Community Health Worker in Watertown, New York at Childrens Home of Jefferson

Summary/Objective:

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a non-clinical member of CHJC’s MHOTRS treatment team who works directly with individuals and families to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare, behavioral health treatment, and community-based services.

The CHW serves as a link between individuals, the treatment team, healthcare providers, and community resources. Through outreach, education, advocacy, resource navigation, and practical support, the CHW assists individuals in identifying and addressing health-related social needs that may impact their ability to access or participate in care.

CHW services are intended to provide targeted support and navigation and do not replace comprehensive or ongoing care management services. Individuals who are currently enrolled in Medicaid Health Home Care Management will be referred to and supported through their assigned Care Manager for needs that fall within the scope of Health Home Care Management.

When an individual receiving CHW services demonstrates a need for ongoing, comprehensive care management, the CHW will assist the individual with referral and linkage to an appropriate care management program when eligible.

The CHW works collaboratively with clinicians, medical providers, nursing, clinic operations, Care Management, and community partners while maintaining clear role boundaries and avoiding duplication of services. The CHW does not provide clinical assessment, psychotherapy, medication management, or other services requiring professional licensure.

Essential Functions:

1. Conduct outreach and engagement with individuals referred for Community Health Worker services.

2. Identify and assist individuals with health-related social needs and barriers affecting access to healthcare and behavioral health services, including transportation, food, housing, insurance/benefits, and access to community resources.

3. Assist individuals in navigating healthcare and social-service systems, including establishing or connecting with primary care, specialty care, behavioral health services, preventive healthcare, and other appropriate community services.

4. Provide referrals, warm handoffs, and follow-up to help individuals successfully connect with recommended healthcare and community resources.

5. Assist individuals with transportation coordination and other practical barriers that interfere with their ability to access or participate in care.

6. Assist individuals with insurance, benefits, community-resource applications, and other service-navigation needs within the scope of the CHW role.

7. Provide health education and information in an accessible and culturally responsive manner and assist individuals in understanding how to access appropriate healthcare resources.

8. Advocate for individuals and support effective communication between individuals, families, healthcare providers, behavioral health providers, and community organizations.

9. Collaborate with the MHOTRS treatment team regarding individuals receiving CHW services and communicate relevant updates regarding referrals, identified barriers, interventions, and outcomes.

10. Support patient engagement and re-engagement by addressing identified non-clinical barriers that may interfere with participation in behavioral health treatment.

11. Support transitions of care by assisting individuals with access to recommended follow-up services and community resources following hospitalization, emergency department utilization, or other transitions in care.

12. Identify individuals whose needs may exceed the scope of targeted Community Health Worker services and may benefit from ongoing, comprehensive care management. Assist eligible individuals with referral and linkage to Medicaid Health Home Care Management or other appropriate care management services.

13. Verify and coordinate with the treatment team regarding existing care management involvement when appropriate. Individuals actively enrolled in Medicaid Health Home Care Management will be directed to their assigned Care Manager for services within the scope of Health Home Care Management to prevent duplication of services.

14. Facilitate warm handoffs to Care Management when an individual is referred for ongoing care management services and communicate relevant information necessary to support continuity of care.

15. Participate in treatment team meetings, case reviews, and other interdisciplinary meetings as appropriate to the individual's needs and the CHW's involvement.

16. Maintain timely, accurate, and professional documentation of CHW outreach, engagement, referrals, interventions, and outcomes in the designated electronic medical record and/or required project reporting systems.

17. Maintain and develop knowledge of healthcare, care management, and community resources available throughout CHJC's service area and establish collaborative relationships with healthcare providers, social-service organizations, and community partners.

18. Assist with health-related social-needs screening and follow-up processes as established by the program.

19. Participate in the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of CHW workflows, referral processes, documentation standards, and service-delivery practices.

20. Participate in required CHW training, supervision, program meetings, and professional-development activities.

21. Complete required program and grant-related data collection and reporting, including documentation of outreach, engagement, referrals, services provided, and outcomes.

22. Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, applicable New York State confidentiality requirements, agency policies, and professional boundaries.

23. Recognize needs or concerns that fall outside the CHW's non-clinical scope and promptly communicate or escalate those concerns to the appropriate clinical, care management, or supervisory staff.

24. Perform other duties consistent with the scope and purpose of the Community Health Worker position as assigned.

Work Environment:

Work is performed within CHJC’s MHOTRS outpatient clinics and throughout the community as necessary to meet individual and programming needs. The position requires interaction with individuals and families experiencing behavioral health concerns, healthcare-access barriers, and complex social needs.

Community-based work may include travel to healthcare providers, community organizations, and other approved locations throughout CHJC's service area.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push/pull, climb, bend, and stoop. Must be able to perform fine motor skills, read, type, and sit for extended periods of time. The position may require walking and traveling between agency, healthcare, and community-based locations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full-time position, temporary position. Traditional business hours are required, with flexibility to work non-traditional hours as necessary to meet individual and programmatic needs.

Travel:

Travel is required throughout the designated service area. A valid New York State driver's license and the ability to meet agency driving requirements are required.

Required Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor's degree in human services, public health, psychology, sociology, social work, healthcare, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience in healthcare, behavioral health, community outreach, care navigation, or human services is preferred.

Experience working with individuals and families experiencing barriers to healthcare or social services is preferred. Knowledge of community resources within Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties is preferred.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:

The Community Health Worker must demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to establish trusting relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The position requires:

· Ability to engage individuals who may experience difficulty accessing or navigating healthcare and social-service systems.

· Knowledge of or ability to develop strong knowledge of local healthcare and community resources.

· Strong advocacy, problem-solving, and resource-navigation skills.

· Ability to communicate effectively with individuals, families, healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, and community organizations.

· Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary care team while maintaining the boundaries of a non-clinical role.

· Strong organizational and time-management skills.

· Ability to independently manage outreach, referrals, follow-up activities, and documentation.

· Ability to maintain accurate and timely electronic documentation.

· Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle protected health information.

· Cultural responsiveness and the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

· Ability to recognize situations requiring clinical or supervisory involvement and appropriately escalate concerns.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Successful completion of all pre-employment requirements and ongoing clearances as required by the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and other applicable regulatory agencies is required. This includes employment health requirements, reference checks, criminal background checks and fingerprinting, State Central Register (SCR) clearance, New York State Sex Offender Registry checks, New York State Justice Center Staff Exclusion List (SEL) checks, New York State OMIG Medicaid Exclusion List checks, verification of eligibility to work in the United States, and any other required screenings. A valid New York State driver's license is required. Completion of required agency trainings, including Corporate Compliance, HIPAA Privacy and Security, Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Prevention, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, First Aid, and CPR, is required following hire.