Community Health Worker - Maternal Child Health

 

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a key component of the Ingham County Health Department’s Maternal Child Health Division. This culturally and geographically connected individual serves as a link between underserved communities and existing community resources. Through home visiting, this individual assists clients in overcoming barriers to health, social services, education and employment. 

 

Essential Functions: 

1. Assists clients in filling out forms (state, federal, local, paperwork and other documents) and reviews documents for proper completion. Coordinates with clients and providers to make necessary appointments in person, and/or by phone, and/or in writing, to ensure clients have completed required or recommended actions.

2. Assists in the creation, maintenance, and distribution of resource guides for food, housing, doctor office locations and other services to distribute to the community and its partners. Conducts program specific outreach to disseminate this information throughout the community. 

3. Completes documentation utilizing the program’s client system to ensure consistent communication and up-to-date documentation with clients.  Uses the program’s client contact protocols for care coordination activities at all times. 

4. Assess individuals and families based on social determinates of health (SDOH), including but not limited to: health, physical and mental impairments, personal and family adjustments, finances, employment, food, clothing, housing and utilities; by determining and completing appropriate checklists and bringing information gathered back to program supervisor or team lead to oversee CHW interventions based on the nature and severity of problems. Provides appropriate referrals based on needs assessment of individuals and families. 

5. Assists in the maintenance of departmental filing systems by ensuring proper filing of documents and folders. Provides the retrieval of materials from various systems and conducts searches for necessary documentation. This includes filling out forms, assisting in Medicaid, SER and food stamps applications, checking client accounts, navigating issues with DHHS case workers and helping with Medicaid redeterminations via MI-Bridges and other statewide and local data systems. 

6. Provides client information/education regarding primary care provider assessments about the ever-changing complex health processes, including specific information about services covered by various health plans, coordinating with primary care and sub specialty offices. Education may include program specific curricula. 

7. Provides Medicaid outreach and education (medical, dental, vision, mental health, transportation coordination, etc.)   to clients and the public regarding program guidelines and health department services through mobile health events, mailings, displays, telephone contacts and in person.

8.Utilizes word processing, excel and other software programs to track and distribute documents, spreadsheets, brochures, flyers, training materials and other informational or educational documents to targeted cultures and communities.  Work with clients that have technology barriers, (no phones, internet and computer access or skills) or who speak other languages other than English to input all necessary information into required documentation. 

9. Determining the importance of tasks needed to be performed to ensure quality of life for our clients that help prevent health related barriers such as but not limited to: connecting with primary care or sub specialty provider offices, MDHHS office, picking up resources for families, arranging transportation, and providing referrals for clients and families. 

10. Maintains a client centered approach including cultural competency, to accommodate ALL needs of clients including mental, physical, spiritual and other social determinates of health by implementing motivational interviewing and conducting detailed assessments regarding client’s social history, medical history, economic status and support systems to determine eligibility for services. 

11. Reviews provider documentation and problem solves with family to determine next steps and address any barriers to ensuring positive outcomes. 

12. Acts as a mandated reporter, securing supplementary information to accurately report cases of suspected abuse or neglect of children and adults to the proper authorities in accordance with department policy and state law. Required to work with program supervisor to address issues with Child Protective Services and/or Adult Protective Services as well as law enforcement and other agencies to ensure the health and welfare of each client.

13. Determines eligibility for services such as financial assistance, insurances and other programs in place to assist individuals and refers clients to community resources and other agencies to meet identified needs. Rides along with clients using public transportation or meets clients at scheduled medical appointments, surgeries or referral sites including sub specialty clinic appointments.

17. Participates in continual professional development to keep up with trends related to maternal and child health, community-based resources, and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH).  Maintains credentialing through continuing education when and if applicable. 

Other Functions: 

• Performs other duties as assigned. 
• Must adhere to departmental standards in regard to HIPAA and other privacy issues. 
• During a public health emergency, the employee may be required to perform duties similar to but not limited to those in his/her job description. 

(An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the above tasks. These examples do not include all of the tasks which the employee may be expected to perform.) 

 

Education: A minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent is required. Completion of Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA) curriculum post-hiring is preferred.

Experience: Experience with social services, public health systems, or maternal child health services is preferred. 

Other Requirements:

(The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description.  The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria)             

 

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to sit, stand, walk and access client’s homes in various environments, bending over and lifting/holding/carrying objects found in an office environment.  
• Ability to communicate and respond to co-worker and customer inquiries both in person and over the phone.
• Ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter & retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.
• Ability to travel throughout the County.  

(This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description.  These include, but are not limited to, the requirements listed above. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements.)

Working Conditions:

2024

UAW F