Community Health Worker

DESCRIPTION: Serves as a liaison between the Center and the community by promoting services, recruiting and supporting clients, and delivering health education and outreach. The CHW identifies and engages priority populations, provides culturally appropriate education and social support, and helps reduce barriers to accessing clinical services and community resources.

SUPERVISION: Directly supervised by the Program Coordinator and/or Health Information Manager.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires frequent standing, walking, and participation in community outreach activities; intermittent sitting for administrative tasks. May require lifting and moving up to 25 pounds of materials or supplies. Requires the use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, calculator, and copier. Local travel is required.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promotes program/Center services.
• Responsible for recruitment and management of clients.
• Assists with the follow-up of clients referred to the program/Center.
• Schedules educational and/or promotional activities.
• Assists clients to complete forms pertinent to the program/Center.
• Responsible for learning required teaching guides and Center services, programs, and procedures.
• Compiles information required for monthly activity reports.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Plans activities as required.
• Assists manager in the development of educational materials.
• Keeps records of daily activities and prepares reports as required.
• Assists in medical clinic educational activities.
• Participates in all promotional activities sponsored by the Center.
• Identifies priority populations in the community.
• Identifies populations at highest risk for unintended pregnancies and STIs.
• Provides health education and social support.
• Helps reduce participants' barriers to accessing clinical services.
• Establishes relationships with internal and external partners to reach eligible clients in the priority populations.
• Establishes relationships with clinic sites that offer other HHSC programs such as the Family Planning Program, Breast and Cervical Cancer Services Program, and the Primary Healthcare Program to increase cross-program referrals, coordination, and service provision.
• Links and connects participants to partner clinics for Healthy Texas Women services.
• Educates clients diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer about Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer eligibility requirements and how to apply for services.
• Provides information to each eligible client in their primary language.
• Provides access to information that is linguistically appropriate and available to the visually and hearing impaired.
• Must demonstrate initiative and ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate from an accredited high school or GED program. High school/GED diploma may be substituted for three year of relevant professional-level work experience in health education or related field.
• Possess a Promotor de Salud/Community Health Worker Certification by the Texas Department of State Health Services or been able to obtain the certification within seven months of hiring date.
• Must be able to work long hours during the week and weekends as necessary.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.
• Possess means of transportation.
• Valid Texas Driver's License and minimum liability insurance.
• Must be able to drive within Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg counties.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of Hispanic culture and customs.
• Knowledge of community health problems.
• Ability to work effectively with others and to deal tactfully with professional personnel as well as with the public.
• Ability to motivate and work with individuals in target areas to promote community education and client participation.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, and to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and in making recommendations.