Community Health Worker - Homeless Street Outreach

Description

 FLSA Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Compensation: Starting at $25.00-$30.00 per hour, DOE

Post Date: January 7, 2025

Close Date: February 5, 2025 

Please submit a resume and cover letter. Your resume will not be considered if a cover letter is not included.   

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, in partnership with Sacramento County and the City of Sacramento, the Community Health Worker (CHW), Homeless Street Outreach, works to engage and serve people experiencing homelessness throughout Sacramento County including the City of Sacramento. The CHW provides advocacy and assists with connection to health, housing, and social services. The primary goal for a CHW is to assist persons experiencing homelessness by connecting them to supportive services such as CalAIM, behavioral health, System of Care services, emergency shelter, and permanent housing. The CHW will also assist program enrollees in obtaining health insurance and other benefits, and work with local community organizations and other County and City contractors to foster a supportive coalition for people experiencing homelessness in the service area. 

Job Duties

• Conduct year-round field-based outreach(regardless of weather) to people experiencing homelessness on streets, in fields, and along trails and creeks.
• Provide support, empowerment, mentorship, education for individuals with health challenges, including substance use and mental health issues.
• Work on an interdisciplinary team with mental health professionals and peers when conducting outreach.
• Assist in obtaining health coverage insurance and housing readiness documentation such as ID, social security card and income verification including coordination of transportation to appointments as necessary.
• Work in a predominantly field-based setting, including homeless encampments and shelters.
• Assist clients in connecting to appropriate housing services and support.
• Maintains clients’ confidentiality and strict adherence to confidentiality requirements.
• Work with internal and external navigators from other agencies to ensure coordinated outreach approach.
• Establish and maintain positive, productive working relationships with mental health programs, shelter programs, police (and other local officials), and providers of community services.
• Work with team of Health Navigators to confirm health coverage and ensure comprehensive health services, nutrition programs and other community resources.
• Attend team meetings, case conferences, training workshops and community meetings as needed.
• Maintain complete client records, daily activity logs, mileage logs, and other reports as directed.
• Regular attendance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

 Educational Attainment: High School diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in social work or other related field preferred. Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor (CDAC) preferred. Certification in Behavioral Health preferable.   

Employment Experience: Experience working with unsheltered individuals experiencing complex health issues is desirable. Experience as a health navigator, peer support worker, outreach worker or promotora is desirable. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) experience preferred.   

All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the first day of employment. Must have reliable transportation prior to the first day of employment. 

Qualifications, Knowledge, Abilities

• Awareness of socio-cultural characteristics of population served by Community HealthWorks.
• Cultural awareness and competency skills.
• Comfortable working with diverse populations including LGBT, individuals experiencing homelessness, and individuals struggling with mental illness and or addiction.
• Exceptional ability to connect and engage with people.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to read, write, speak and understand English clearly.
• Detail oriented, organized and possess time management skills.
• Must be able to work flexible hours (morning, afternoon and or evening shifts including weekends as needed).
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently on individual and assigned tasks while exhibiting good judgment.
• Provide information in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to the needs of the client.
• Ability to work as a team member including in co-location settings such as clinics with clinicians and professionals as well as other community organizations.
• Serve as a resource for clients, other navigators and clinical staff.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications preferred.
• Problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills required.
• Must have reliable transportation and be able to travel within the County.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and pass a background/fingerprint check.

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. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be:  

a. Subject to outside environmental conditions while conducting various levels of outreach to people experiencing homelessness.

b. In addition to working in a typical office environment, the health worker will be required to work in areas inhabited by people experiencing homelessness, to include working in unclean and hazardous environments such as shelters, home visits, homeless encampments, and community clinics, and dealing with challenging individuals.

c. Involved with clients, health provider personnel, government agencies (e.g. City of Sacramento, Department of Human Assistance, Department of Health and Human Services, Covered California, Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration, etc.), health provider personnel, community based organizations and partners under all conditions and circumstances.

d. Subject to hostile and emotionally upset clients, family members, personnel and pets.

e. Communicates with co-workers, health provider personnel, government agencies, community based organizations and partners.

f. Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily when necessary.

g. Maintains a liaison with the client, their family, support personnel, etc., to adequately plan for the client’s care.

h. Maintains and participates in all job related training, certifications and renewals such as Mental Health First Aid, Motivational Interviewing and Certified Enrollment Counselor/Certified Application Counselor certification.  

Physical Factors Physically able to walk, stand, stoop and lift, good manual dexterity, visual and auditory acuity.   

Desired Knowledge Successful candidates will have a strong knowledge of community resources in Sacramento and be familiar with community based health care delivery. Those with shared experiences with potential clients, including histories of incarceration, homelessness, mental illness, alcohol/drug use of disorder, etc. and experience navigating associated service delivery systems are encouraged to apply. Familiarity and working knowledge of Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and other public programs is preferred but not required.   

To apply for this position: Please submit a resume and cover letter. Your resume will not be considered if a cover letter is not included.    

Salary : $25 - $30