Community Health Associate | Community Health Improvement (BRAVE program) | Days

Spanish speaking preferred 

The Community Health Associate provides direct community health services through Care Connect to vulnerable populations through identification, engagement, and provision of resources to address unmet social and health needs.

Care Connect is a community alliance that was established to connect area residents in need with available services and address social determinants of health in a coordinated way throughout Northeast Florida. By aligning community resources into a single access point, Care Connect increases coordination and access of available resources. Care Connect has over a 120-member provider network to serve the vast needs of our community members. Care Connect staff provides crisis intervention, resource navigation, advocacy, practical assistance to clients, and provides client-centered assessments to address unmet social and health needs.

 BRAVE Overview: The BRAVE program began as a result of the St. Johns County School District identifying that there has been an increasingly large need for counseling services for students. The number of students having to wait for services combined with the often-fragmented communication between schools and behavioral health providers contributed to the development of many barriers for families. In the school year 2021-2022 academic calendar year, BRAVE expanded to include Putnam, Nassau, and Clay County. In 2022, BRAVE was granted House Bill 3517 that allowed the program to expand state-wide. BRAVE utilizes a unified intake process, where Care Connect staff identify unmet social needs, eligible resources, and the most appropriate behavioral health provider for the student. This includes services provided by 30 providers across multiple counties. BRAVE has the resources families need, including care coordination and navigation services, case management, access to mental health counseling, and a 24-hour crisis text line. Since the program abides by the referral structure outlined in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, our team is able to work to close the loop on behavioral health

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach into your work with clients.
• Provides direct community health services including individualized patient/client education, counseling, and information
  and referrals.
• Conducts evidence-based assessments to identify individual needs and develop service goals as indicated. This could
  be inclusive of assisting with past due rent and utilities, Mental Health Referrals, Homeless Prevention Programs, and more.
• Coordinate and manage client flow and information, with occasional walk-in clients coming into the Care Connect office
  for services.
• Utilizes case/care management skills on phone or in-person, developing rapport, and building trusting relationships with
  clients to further facilitate provision of services.
• Determines patient eligibility for hospital-based services including the Medication Assistance Program and Medical
  Voucher Program.
• Utilizes the Care Connect database to document all stages of client interactions.
• Acts as a liaison between service providers in the community and seeks out other community resources that would
  benefit individuals.
• Work collaboratively and professionally with other service providers when necessary to manage complex situations.
• Be able to work in a fast paced environment and highly organized to maintain a case load of up to 150 clients
• Handle crisis situations where clients need guidance on next best steps to take to deescalate the situation and provide an appropriate level of care
• Uses critical thinking and decision-making skills to work with a tailored approach to provide the highest level of individualized care
• Attend relevant trainings, workshops and seminars
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education

• High School Diploma/GED

Experience

• 2-years Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable populations

Skills & Abilities

• Candidates should be assertive, well organized, possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Candidates should have the mental and emotional resiliency as we are exposed to traumatic situations daily.
• Candidate should have a calm demeanor in order to reassure parents in times of crisis or concern around the urgency of
  care for their child(s) health.
• Ability to think critically and address crisis situations as they arise.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and can learn new technologies and systems quickly.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations from various backgrounds.

Certificates/Licenses/Registration

• Level 2 Background Check (DCF)

Additional Information:

• Level 2 Background Check required upon hire.