Community Health Worker

Salary: $55,000

Location: This position is primarily based at our Goldin Center (2320 West Burleigh Street, Milwaukee)

Driver Status: Personal vehicle

Summary

This position is responsible for working with Advocate Aurora, Center for Urban Public Health (CUPH) to implement the Building Bridges to Health Equity in the Amani Neighborhood Program. This is an evidence-based intervention helping to bridge potential gaps between community members and medical professionals. It would also ensure that the voice of the Amani community is front and center and that the services provided at the Advocate Aurora family health clinic at the Goldin Center are adjusted to meet the needs identified by the community.

This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position. Flexibility is key regarding work hours since they will vary depending on needs of the community. This means some work will be in the evenings and on weekends.

It is also eligible for benefits. Benefits include generous paid time off, health plans (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) retirement plan, 11 paid holidays, and a great working environment.

Main Job Responsibilities

Patient Outreach and Relationship Building

Goal: create a peer-based role both with patients and the medical team

• Establish relationships with Amani residents to encourage program participation
• Provide intensive outreach efforts by conducting home visits or visits to other appropriate settings within Amani
• Provide general support and encouragement
• Conduct intake interviews with patients using established protocols and intake tools
• Work with patients and their physicians to develop personal health action plans that are achievable.
• Alert clinical team on patient needs, concerns, and interests
• Participate in care team huddles to understand and proactively respond to the needs of the patient population

Goal: Ensure appropriate resources are available for attending appointments

• Assist patients in addressing challenges to care for transportation, language, family/social support.
• Schedule appointments and perform reminders for patients
• Follow-up with patients by letter, phone call, text or home visit on missed appointments or referrals

Patient Advisory Council (PAC)

Goal: create and facilitate a PAC to empower Amani residents accessing clinic services to have more direct input in the care they receive

• Gather resident feedback on issues such as healthcare approachability and culturally relevant services

• Seek feedback and input on the barriers and facilitators to quality healthcare
• Support leadership and community-building
• Document areas for improvement
• Collaboratively form strategies for improved policies and care.
• Hold quarterly meetings on Saturdays to better accommodate diverse schedules.

Health Education and Resource Navigation

Goal: Educate patients on self-care, healthful living, and setting and achieving goals using/reinforcing clinical education protocols and evidence-based tools

• Refer patients to community-based resources to adhere to physician recommendations.
• Provide informal counseling, education, and social support to assist patients with gaining access to continuous care and enabling services
• Provide health education activities for identified health concerns such as Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension and other chronic diseases
• Coach/encourage patient self-management and adherence to clinical recommendations for identified health concerns such as Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension and other chronic diseases.
• Assist patients with comprehension of health insurance eligibility, benefits and navigation

Community Outreach and Advocacy

Goal: Develop and maintain strong working relationships with external (e.g., referral sources and community agencies) and internal contacts (care team)

• Participate in community meetings
• Share information and resources, collaborate on initiatives and provide education to referral sources and community agencies in order to coordinate access to services.
• Collect and organize information to be used for current services and future community health education and outreach activities.
• In collaboration with the clinical team, identify, consolidate and manage a high-risk patient registry.

Partnership/Collaboration

Goal: leverage available resources to provide the best experience for participants

• Collaborate with other COA departments in terms of resources, programs, best practices
• Develop and maintain outside partnerships, especially with program partners

Other

Administration: Keep accurate records of patient contacts and document patient needs, action plans, and follow up needs in appropriate database or electronic medical record

Public Relations: Represent the program and the agency appropriately to stakeholders and the general public

Role model appropriate behavior at all times: this includes developing and maintaining appropriate professional relationships with stakeholders (patients, colleagues, participants, parents, facilitators, community partners, etc.)

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• High School Diploma/GED
• Community Health Worker certification
• 2 years’ experience in direct social service work
• Must be computer literate: able to use Word to create, edit and format documents and flyers as well as Excel to enter in and manipulate data.

Competencies

• Philosophical compatibility with COA mission
• Willingness to learn and ask questions
• Deep understanding of, passion for, and dedication to working within Amani
• Effective interpersonal skills to develop strong working relationships. Cultural competency. Respect for diversity of all types.
• Ability to effectively engage in conversation, motivate and engage patients to participate in our program, and speak to all types of patients
• Ability to work as a team member
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to handle difficult situations and maintain professional conduct
• Willingness to be flexible with job responsibilities

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

The physical requirements are the ability to:

• sit and stand for long periods.
• walk some distance
• lift and carry up to 50 pounds

The work environment is an active environment with youth, families, and community members. This requires the ability to respond quickly to changing situations and be able to move around the COA site as needed. It also includes being out in the community at various sites in all sorts of weather, e.g., rain, heat, cold, snow, etc. This position also requires evening and weekend work.

These characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

The above is intended to describe the general content and requirements of this job. It is not meant to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. In other words, other duties as assigned.

Submit cover letter and resume to arowell@coa-yfc.org