Community Health Worker

Company: Lifespan Corporation
Location: Providence
Posted on: April 23, 2025

Job Description:

Summary:

The

Community Health Worker (CHW) provides navigational case management and

home/community-based services to individuals recently released from

incarceration with chronic diseases including those affected by substance

misuse and/or behavioral health issues who are presently at or are referred to

the Transitions Clinic Program at the Rhode Island Hospital Center for Primary

Care in Providence RI. For this particular position the Research CHW will

focus on individuals with hepatitis C treatment initiated while incarcerated.

A

Community Health Worker is a

frontline public 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

health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and

improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also

builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and

self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach community

education informal counseling social support and advocacy. (APHA CHW

Section)

Specifically

the role of the community health worker is to:

* Operate in a supportive role within an interdisciplinary health care team

utilizing an integrated care and treatment model.

* Provide peer outreach case management and navigational services to recently

released prisoners with chronic medical behavioral and substance use

conditions.

* Collaborate with the medical home- primary care (PCP) behavioral health and

social work providers to deliver interventions that will maximize patient

health outcomes.

* Facilitate patients obtaining remaining hepatitis C medications from the Rhode

Island Department of Corrections encouraging adherence to medication

providing brief surveys to patients enrolled in a research study assist

patients in obtaining test-of-cure after completing their hepatitis C

treatment.

Responsibilities:

line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"serif"> ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Under

supervision of the Justin Berk MD (PI) and with oversight from the Center

for Primary Care and Center for Health and Justice Transformation Transitions

Clinic teams the Transitions Clinic CHW is responsible for performing the

following essential job functions:

Recruits

patients to the Center for Primary Cares Transitions Clinic Program by

conducting outreach activities at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections

Adult Correctional Institutions and in the community. This role will

function specific to research needs.

Builds

trust with recently released chronically ill individuals with co-morbid

substance use and mental illness to provide support empowerment education and

case management services.

Advises

patients and others regarding health care and other community services

available to them; assists patients in utilizing services; makes follow-up

contacts when required.

Conducts

periodic assessments of patients physical activity dietary habits cigarette

smoking habits housing and employment status and social and economic

resources.

Educates

clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and

self-management of their chronic illness under the direction of CPC staff.

Educates

patients about the health care system appropriate sites of care and

self-navigation to help them build skills to become self-sufficient and manage

their health independently.

Documents

work with patients through appropriate record keeping that follows the clinics

policies and procedures; assists with gathering data relevant to program

evaluation as appropriate.

Operates

effectively in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting by participating regularly

in clinic program meetings and attending patient medical visits upon request.

Participates

in team meetings and assist as needed in any activities related to the clinic

or the Brown University Community Health Institute.

Serves

as liaison between the professional staff and the community; including

developing relationships with various stakeholders in the re-entry community.

May

transport ambulatory patients between their homes and clinics hospitals or

other social agencies and meet with patients at home in the hospital or in

community settings other than the Center for Primary Care.

Attends

ongoing training for community health workers.

Practices

clear effective consistent communication with clients and colleagues.

Demonstrates

privacy and confidentiality meeting all related training and practice

requirements of the Brown University system.

Works

nights and weekends as required.

Assist

research participants with obtaining medications completing research surveys

and obtaining necessary blood work at Brown University Health labs.

Other

duties as assigned.

Other information:

QUALIFICATIONS

* EXPERIENCE:

Two

(2) years of verifiable experience providing information education

intervention and/or referral services to culturally diverse populations. Recent

experience (last 5 years) working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a

health care setting preferred.

Prior

incarceration preferred.

Community

Health Worker certification in Rhode Island preferred.

Experience

working with health care systems substance use treatment programs and/or

community-based organizations.

Experience

with motivational interviewing advising/counseling clients and/or

participating in health promotion and health education activities.

Excellent

verbal and written communication skills.

Excellent

organization thorough record-keeping follow through and ability to juggle

multiple priorities in fast-paced environment with multiple collaborators.

Demonstrated

excellent attendance and reliability.

Willingness

to travel to and work in various environments including prison/jail settings

street outreach home visits at SRO patients residence or homeless

encampment.

Basic

computer skills including Microsoft Office.

Valid

drivers license and excellent driving record and reliable personal

transportation.

Experience

living or working in South Providence and experience working with formerly

incarcerated individuals LGBT individuals and/or people with severe mental

health issues preferred.

Prior

experience using an electronic health record preferred.

Bilingual

English/Spanish preferred.

Brown University Health is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age ethnicity sexual orientation ancestry genetics gender identity or expression disability protected veteran or marital status. Brown University Health is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital USA:RI:Providence

Work Type: Part Time

Shift: Shift 1

Union: Non-Union

Keywords: Lifespan Corporation, Weymouth , Community Health Worker, Healthcare , Providence, Massachusetts