Overview

The Community Health Worker (CHW) provides community support services by partnering with other community agencies to help at risk / high risk individuals and their families navigate complex social service and health care systems to services to promote healthy behaviors and manage conditions that affect their health and social well-being. This culturally and geographically connected individual serves as a link between underserved communities and existing community resources. Through client visits and community engagement, the CHW assists clients in overcoming barriers to health, social services, education, and employment and other Social Drivers of Health. Under the direction of the CHW Supervisor, the CHW is responsible for providing and coordinating health education and disease management education, assisting individuals with navigating the health and social care systems, and providing case management services (under supervision). The CHW will work within an interdisciplinary team and will serve as a bridge between the patient and the medical system by building trusting relationships with community members served by the health care entities or program(s). Home visits will be required for some interventions; however, the CHW team may also provide education and services in other settings such as group sessions, health fairs, clinics, and other community locations as well.

Responsibilities

• Perform assessment on assigned clients at assigned intervals along with Social Determinants of Health screenings.
• Monitor nutrition of adults living with chronic health conditions and other high-risk groups.
• Advocate for clients when they are unable to speak for themselves.
• Continuing to update plans and promoting adherence to facilitate positive outcomes.
• Refer community members to needed health services.
• Document all client interactions and assessments.
• Establish trusting relationships with patients.
• Assists client with problem-solving barriers to health by identifying, locating, connecting to, and navigating needed community and medical system services.
• This may also include accompanying clients to appointments and assisting with completion of forms to access needed services.
• Link clients to and inform them of available community resources.
• Educates clients on how to obtain care and self-manage their conditions.
• Builds individual/client, community, and team capacity.
• Attends interdisciplinary care team discussions.
• Maintains a client caseload.
• Performs social determinants of health screening to identify needs and develops plan to address health equity needs.
• Remain apprised of current CHW policies, procedures, and standards.
• Remain apprised of current CHW best-practices.
• Include complementary education and outreach, when appropriate (e.g., flu prevention and immunizations).
• Increases program visibility by performing outreach in the community (i.e., faith communities, health fairs, senior centers), participating in community education initiatives, and providing collaboration and referrals with community providers.
• Work with the CHW Supervisor to identify, develop, and implement innovative community outreach and engagement of high-risk populations.
• Work with the community through peer led focus groups to gather data on the factors most affecting healthy lifestyles, especially around nutrition and physical activity in the proposed project areas.

Qualifications

• Certifications: Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Proof of Auto Insurance - Varies
• Driver's License - Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS)
• Education:
• Work Experience: Community outreach

Carle Health Company Overview

Find it here. Discover the job, the career, the purpose you were meant for. At Carle Health, we're committed to fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued, respected and empowered, where passion and purpose come together to positively impact the lives of our patients and our communities. Find it all at Carle Health.

Our nearly 17,000 team members and providers work together to support patient care across central and southeastern Illinois. We’ve grown to include eight, award-winning hospitals and a multispecialty provider group with more than 1,500 doctors and advanced practice providers. We’re developing the next generation of providers and healthcare professionals through Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based medical school, and Methodist College. Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Carle Health Proctor Hospital, Carle Health Pekin Hospital, and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center hold Magnet® designations, the nation’s highest honor for nursing care. We offer opportunities in several communities throughout central Illinois with potential for growth and life-long careers at Carle Health.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

For more information: human.resources@carle.com.