Community Health Worker - Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey

Overview:

Community Health Worker (Temporary)

Job Description

 

Program Description:  The vision of the Greater Newark Health Care Coalition (GNHCC)  is for all residents of Newark, East Orange, and Irvington to have a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.   GNHCC’s mission is to work collaboratively to improve systems and community and individual conditions for optimal health and well-being.  GNHCC believes that to ensure the health and well-being of the Greater Newark NJ community, every person must have access to affordable, comprehensive health and mental health coverage and the care they need to thrive.

 

Position Summary

 

The role of the Community Health Worker (CHW) is to help families overcome social and health-related barriers, navigate healthcare systems, connect to health and social services and support, and provide advocacy and support to improve health outcomes. CHWs serve as an integrated partner of support to families and the multidisciplinary care team; including but not limited to individuals at highest risk of CVD with a focus on hypertension and high cholesterol. This position is grant-funded through June 2025 but may be extended.

 

Responsibilities:

Principal Responsibilities:

 

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary clinical care team at the University Hospital

 

Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) General Medicine clinic.

 

• Conduct outreach and educational activities in targeted census tracts to promote the

 

cardiovascular clinic at University Hospital.

 

• Provide and maintain high-level case management of a minimum of 20 clients requiring

 

complex levels of support and resources

 

• Establish and maintain a network with community agencies and resources that may

 

benefit individuals with cardiovascular disease

 

• Conduct regular needs assessments, including assisting clients with setting goals that

 

promote social and behavior change

 

• Make weekly follow-up calls, community and home visits to participants

 

• Motivate clients to meet their health and well-being goals

 

• Help clients with social issues like homelessness, behavioral health, and hunger, and assist

 

clients with organizing their records, making follow-up appointments, and filling

 

prescriptions

 

• Help clients fill out applications for benefits like insurance and food stamps

 

• Document each client encounter in detail

 

• Prepare reports and documents as needed or requested

 

• Attend regular team meetings with the University Hospital team and with GNHCC staff as

 

required

 

• Attend ongoing training and professional development as required

 

• Work with other CHWs in the region to optimize CHW supports

 

• Adhere to the GNHCC policy and procedures in professional development and conduct

 

• Other duties as assigned

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and drive outcomes across professional disciplines,

 

organizations and clinical settings, especially on behalf of medical and socially vulnerable

 

populations.

 

• Ability to effectively oversee case management for socially and medically complex clients

 

in a variety of non-traditional settings; experience serving in poor, urban environments;

 

familiarity with Newark is preferred.

 

• Competence in English and one other language spoken in the service area, Spanish, French

 

Creole, or Portuguese.

 

• Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, with attention to detail required; strong

 

oral/written communication skills are a must along with strong command of Microsoft

 

Office.

 

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and manage multiple priorities, utilize effective

 

time management skills, and exercise sound administrative and clinical judgment.

 

• Demonstrated ability to work well with people of various ages, backgrounds, ethnicities,

 

and life experiences.

 

• Ability to work well and maintain professionalism under times of stress and pressure.

 

• Ability to travel to multiple locations; valid driver’s license and automobile that is insured.

 

• Ability to work non-traditional hours if needed based on operational needs and to meet the

 

needs of the community.

Qualifications:

Associate’s/Bachelor’s degree preferred; or a combination of education and experience

 

• 1-3 years of community health experience preferred

 

• Familiarity with the geographic area and the population to be served including high need

 

Medicaid eligible populations and uninsured women

 

• Knowledge of cultural and lifestyle diversity issues with ability to network with a

 

specific population

 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

 

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

 

• Ability to work flexible hours, including some occasional evening and weekend hours

 

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required

EEOC:The Greater Newark Healthcare Coalition is an equal opportunity employer.