Community Health Worker (Field-Based, Edinburgh or McAllen, TX) - Equality Health

*Field position in Edinburgh or McAllen, TX only*

Position Summary:

The Community Health Worker (CHW) serves the community as a bridge between the members (patients) and the health care and social systems (providers, community resources) through outreach and education. Is primarily responsible for providing supportive care and assistance to a diverse member population identifying barriers to self-care and healing, decision-making, and navigating the social and healthcare systems. The Community Health Worker conducts personalized support to help members achieve good health practices, conducts community outreach, home and hospital visits, collaborates closely with an interdisciplinary team, and consistently demonstrates a high standard of ethical behavior, professionalism, compassion, and confidentiality. The Community Health Worker ensures operational and department goals are achieved and strives to improve quality and business processes for assigned areas of responsibility.

Work schedule: Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am to 5pm.

Work Location and Setting: Field-based position with a home-based office and occasional in-office days. Community Health Workers work from home when not in the field. This position requires driving to different community settings with mileage reimbursement at the current federal rate.

This candidate MUST live in Edinburgh or McAllen, TX and must be capable of working virtually from a home-based office with high-speed internet and be comfortable and able to travel by personal automobile to multiple community locations each workday including private homes, hospitals, Clinics, Health Provider Offices and community sites.

Responsibilities:

• Provide one-on-one non-clinical interventions, serving as a member’s navigator and advocate for needed health services and community resources.
• Provide culturally appropriate services to members and their families
• Actively outreach and link members to behavioral health, primary care, and community services, especially those who are historically hard to engage or not linked to health and social services.
• Identify, connect, and assist Equality Health’s member population from all markets with eligibility and enrollment for health, insurance, and social programs.
• Report and document observations, symptoms, and behaviors to appropriate healthcare professionals to ensure timely and effective intervention, evaluations, and interpretations of clinical data by licensed health providers.
• Facilitate Non-Medical Drivers of Health (NMDOH) interventions to assist individuals overcome barriers and improve health outcomes.
• Support the members’ individualized recovery action plans, crisis plans, and self-management plans.
• Adhere to regulatory requisites for quality assurance and documentation of interventions to warrant adequacy, completeness, and compliance with Equality Health’s standards and all applicable legal, and ethical requirements.

Required Knowledge, Education, & Experience:

• High School Diploma AND a minimum of five (5) years of proven work experience as a Community Health Worker or equivalent healthcare related work experience, or;
• Associate degree AND a minimum of two (2) years of proven work experience as a Community Health Worker or equivalent healthcare related work experience, or;
• Bachelor’s degree – in social or healthcare related degree with strong understanding of the Community Health Worker model, or equivalent healthcare work experience required.
• Experience in working with diverse and underserved populations with a strong understanding of multicultural issues and Non-Medical Drivers of Health (NMDOH)
• Experience in serving the Medicare and Medicaid population within diverse community health settings.
• Ability to effectively provide support care to socially and medically complex patients in a variety of non-traditional settings.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills; highly collaborative team approach to work and ability to work independently.
• Familiarity of formal and informal community-based organizations and resources networks.
• Proficient using Electronic Health Records and other database management systems in a healthcare setting.
• Must have current driver’s license and be able to pass a DMV background check
• Experience with and comfortable using keyboards, laptops, tablets, and other electronic and portable devices for documentation and telehealth visits.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and web-based technologies

Highly Preferred Skills, Abilities, & Qualifications:

• Certified as a CHW or eligible to obtain CHW certification within one year of hire
• Bilingual English-Spanish preferred but not required
• Able to work well under tight deadlines and respond to rapidly changing demands
• Strong organizational skills: able to prioritize tasks and anticipate needs
• Able to work in a fast-paced and evolving environment
• General knowledge of HIPAA, C.L.A.S Standards, Value Base Care Model, Motivational Interviewing and specialized training in medical terminology and practices for designated health conditions.

Physical Requirements:

• Walking, standing, sitting, lifting 15 lbs. frequently
• Must be able to perform member assessments and social interventions in member’s private homes, which may have allergens or odors such as pet dander or tobacco smoke

Equality Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.