Position summary:   The Community Health Worker (CHW) is responsible for helping participants and their families navigate and access community services, other resources, and adopt healthy behaviors. Through face-to-face, home and telephonic visiting, the CHW assists participants in overcoming barriers to health, social services, education, and employment. The CHW also provides social support, informal counseling, and advocates for individuals and community health needs.

Essential functions:

Community Health Worker: 

• Uses the Pathways protocols for care coordination activities at all times in managing assigned caseload of participants.
• Establishes trusting relationships with participants and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Interviews participants with problems such as personal and family adjustments, health, finances, employment, food, clothing, housing, utilities, and physical and mental impairments; completes appropriate monthly assessment (Visit form/Progress form) and enters information from visits into database no later than two (2) business days after participant visit.
• Follow-up with participants via phone calls, face-to-face visits, home visits and visits to other settings where the participant can be found.
• Provide referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate, help participants connect with transportation resources and provide appointment reminders.
• Advocates for participant and acts as a liaison between the participant/family and community service agencies (i.e., schools, hospitals, support groups, etc).
• Counsels participant individually, in family or other small groups regarding plans for meeting needs and aids participant to mobilize inner capacities and environmental resources to improve social functioning.
• Helps participant and family through individual or group conferences to understand, accept, and follow medical recommendations.
• Determines participant's eligibility for services such as financial assistance, insurance and other programs in place to assist individuals and refers participants to community resources and other agencies to meet identified needs.
• Attend CHW meetings, trainings and other meetings as requested.

Employee Resource Specialist:

• Create schedule to travel to all Goodwill locations within the four county area on a regular basis, providing one on one services for employees. 

• Conduct one-on-one coaching session to help employees identify goals, overcome obstacles, and create action plans for personal success. 

• Identify and connect employees to resources such as (but not limited to) self-development programs, mental health services, educational opportunities, housing/transportation/food assistance, etc. 

• Provide a supportive, non-judgmental space for employees to express challenges, and offer advice and tools for handling stress, anxiety and emotional difficulties. 

• Keep employees motivated by regularly by regularly tracking progress, celebrating wins, and providing feedback and accountability. 

• Stay up to date with best practices, emerging trends, and tools in life coaching, personal development, wellness; constantly seek out new resources available to offer employees. 

• Maintain a positive team-oriented relationship with all employees and department managers; present a positive public image for the betterment of the Agency. 

• Report emergency media/public relation situations to supervisor immediately. 

• Report any accidents/incidents and unsafe conditions to the supervisor and assists with completing appropriate reports.   

• Attend meetings/trainings/events as assigned.   

• Perform other related duties as assigned or directed. 

Qualifications and required skills:

• Knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to the needs of participants and/or families.
• Effective time management practices (able to organize time, prioritize projects efficiently and effective); de-escalation skills; problem-solving skills and managing change and conflict; and efficient computer skills.
• Commitment to agency mission statement
• able to develop trust and effective working relationships with staff members, individuals, families and external & internal professionals; and strong information gathering/interviewing techniques.
• Empathy and compassion; ability to connect with clients and employees on an emotional level. 
• Organizational skills: strong ability to manage multiple clients/employees and track progress and goals of many things at one time. 
• Strong communication and leadership skills; strong listening skills to understand needs and concerns. 
• Problem solving; adept at helping identify obstacles and develop strategies to overcome them. 

Education and experience: 

High school diploma or general education degree (GED)

Formal training and/or related course work from a college or other education institution preferred

Bachelor’s degree in human services, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent years of experience in program development, nonprofit management, or related areas required. 

Certification in life coaching or equivalent experience preferred. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must successfully complete the certified CHW training within 6 months of hire date and be certified through the Ohio Board of Nursing.