Description

Under the direct supervision of the Nurse Supervisor, the Community Health Worker (CHW) is an integral part of the care team, serving as a liaison with students, parents, school personnel, and the community, while coordinating care and social services. The CHW promotes the Randolph practice, collaborates with the care team, and bridges conversations with students, families, and patients to remove barriers to accessing healthcare and social services.

The CHW's primary focus is to develop creative programming to strengthen resiliency opportunities for children and families. This includes conducting telephonic and face-to-face outreach, engaging with the Randolph Public School System and the community, hosting activities and workshops, facilitating resources, and attending community and school events and meetings, including classroom visits to engage with students and teachers.

Direct Patient Care:

• Conduct behavioral health screenings, enter data into electronic health records, and engage with families/students to schedule behavioral health visits.
• Provide education and support to promote healthy behavior change, developing health improvement plans in cooperation with students, families, clients, and professional colleagues that recognize and build upon individual goals, strengths, and abilities.
• Proactively outreach and engage children and families to assess ongoing and emerging needs, and to promote continuity of care.

Collaboration with Care Team Members:

• Collaborate with the care team, students, and families to complete health assessments and care plans as needed.
• Consult with the care team on students’/patients' care plans, needs, and goals as necessary.
• Participate in case reviews with care team members as needed.
• Attend care team meetings, as required.
• Document services and activities within the EHR as appropriate.

Care Coordination and Navigation:

• Assist children and families in navigating internal and external medical, behavioral, social, and educational systems to address needs such as food insecurities, housing, clothing, toiletries, transportation, car seats, helmets, legal services, and employment services.
• Help children and families apply for health insurance and provide an overview of how to engage with primary care services.
• Assist students and patients in accessing confidential services.
• Build and maintain community networks and participate in activities to enhance service capacity within the community.
• Conduct outreach to students and families with at least two no-shows and engage high-risk individuals after one missed appointment.
• Assist with reporting requirements, including pulling and reviewing registration, immunization, physical, and vision screening reports for Randolph Public School students of all ages and grades, and leading outreach efforts.
• Ensure all appointments are completed, document engagement activities, and maintain close communication with students, families, and the care team.
• Utilize Aunt Berta and other resources to assist students, families and patients.

Outreach & Engagement with students, families and community:

• Lead or co-lead health education and prevention workshops
• Lead social engagement and outreach activity with students (within RPS), parents, faculty, colleagues, and the community to promote the Randolph practice; participate in community events.
• Participate in Youth Health Advisory Council Meetings and guide members in conducting/presenting on adolescent health-related topics.
• Ensure the practice maintains a professional and welcoming environment for all students, families, and the community.
• Ensure the student waiting area has youth-friendly messaging inclusive of LGBTQ students.

Document services, activities within EHR, as appropriate.

Other Duties as Assigned:

This includes serving as a backup Medical Assistant III (administering vaccines, performing point-of-care testing, and blood draws) and handling Patient Service Coordinator responsibilities in the absence of the assigned staff. Coverage is required during high peak times or lunch breaks. If available, the nurse or nurse supervisor will cover for the medical assistant unless capacity exceeds demand.

Qualifications

1. Minimum of associate degree, bachelor’s degree in human services or social work preferred; two year or more of community-based experience in early childhood, behavioral health, and/or family support services or completion of an approved community health worker training program.
2. Strong ability to connect, support, and partner with culturally diverse children and families
3. Organized and resourceful self-starter with an ability to set priorities and meet deadlines
4. Strong ability to collaborate and work in a team
5. Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
6. Experience as a parent/guardian preferred
7. Knowledge of and insight into child development and healthy parenting
8. Knowledge of school systems and the IEP process preferred
9. Familiar with Randolph, Southshore, and Boston neighborhoods and agencies
10. Cultural and linguistic diversity highly preferred
11. Professional or volunteer experience in a pediatric clinic, childcare center, or other setting that serves you children and families
12. Flexible with strong commitment to community health
13. Comfortable working in a community health setting
14.  Internet, and Excel literate
15. Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation with proof of auto insurance is required.