Community Health Worker

Valley Health Partners - Allentown, PA

Full-time

Allentown, PA

About the position

The Community Health Worker acts as a bridge between health care providers, community-based providers, schools, and individuals in the community to promote health, reduce disparities, and improve service delivery across the care continuum. Understands the experiences, socioeconomic needs, language, and/or culture of the communities served. Spends time outreaching, assessing needs, providing health education, and helping patients navigate health systems. Identifies barriers to care and assist in changing service delivery to improve patient and community health. Schedule appointments through EPIC.

Responsibilities

• Builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through outreach, community education, social support, and advocacy.
• Provides culturally and linguistically appropriate health education using evidence-based sources.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with community-based organizations and across the care continuum to promote individual care delivery, education, advocacy, and public health.
• Identifies and assess the strengths and needs of patients, communities, and/or identified populations.
• Serves as a liaison between communities and health care systems/agencies.
• Advocates for policy changes as they related to individual and community needs with stakeholders across the entire care continuum.
• Assists and empowers patient and community capacity building through advocacy, education, skill development, networking, prioritizing needs, and goal setting.
• Acts as a liaison between providers/care team and patients to bridge the gap when working with individuals and/or groups from diverse cultures.
• Provides guidance and social assistance to patients and the entire care team.
• Assesses patients' psychosocial needs, provides referral and follow-up services, connects to care team, and coordinates patients' care across the entire care continuum.
• Supports patients' ability to participate in making decisions about their care.
• Recognizes potential crisis situations, utilizes appropriate de-escalation strategies, and communicates effectively during and after crisis situations.
• Enhances patient's ability to effectively communicate with healthcare providers and care team members.
• Advocates on behalf of patients, families, caregivers, and communities to obtain needed care and/or resources.
• Informs health care providers and care team members of barriers and challenges that limit patients' abilities to follow care plan and navigate the health care system.
• Educates, role models, and supports patients and providers in relationship building interactions to support better health outcomes.
• Engages in systematic problem solving, assessment, information gathering, goal setting, care planning and implementation, evaluation, and ongoing revision of plans and methods to achieve patient stated goals.
• Seeks assistance and utilize supervision as necessary to address challenging and/or ethical situations related to role responsibilities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Leadership Team.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent degree.
• 1 year experience working in a school-based setting.
• Community outreach experience with diverse populations and 1-year knowledge of local community and community resources.
• At least one year of experience in a community-based setting either as a student, volunteer, paid worker, or community resource advocate.
• Active Driver's License.
• PA State Certified Community Health Worker.
• BLS - Basic Life Support certification.

Nice-to-haves

• Associate's Degree in Public Health, Sociology, or related field.
• 2-3 years' experience working in a FQHC community practice.

Benefits

• Choice of medical, dental, and vision plans with great coverage at VERY affordable rates. Employee-only coverage is FREE!
• 403b Retirement Plan with generous company match.
• Paid Time Off for holidays, vacation, sick & personal days.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Tuition Reimbursement.