Community Health Worker

Title: Community Health Worker

State Role Title: Direct Service Associate III

Hiring Range: $40000.00 - $55000.00

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location:RAPPAHANNOCK-HQ

Agency Website: Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is an integral member of the health district public health team providing support to individuals and families both in clinic settings and within the community. The CHW works to connect community members to essential resources and services with the goal of improving overall health and enhancing quality of life. Serving as a liaison between the community and healthcare services the CHW focuses on providing culturally sensitive care and communication especially to priority populations.

Key responsibilities include facilitating health improvement initiatives health promotion and education and the development and support of health programs. The CHW plays a critical role in disease prevention activities capacity building and service coordination. They are also involved in program evaluation to assess effectiveness and community impact. The CHW collaborates with community networks and partners to identify prioritize and implement public health initiatives that have the greatest potential for positive impact.

This position requires strong community engagement skills the ability to navigate and coordinate services and a commitment to fostering health equity and improving the overall well-being of the population.

Core Responsibilities
A. Performance Management (for employees who supervise others)
Serves in a managerial/supervisory capacity and conducts performance management activities for staff
Establishes and reviews work assignments and priorities and resolves related issues in conjunction with program management and Human Resource staff
Ensures relevant training and workplace safety for staff and conducts appropriate performance monitoring and appraisals

A. Service Coordination & Client Care
Assists clients in completing forms/applications eligibility documents and referrals required to receive needed services or community resources as required by state/federal agencies.
Assist clients with navigation of the healthcare systems and processes.
Participates in care coordination and/or case management for district core programs.
Speaks with diverse populations in a sensitive and culturally competent manner.
Performs administrative tasks related to client navigation and outreach event management.

B. Community Health Education
Develops and delivers individual and community-based education on diseases prevention and health promotion practices to encourage clients to adopt positive health behaviors.
Educates individuals and communities on how to navigate health and social services systems to achieve improved health outcomes.
Fosters relationships and works with community partners to provide a wide range of educational activities for vulnerable populations.
Participates in and collaborates with local coalitions and groups focused on health aligning efforts with the agencys needs.
Documents and responds to requests from community groups and organizations for information on health department programs and services.
Coordinates and supports community-based initiatives focused on the social determinants of health to address health disparities.
Develops and/or acquires educational materials from credible healthcare and community sources for public use.

C. Clinical/Community Outreach & Engagement
Utilizes evidence-based strategies to improve population/community health.
Employs policy systems and environmental change strategies to effectively address health disparities.
Identifies target audiences strategies interventions and programmatic problems. Provides guidance in determining effective resolutions.
Integrates building health literacy and cross-cultural communication across all sectors of work.
With proper training and competency validation may perform client measurements (temperature pulse blood pressure height weight) support comprehensive risk reduction strategies and assist with point of care testing/laboratory specimen collection.
Supports the clinical and outreach teams with inventory management of outreach and educational supplies.
Serves as a liaison between district programs schools community and other local agencies.

D. Community Health Assessment Support
Participates in the design implementation and analysis of individual-level and community level assessments community health assessments (CHA) and improvement plans (CHIP).

E. Program Support
Participates in the evaluation of CHW services and programs.
May assist in preparing required reports for local state and/or federal funders.
May support the team in preparing requests for proposals during the grant application process.
Participates in the sharing of results and findings through various methods of communication (oral presentation social media posting journal article etc.) to identified stakeholders.
May assist with language interpretation.

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor. May be required by VDH to adjust work hours location and job duties and participate in training to meet public health business needs including emergencies. If this position is designated as a mobile worker this includes both working in the field and teleworking at an alternate location when not in the field or during an emergency closing. You may be required to periodically come into your assigned office to attend meetings or training.

This position will focus on initiatives related to preventing maternal mortality working closely with pregnant and postpartum women and their families.

This position is not a supervisory position and will not supervise anyone.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays medical dental vision and life insurance retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick family/personal and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of Social Determinants of Health: Knowledge of the various social economic and environmental factors that influence individual and community health including disparities in access to resources and services.
Knowledge of Mental/Behavioral Health: Familiarity with the impact of mental and behavioral health on physical health outcomes including an understanding of common mental health issues and how they intersect with physical health needs.
Knowledge of Public Health Principles: Basic knowledge of public health practices epidemiology disease prevention health promotion and social service systems including the roles of government agencies and community organizations in addressing health needs.
Community Experience: Experience working with priority or underserved communities with an understanding of relevant unique challenges and resources.
Cultural Competency: Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations recognizing and respecting cultural norms practices and values within the community.
Effective Communication Skills: Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal formats using plain language that is accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds. This includes the ability to adapt communication styles to meet the needs of different communities served.
Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues community members and stakeholders. Strong team collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.
Technology Proficiency: Ability to operate a personal computer and use internet-based tools and applications for data entry communication and research.

Additional Considerations

Proficiency in a second language (especially relevant languages in the community served) is highly preferred to effectively communicate with a broader population.
Previous experience in a public health or community-based agency environment with familiarity in coordinating services and supporting public health initiatives.
Community Health Worker (CHW) certification or the ability to obtain one after hire.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed mailed or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Services Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial credit driving background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions. It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture hair type and protective hairstyles such as braids locks and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: . If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card) you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment. As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply! Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Michelle McKinney

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at .

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022- February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.