Community Health Worker at Betty Hardwick Center – Abilene, Texas

The substance use disorder community health worker programs allow community health workers to increase educational efforts and retention in substance use, mental health and medical services for Texas residents living with substance use disorders. The person in this position will be expected to provide education in a nonjudgmental, trauma informed team approach to provide the substance abuse community with education, access to resources, and harm reduction. This includes people who are marginalized or stigmatized, experiencing housing instability or homelessness, injecting substances, live with or are at risk of Hepatitis C Virus or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and are experiencing greater barriers to entering treatment or recovery services. The person in this role will serve as the liaison and will provide cultural mediation between health care, social services and the community while using motivational interviewing techniques and skills when appropriate to help individuals enhance their confidence and motivation for change. It is important for the person in this position to have a good understanding of, the ethnicity, language, socio-economic status, and life experiences of the community served.

This position requires heavy client contact, contact with client's families and referring agencies. It also requires the ability to work under pressure, maintain good personal boundaries, and the ability to handle extremely stressful situations in a professional manner, and willing to work an extremely flexible schedule outside of normal business hours.

This position is directly supervised by the CHW/Jail Navigator/TCOOMMI/MVPN/SUD Program Administrator.

Qualifications:

-Bachelor’s Degree in a social service field preferred.

-High school diploma or GED required.

-Must become certified as a Community Health Worker within 6 months of hire

-Strong candidates will have lived experience with population to be served including housing instability, mental illness, substance abuse, HIV/STD, and demonstrate an ability to identify with sensitivity in a variety of experiences.

-Must have at least 2 years of recovery

-Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License and be an insurable driver. Driving is an essential function and employees must maintain an acceptable driving record/insurability while employed.

Hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm, flexible.

This is a Full-Time position. Benefits are available.

Will be eligible for a one- and two-year step increase, depending on satisfactory performance.