Job Description
Join our team as a Community Health Worker! Seeking a Full-Time position for Community Health Worker (CHW) . The position is 1.0 FTE (80 hours/pay) for Isabella County for the Central Michigan District Health Department to support Community Health Services and act in a liaison role with our Community Connections Program. The CHW's at CMDHD work in a team-based environment and will spend time in the community with many local agencies and community services providers primarily in person through home visiting or in an office engaging directly with clients assisting with Social Determinates of Health (SDOH) needs. This includes but is not limited to helping community members with individualized support with Medicaid Health Plans and work with the Community Connections Program as part of the Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR). This is a rewarding opportunity to work with medically complex patients who may be experiencing significant health related concerns, preventative care needs, addiction and/or behavioral health conditions or other factors influenced by their social determinants. In addition, this position will be required to complete reports, track data, and while paying careful attention to details. Experience as a Community Health Worker is required and certification as a Community Health Worker is highly desired. Certification training is available for the right candidate. Experience working with community resources, low-income families, and/or the Medicaid population preferred, with preference given to those with years of experience in this role. Education equivalent to High School diploma and a minimum of two years' experience working in the public health or health care is required. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and possess exceptional technical skill working with an electronic health record (EHR) system. CMDHD offers a comprehensive benefit package including the ability for a flexible work schedule.
General Summary:
Under general supervision and working in an integrated team model, the Community Health Worker will work to recruit eligible individuals to enroll in the programs at the Central Michigan District Health Department and improve health in vulnerable populations in the community. These individuals are considered front-line workers in public health and intimately understand the communities and people they serve. Many programs with the public health systems in the state of Michigan are evidence-based clinical and educational support programs both provided in the offices and during home visits. One main component of the Community Health Worker is to link services to the community, specifically with underserved and underrepresented groups who may or may not be Medicaid and Medicare eligible individuals, families, and communities. Community health workers also build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. Essential Duties:
Makes initial contact with families who are referred to CMDHD's public health programs, likely including phone calls, letters, or meetings virtually or in-person. Meets with families in the office, home, or via telephone/video to understand their goals and needs, describing program eligibility, qualifications, and benefits of participation to encourage participation with public health programs and resources. Develops positive relationships with families to promote enrollment in programs or to obtain needed public health services providing education and outreach to clients through in-person consultation and written material. Relates to individuals as a peer to quickly build trusting, authentic relationships that facilitate information sharing and motivate clients. Identifies barriers to health and provides necessary pathways to ensure connection to health and social services. Provides information and social support for health behaviors. Makes referrals to and assists with enrollment with appropriate essential service provider agencies and agency programs. Identifies and supports vulnerable/at-risk populations and connect community members with social and health resources. Mentors and advocates for families to help them overcome barriers to enrollment and participation in any public health of community program, including the assessment of eligibility for health insurance coverage; provides enrollment assistance. Adheres to established program models, policies and procedures including utilization of pathways, case conferencing, timely data collection and reporting. Tracks and documents activities and results according to established procedures and timelines. Prepares and maintains client-related documentation in electronic health record. Works collaboratively with all health department staff to schedule and complete program enrollments and services with families; provides basic screening for health and social issues and barriers. This includes acting as a resource to home visiting staff about health, social, and other factors impacting the family and their environment. Conducts outreach activities, which may include home visits. May provide outreach calls to current clients due for clinical services; may provide outreach calls to referral lists from Medicaid Health Plans due for clinical services; may include outreach activities as defined by Medicaid. Monitors and maintains own list of activities, enrollments, and outcomes for programs, including documenting contact attempts and encounters with families; collects any necessary program data. Files reports in conjunction with supervisor detailing outreach activities each month. Stays knowledgeable about other services provided in the community to act as a liaison for families who might have needs not provided by CMDHD. Helps build capacity and creates connections with partnering agencies. Champions and applies cultural competency and diversity practices when working with clients. Displays excellent internal and external customer service. Demonstrates agency Core Values, such as collaboration, conflict resolution, demeanor, drive and initiative, customer focus, and fulfilling job expectations. Understands the importance of client confidentiality and follows agency policies relating to HIPAA and confidentiality. Other Duties & Responsibilities:
May provide front desk coverage at other locations or for other programs as needed. May complete special projects such as data compiling and entry, filing, mailing, copying, and so forth as requested. Data requested can include:
the number of resources/services delivered by type (testing, vaccine education, connections made in community), improvements to infrastructure made, number of training opportunities with new or existing partners, and other measures as appropriate. Maintains up-to-date vaccines, including flu (influenza), in accordance with CDC guidelines: Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers, in which you allow CMDHD to access your current immunization status based on Michigan Improvement Care Registry (MCIR). Other duties as assigned by supervisor or director. Minimum Qualifications:
Required:
High School Diploma or GED, experience working with pregnant women, children, and families, in addition to the Medicaid population, and in the public health, substance abuse, health care and/or mental health field. Certification as a Community Health Worker through MiCHWA or other credentialling body. Preferred:
Associate Degree or higher in health and human services, community services, or mental health field specifically working with retired individuals and the Medicaid or Medicare population. Six months to one year formal or equivalent on-the-job training in office/administrative skills, systems and equipment including standard office applications, database entries, bookkeeping, and document management. Ability to type accurately and efficiently at least 40 wpm, navigate computerized databases, and complete data entry. Knowledge and competence in general office procedures including reception, data entry and filing at a level normally acquired through one-year related experience. Experience and knowledge in medical office scheduling and insurance preferred. Reliable transportation with valid Michigan driver's license and certificate of insurance to travel to other locations for work, training, or meetings. Interpersonal and communications skills to greet and direct clients and visitors, gather, and exchange information, and respond to routine inquiries. Ability to operate and perform routine maintenance on standard office equipment including multifunction printer, scanner, fax machine, and postage machine. Completion of National Incident Management System/Incident Command System online and face-to-face training courses based on current Public Health Emergency Preparedness requirements. Core Competencies:
Professional Public Health Core Competencies required: Domain 1: Data Analytics and Assessment Skills 1.1. Describes factors that affect the health of a community. 1.2. Accesses existing quantitative and qualitative data. 1.3. Collects quantitative and qualitative data. 1.8. Assesses community health status. Domain 2: Policy Development and Program Planning Skills 2.2. Implements policies, programs, and services. Domain 3: Communication Skills 3.2. Communicates with internal and external audiences. 3.3. Responds to information, misinformation, and disinformation. 3.4. Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations. Domain 4: Health Equity Skills 4.1. Applies principles of ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. 4.2. Engages in continuous self-reflection about one's biases. 4.3. Recognizes the diversity of individuals and populations. 4.4. Reduces systemic and structural barriers that perpetuate health inequities. 4.5. Implements organizational policies, programs, and services to achieve health equity and social and environmental justice. 4.7. Advocates for health equity and social and environmental justice. Domain 5: Community Partnership Skills 5.1. Describes conditions, systems, and policies affecting community health and resilience. 5.2. Establishes relationships to improve community health and resilience. 5.3. Maintains relationships that improve community health and resilience. 5.4. Collaborates with community members and organizations. Domain 6: Public Health Sciences 6.1. Describes systems, policies, and events impacting public health. 6.2. Applies public health sciences in delivering the 10 Essential Public Health Services. 6.4. Contributes to the evidence base for improving health. Domain 7: Management and Finance Skills 7.4. Engages in professional development. 7.7. Implements organizational policies, programs, and services to achieve diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. 7.10. Applies critical thinking in decision making. 7.11. Engages individuals and teams to achieve program and organizational goals. 7.12. Facilitates collaboration among individuals, groups, and organizations. Domain 8: Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills 8.2. Implements a vision for a healthy community. 8.3. Addresses facilitators and barriers impacting the delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services. 8.4. Creates opportunities for creativity and innovation. 8.5. Responds to emerging needs. Demonstrates Core Values:
integrity, positive attitude, communications, customer service, responsibility, and accountability. Environment & Effort:
General office setting in health department facilities. Perform essential duties requires speaking, hearing, and repetitive motions (typing/data entry.) Exposure Control - Category B. At lower risk for occupational percutaneous or mucosal exposure to blood or body fluids. Per OSHA's Blood borne Pathogens standard requirements, CMDHD protects the employee by an established exposure control plan which includes but is not limited to use of universal precautions, engineering controls, work practice controls, personal protective equipment, and worker training. Physical effort:
sedentary work requiring lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally, and using minimum force to lift, carry, or move objects such as files and notebooks. Visual effort:
constantly required in viewing computer display and reading forms and charts. Mental effort:
constant interruptions, and continual review and verification of data and information, and investigating and following up on questions or documentation errors.
