusing anxious, hostile or violent behavior at the earliest possible stage.
SUPERVISION
- Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others.
COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of:
- Applicable software applications, office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
- HIV, HCV, and other communicable diseases associated with substance use.
- Knowledge of social skills demonstrative of empathy and support.
- Programs and services provided by governmental and non-governmental organizations .
Skilled in:
- Building rapport with population of focus.
- Interpersonal, community building, and conflict mediation.
- Organization and time management.
- Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature.
Ability to:
- Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files.
- Adapt to changing work schedules.
- Assess consumer health needs.
- Comply with and participate in quality assurance and quality improvement processes.
- Discuss sexuality openly and comfortably.
- Effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Maintain accurate and complete records.
- Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Meet schedules and deadlines.
- Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here 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.
- Must be able to meet the physical requirements to complete Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) and CPR training including lifting up to 12 lbs. and supporting up to 55 lbs.; bending, stooping and getting on and off the floor without assistance.
- Must be able to lift up to 25lbs, stand & walk up to 8 hours per workday.
- Must be able to work in extreme heat or cold for up to 8 hours per workday.
- Must have adequate mobility that requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching (vertical and horizontal), using fingers, hands, feet, legs and torso in various care.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.07 - $25.61 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Medical specialties:
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health
Schedule:
- 10 hour shift
- Weekends as needed
Application Question(s):
- Have you previously worked with The Center for Healthcare Services? (Yes/No)
- Have you EVER been convicted of a crime? This includes DWI/DUI; 'no contest' or guilty plea; deferred adjudication, or agreement for eventual dismissal of a criminal case. (Yes/No
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Community Outreach with the population of focus: 1 year (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person