Community Health Worker

Overview

The County of Siskiyou is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants of any race, religion, or ancestry. For exact salary information please refer to the current salary schedule. County Website

General Statement of Duties:

A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline 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 public health, social services, behavioral health and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

The CHW will engage with and connect individuals, families, care and community organizations to better understand the services needed. The CHW will implement comprehensive based education and prevention programs, process documents, implement records management, implement and produce educational materials. The CHW will build individual and community capacity by increasing the individuals  knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy to increase public health knowledge.

The CHW provides technical support in the areas of community health program communication, monitoring, reporting and analysis. Incumbents may be assigned to varied programs and work locations within the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), reporting to the Director of the assigned department and/or other assigned supervisors. The CHW works in all geographic settings but typically in underprivileged and marginalized communities where the residents lack access to affordable and quality health care.

This classification is a for cause, non-exempt position.

Example of Duties:

The examples of functions listed in this class specification are representative but not necessarily exhaustive or descriptive of any one position in the class. Public Health Leadership is not precluded from assigning other related functions not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

• Provide advanced community organizing, health information, assist with navigation of social services resources and programs. A CHW helps communities access resources, including quality health care, insurance, food, housing, and health information.
• Assist clients, individuals, and community organizations in the creation of health programs, including staffing resource booths/tables at community activities.
• Advanced participation in outreach efforts to raise community awareness of health programs and health risks to underserved communities, minorities and low-income populations.
• Advocate for and promote the use of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and resources within organizations and with diverse colleagues and community partners.
• Review currently existing programs and health initiatives to ensure they are current, effective and safe for their intended audience(s).
• Build and maintain networks and collaborate with appropriate community partners in capacity building activities.
• Communicate with clients to assess progress, respond to questions, and make recommendations as needed.
• Initiate and serve on coalitions and/or committees or confer with other agencies or departments regarding the needs of the community or of the individual clients.
• Provide informal counseling and advocating for local health needs.
• Being present for community health initiatives in health care facilities, like small local clinics or local government agencies, to satisfy the need of the local community.
• Assist in conducting evaluation activities and preparing written reports.
• Attend appropriate and relevant trainings to stay up to date on current trainings and policy.
• Assists clients in utilizing HHSA services by interpreting instructions and rules and acting as an advocate when interacting with representatives of health and social services agencies.
• Reduce social isolation among clients
• Manage care and care transitions for vulnerable populations.
• Create connections between vulnerable populations and healthcare providers.
• Perform other related duties as required

Desired

Skills:

• Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures, generations, and/or backgrounds and function calmly in situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, empathy and diplomacy
• Use specialized computer applications on a daily basis to complete tasks or assignments, and prioritize work
• Effectively interview and gain the cooperation of clients in a variety of settings in order to obtain complete and accurate information
• Read, understand, and interpret information and data found in applications and other technical documents
• Organize, prioritize, and complete a…