Community Health Worker

Description

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about prevention and health education to join our team! The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted frontline public health professional who supports our team with connecting pregnant women, infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families to physical and oral health care. The CHW promotes healthy pregnancies, healthy child development and family well-being, and helps ensure the program meets the health-related requirements of the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) and Wisconsin’s Group Child Care Licensing Rule (DCF 251).

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: (others may be assigned) 

Coordination of Health Services (80%)

• Maintain and share current knowledge of community resources with agency staff.
• Build relationships with local clinics, hospitals, public health departments, dental providers, behavioral health providers and social service agencies; assist with establishing formal Memorandums of Understanding, contracts, and/or partnership agreements.
• Represent the program at community events, health fairs and during Health & Mental Health Advisory Committee meetings, as assigned.
• Support children birth to age 5 and their families by ensuring each child has a medical home, a dental home, up-to-date well-child visits, immunizations, and needed EPSDT screenings (e.g., lead).
• Coordinate health-related events, including securing individuals to provide training and/or services (hearing screenings, vision screenings, CPR, First-Aid, physical health education and services, oral health education and services, mental health education, growth assessments, etc.) as required per Performance Standards and collaborative agreements.
• Provide home visitors, family service coordinators, and supervisors with reports that inform and support their work in obtaining records within mandated deadlines established through HSPPS and DCF 251.
• Educate and assist home visitors and family services coordinators in resolving barriers to accessing services (i.e., navigating insurance, scheduling appointments, accessing interpretation and transportation services, etc.). Schedule and/or assist staff and/or families in scheduling follow-up health appointments to resolve treatment needs, as needed. 
• Order and send out first-aid and other health/oral health supplies to sites at the beginning of the program year, and then as needed.
• Review all health/oral health histories and nutritional needs prior to children’s start dates. Provide guidance to center-based staff (nurturers/teachers, family service coordinators, cooks, mental health/disabilities coordinators, etc.) to address immediate health and special dietary needs. 
• Develop Individual Service Plans (ISPs) for serious health conditions and support staff in developing ISPs and other health related plans of care. Seek out health consultants, collaborating nurse input, or doctor review and sign off on ISPs, when necessary.
• Assist with identification, distribution of, and training staff on use of health/oral health and nutrition curriculum materials.
• Lead the agency in planning awareness events of the importance of health and nutrition in preparing children for school readiness success.
• Enter timely and accurate information in the program's data system (e.g., ChildPlus or equivalent) to support compliance tracking, monitoring and reporting.

Agency Operations (20%)

• Recommend changes to the agency’s policies and procedures related to physical, oral, and mental health services.
• Participate in the agency’s self-assessment, community assessment, program design, and completion of the annual Program Information Report.
• Recommend health-related items to be included in the agency’s budget; assist in the collection of in-kind donations.
• Complete assigned operations paperwork, time sheets, mileage, and other reports as required, etc. 
• Assist in preparing and implementing emergency preparedness and safety planning for agency activities. Support a culture of safety and serve as a Mandated Reporter.
• Engage with the agency’s Board of Directors and/or Policy Council to provide training, report on outcomes, and relay programmatic updates, as requested.
• Provide health related trainings during new employee orientation, onboarding, and annually thereafter to help the agency fulfill professional development/training requirements.
• Participate in various meetings (team, site, all-staff, operations, etc.), and other activities designed to enhance collaboration and promote consistency. 

 An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position. It is the responsibility of the individual to inform the employer of any accommodation needed to perform the essential functions of this position. 

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, community health, health sciences, or a related field; 2 years post-degree related experience, preferred.
• Strong communication, organization and time management skills, with the ability to manage a caseload and meet deadlines; demonstrated ability to build community partnerships and lead collaborative initiatives, preferred.
• Experience utilizing policies and procedures, administrative rules, and state/federal laws to develop and implement programs; experience with this in a Head Start, Early Head Start and/or nonprofit setting preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team; experience working collaboratively to improve health outcomes and ensure compliance in a Head Start, Early Head Start, or child care setting, preferred.
• Understanding of prenatal, infant and early childhood health and development.
• Sound judgment, discretion and professional boundaries; the ability to maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, FERPA and program policies.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills and experience with basic data management systems.
• Must be able to pass a physical exam, background checks, and have a valid driver’s license. 

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, & EMOTIONAL DEMANDS:

Employees must consistently demonstrate that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally able to meet the requirements of their job. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

General Office Tasks: Sitting for long periods, moving from location to location (within buildings and from site to site) and using a computer for extended periods of time

Communication: Speaking clearly, hearing, and using hands to handle objects or controls

Physical Activity: Depending on the job, one might need to lift, bend, or crouch

Visual Acuity: Seeing details of objects at various distances, as well as depth perception. The ability to withstand blue light from computer screens, smart phones, and other technology

Auditory Acuity: The ability to hear and focus on conversations and potentially respond quickly to sounds

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Cognitive Skills: Learning new information, remembering processes, focusing, categorizing, and integrating information for decision-making; making timely and effective decisions under pressure

Problem-Solving: Identifying problems, analyzing situations, and finding solutions

Organization and Planning: Organizing tasks, setting priorities, and managing time effectively

Adaptability: Adapting to changing situations and priorities

Stress Management: Managing stress and maintaining composure under pressure

EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and responding to the emotions of team members; understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses and how they impact others

Conflict Resolution: Resolving conflicts constructively and fairly

Resilience: Maintaining a positive attitude and bouncing back from setbacks

Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance: Engaging in activities that reduce stress and/or promote health and wellness

The physical, mental, and emotional requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• The employee primarily works indoors in an office that is typically located within a school building; the noise level in the work environment ranges from low to moderate.
• The employee regularly performs work/job related travel within Rock and Walworth Counties; occasional travel within and outside of the state may be required for conference attendance.
• The employee occasionally performs work in the evenings or on weekends to support family events.
• The employee is serving in a role that requires support to children, parents, and staff; regular interruptions to workflow are expected.
• The employee may encounter illness and/or be exposed to situations that require CPR or first-aid to be administered.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to successfully function within the work environment.