The Community Health Worker plays a crucial role in supporting individuals facing mental health, addiction, and physical health challenges. This position focuses on leveraging personal experiences to foster hope and resilience in members, guiding them towards recovery and self-sufficiency. The Community Health Worker will work collaboratively with members to develop personalized recovery plans, ensuring they have access to necessary resources and support systems. By meeting with members one-to-one, the specialist will help members navigate their journeys, promoting empowerment and self-advocacy. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the quality of life for members and assist them in achieving their personal health and recovery goals.

The Community Health Worker provides a bridge between members at Community Behavioral Health and other professionals for referrals, decision making and overall continuity of care. They assess any barriers to following through with healthcare needs, assisting members in overcoming those barriers, and referring to appropriate resources as needed.

Strong skills in human services and crisis intervention are essential for effectively supporting members in distressing situations. Daily work will involve using motivational interviewing techniques to foster a safe and trusting environment for members, and explore their goals and aspirations; thus, enhancing their engagement in the recovery process. Additionally, knowledge of addiction recovery will inform the development of tailored strategies that address the unique challenges faced by members. Preferred skills in social services and child welfare will further enrich the support provided, ensuring a holistic approach to member care.

Essential Functions:

• Conducts outreach and builds rapport with the members identified by their team.
• Works directly with members and their natural supports in the community during 50-75% of work hours or 10-15 days per month.
• Meets with members to provide encouragement, hope, emotional support, and positive feedback to reinforce positive behaviors.
• Assists in assessment of members’ readiness for change and willingness to engage in services.
• Applies motivational interviewing techniques to encourage member engagement in treatment.
• Works with Clinical Care Managers and other members of the team to facilitate care coordination and connection to meet members’ goals.
• Communicates and responds to internal and external phone calls and e-mails in a timely fashion.
• Conducts follow up with members in the community to review their understanding of medication and follow-up care needs.
• Conducts telephonic outreach, follow-up and in-person meetings at the provider site or member’s home.
• Assists members to ensure that tasks such as scheduling healthcare appointments, filling prescriptions, attending behavioral and physical health appointments are performed.
• Completes social determinants of health assessments with members
• Identifies and connects members to resources addressing social determinants of health.
• Monitors/identifies potential barriers to treatment and works with the treatment team to resolve them.
• Attends regular meetings with provider to discuss barriers and create solutions
• Conduct outreach and education about physical health issues
• Assist members in enrolling in other healthcare services
• Accompany members to critical health care or social service appointments
• Promote the utilization of resources within the community
• Facilitate opportunities for individuals to direct their own physical and behavioral wellness
• Teach and support acquisition and utilization of skills needed for recovery
• Help to facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth
• Participate in case review meetings as needed
• Document work as required

Position Requirements: 

• Education: High School Diploma/GED preferred
• License/Certification: 
  • Completion and certification through a Community Health Worker training program and/or:
  • Completion and certification through Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services Certified Peer Specialist/Certified Recovery Specialist training curriculum.
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance required
• Community Based/Clinic Setting experience.
• Strong communication skills
• Relevant Work Experience: Possesses at least 1 - 2 years of direct service experience as a Community Health Worker and/or Peer Support Specialist. Experience as a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator Preferred
• Ability to travel throughout Philadelphia, navigation of public transportation system

Skills:

• Familiar with services and resources for adults and children in the managed care system
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and able to type 20 words per minute
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task in a high-volume environment
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Compliant with HIPAA regulations

Work Conditions (including travel, overtime required, physical requirements and occupational exposure): 

• Must be able to travel within Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
• Regularly requires walking, standing, stooping, bending, sitting, reaching, pushing, pulling and/or repetitive wrist/hand movements for various lengths of time throughout the day.
• Ability to utilize computers and office equipment to complete daily work responsibilities.
• Regularly works inside in areas that are adequately lighted and ventilated. Some fluctuation in temperature. No protective equipment routinely needed.
• Must be able to adapt to continuous changes/demands of the job.

Philadelphia Residency Requirement:

• The successful candidate must be a current Philadelphia resident or become a resident within six months of hire.

Equal Employment Opportunity: 

• We strive to promote and sustain a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging every day. CBH is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or any other personnel action based on all qualified individuals. This is without regard to race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex/gender, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected individual genetic information, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability in each aspect of the human resources function by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Requesting An Accommodation: 

• CBH is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities or religious observance, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by CBH and require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our accommodation process. Accommodations made to facilitate the recruiting process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodation once hired.
• If you would like to be considered for employment opportunities with CBH and have accommodation needs for a disability or religious observance, please send us an email at CBH.Recruitment@Phila.gov