CARE NAVIGATOR SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES at The Institute for Family Health

Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Community Health Worker Supervisor, the Community Health Worker (CHW) identifies and assists individuals and families who need preventive and primary health care services with a focus on entry into prenatal care for pregnant women and improved birth and health outcomes. The CHW provides basic case management services including health assessment, health education and information, problem identification, referral to needed services, support and follow-up.  The CHW also serves as an advocate and liaison between community agencies and the population and provides on-going support and encouragement.

Job Tasks

• Identifies CHW Program participants through street and community outreach and assists participants and their families to gain access to needed health and human services, such as: prenatal care, family planning, WIC and other nutrition services, child health, and other medical services.
• Develops and maintains relationships with community members and leaders to assist in gaining program support, referrals, and case assistance.
• Carries a caseload of  families, establishing a trusting relationship with at-risk families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact.
• Conducts interviews in the home and other locations to identify areas of need and assist individuals and families in accessing health, social services, and other services needed to assure positive health outcomes. Provides assistance and/or referrals for essential support services such as housing, financial aid, food stamps, Medicaid, emergency food, clothing, transportation and day care.
• Establishes a case plan with goals, objectives and activities based on the family’s needs, with CHW Coordinator and family.
• Assists parents in making and attending appointments for doctors, social service agencies, etc.  Acts as a liaison between families and other community agencies.  Assures that all family members have a primary care provider.
• Demonstrates familiarity with available community resources and knows how to access services appropriate to the needs of participants.
• Provides on-going social and emotional support and assists participants in utilizing the complex health and social system.
• Meets with CHW Supervisor on a weekly basis for supervision to review cases and evaluate client status; attends weekly staff meetings.
• Performs street and community outreach for program promotion and case finding.  Attends community related events in Dutchess County (some weekends).
• Completes all relevant trainings.

As a member of the IFH community, we expect employees to: adhere to the organization’s policies regarding time, attendance, and dress code; demonstrate reliability and trustworthiness; manage time and resources to meet established goals/projects within the agreed upon time frames; demonstrate accountability; maintain patient/employee confidentiality; meet applicable regulatory and annual health assessment requirements; self- identify learning strengths and needs; demonstrate a professional, courteous, and respectful attitude in dealing with patients, families, significant others, members of the staff and extended community. 

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.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is frequently required to climb or balance and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here 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.

Experience and/or Skills

• Computer literacy with proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and the ability to handle multiple assignments at any time
• Ability to generate, interpret and analyze data from multiple sources
• Bilingual Spanish/English a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in case management field a plus.