Community Health Outreach Worker (Non-FIT)

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary :

Assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health.

May provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs.

May collect data to help identify community health needs. By doing this, the Community Health Outreach Worker helps their organization fulfill its mission to service the community.

Primary Responsibilities :

• Update and maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
• Advise patients and / or groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings or tests
• Advise patients or community groups on issues that could lead to prevention of conditions
• Identify the particular healthcare needs of individuals in a community or targeted area
• Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health such as diet and exercise
• Advise clients or community groups related to self-care
• Accompany patients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites
• Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups
• Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community
• Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
• Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress.
• Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.
• Refer community members to needed health services
• Refer clients to community or social service programs
• Advocate for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers
• Teach classes or otherwise disseminate medical or dental health information to school groups, community groups, or targeted families or individuals, in a manner consistent with cultural norms
• Collect information from individuals to compile vital statistics about the general health of community members
• Help patients get needed services or resources
• Interpret, translate, or provide cultural mediation related to health services or information for community members
• Provide feedback to health service providers regarding improving service accessibility or acceptability
• Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health
• Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members
• Partner with care team (community, providers, and internal staff)
• Ability to travel locally 75% of the time
• As needed, help the patient engage with mental health and / or substance use treatment
• Have familiarity with Narcan / Naloxone distribution
• Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes
• Plan, strategize, host outreach events
• Ability to lift, bend, and / or stoop
• Lift 25 pounds without assistance
• Ability to drive and operate outreach van
• Knowledge and learning of continued cultures and values

Preparation and Training :

High school diploma / GED equivalent required. Preferred with experience in community setting and linking patients to various community resources and experience with connecting patient to community resources.

Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply. Bachelor’s degree in a Social Sciences field such as Sociology, Psychology or Social Work is preferable.

Bilingual and multilingual capabilities are preferred. Field based experience required. Valid Driver’s license.

Additional Skills required :

Member of the community with understanding of the population served. Must be able to function as part of a team. Ability to travel and work a variable schedule including some nights and weekends.

Strong organization, team building, and communication skills. Ability to work independently without supervision and self-manage.

Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies among a diverse population. Have a passion for health improvement and be able to communicate case sensitive material to participants.

Accepts and respects diversity without judgement. Ability to respect confidential information. General working knowledge of motivational interviewing, behavior change methods, and an emphasis on preventive care.

Must be able to work with changing priorities. Experience with Electronic Medical Records, Word, Excel, and Power Point software.

Experience :

Requires good written and oral communication skills, ability to work well independently and with a team and basic computer / word processing skills.

Previous experience in peer support work desired. Some early morning, evening, and weekend work may be required. Demonstrated possession of knowledge, skills, and abilities as stated above through at least one year of experience in performing similar tasks in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, medical corps, prison or other social or rehabilitation services.

Working Conditions :

Work requires contact with clients, family members and other professional disciplines and service agencies. Contacts may also include volunteers, court officials, interns and residents.

These contacts involve an exercise of influence, tactful judgement, and proper conduct in order to negotiate matters and carry out policies and programs for the best interests of the company / patient.

Applicant must be medically able to work and manage effectively with changing situations, varying workloads, interruptions, etc.

in a fast-paced environment. Employees may be exposed to communicable diseases, biohazard substances, and other conditions found in a clinical environment.