Community Health Worker

A
Community Health Worker is �a
frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an
unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting
relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between
health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and
improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also
builds 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.� (APHA CHW
Section)

Specifically
the role of the community health worker is to:

-
Operate in a supportive role within an interdisciplinary health care team
utilizing an integrated care and treatment model.

-
Provide peer outreach case management and navigational services to recently
released prisoners with chronic medical behavioral and substance use
conditions.

-
Collaborate with the medical home- primary care (PCP) behavioral health and
social work providers to deliver interventions that will maximize patient
health outcomes.

-
Facilitate patients obtaining remaining hepatitis C medications from the Rhode
Island Department of Corrections encouraging adherence to medication
providing brief surveys to patients enrolled in a research study assist
patients in obtaining test-of-cure after completing their hepatitis C
treatment.

Under
supervision of the Justin Berk MD (PI) and with oversight from the Center
for Primary Care and Center for Health and Justice Transformation Transitions
Clinic teams the Transitions Clinic CHW is responsible for performing the
following essential job functions:

Recruits
patients to the Center for Primary Care�s Transitions Clinic Program by
conducting outreach activities at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections
Adult Correctional Institutions and in the community. This role will
function specific to research needs. 

Builds
trust with recently released chronically ill individuals with co-morbid
substance use and mental illness to provide support empowerment education and
case management services.

Advises
patients and others regarding health care and other community services
available to them; assists patients in utilizing services; makes follow-up
contacts when required.

Conducts
periodic assessments of patient�s physical activity dietary habits cigarette
smoking habits housing and employment status and social and economic
resources.

Educates
clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and
self-management of their chronic illness under the direction of CPC staff.

Educates
patients about the health care system appropriate sites of care and
self-navigation to help them build skills to become self-sufficient and manage
their health independently.

Documents
work with patients through appropriate record keeping that follows the clinic�s
policies and procedures; assists with gathering data relevant to program
evaluation as appropriate.

Operates
effectively in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting by participating regularly
in clinic program meetings and attending patient medical visits upon request.

Participates
in team meetings and assist as needed in any activities related to the clinic
or the Brown University Community Health Institute.

Serves
as liaison between the professional staff and the community; including
developing relationships with various stakeholders in the re-entry community.

May
transport ambulatory patients between their homes and clinics hospitals or
other social agencies and meet with patients at home in the hospital or in
community settings other than the Center for Primary Care.

Attends
ongoing training for community health workers.

Practices
clear effective consistent communication with clients and colleagues. 

Demonstrates
privacy and confidentiality meeting all related training and practice
requirements of the Brown University system.

Works
nights and weekends as required.

Assist
research participants with obtaining medications completing research surveys
and obtaining necessary blood work at Brown University Health labs.

Other
duties as assigned.

Two
(2) years of verifiable experience providing information education
intervention and/or referral services to culturally diverse populations. Recent
experience (last 5 years) working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a
health care setting preferred.

Prior
incarceration preferred.

Community
Health Worker certification in Rhode Island preferred.

Experience
working with health care systems substance use treatment programs and/or
community-based organizations.

Experience
with motivational interviewing advising/counseling clients and/or
participating in health promotion and health education activities.

Excellent
verbal and written communication skills.

Excellent
organization thorough record-keeping follow through and ability to juggle
multiple priorities in fast-paced environment with multiple collaborators.

Demonstrated
excellent attendance and reliability.

Willingness
to travel to and work in various environments including prison/jail settings
street outreach home visits at SRO patient�s residence or homeless
encampment.

Basic
computer skills including Microsoft Office.

Valid
driver�s license and excellent driving record and reliable personal
transportation.

Experience
living or working in South Providence and experience working with formerly
incarcerated individuals LGBT individuals and/or people with severe mental
health issues preferred.

Prior
experience using an electronic health record preferred.

Bilingual
English/Spanish preferred.