Community Health Worker

About the role

Casa Esperanza is currently seeking Bilingual Community Health Worker who is passionate about public health and understands the impact social determinants of health have on a persons ability to recover. The Bilingual Community Health Worker will be a part of Casas new PALS: Promotores Amplificando La Sabidura initiative focused on reducing rates of drug overdose deaths and suicide in a social and community context. PALS is an innovative Promotores Model collaborative that incorporates culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible Community Health Workers into a trauma-informed continuum of care to build the capacity of Latines to address health quality problems in their communities.

The PALS Bilingual Community Health Worker will address health equity and access to health for Latines struggling with mental health and substance misuse using strategies that combine innovative outreach service delivery models and community engagement. Outreach strategies and action plans are oriented towards the completion of pre-established objectives and involve many cross-sectoral collaborations with internal organizational partners and external partners in the community.

What youll do

Service Delivery:

• Work with Promotores Project Manager to develop and implement an outreach and community mapping strategy for reaching at-risk Latines.
• Conduct weekly outreach to individuals in hotspot locations to educate and support individuals in varying stages of recovery and assist with referrals for food clothing shelter detoxification and/or medical services.
• Deliver educational presentations to community groups and events regarding signs of substance abuse and mental illness; recovery resources; medical consequences of addictions and medically assisted treatments; and available family support resources.
• Provide bilingual health education services to promote engagement in healthy activities.
• Provides peer health education through health education records and home visits to assess client needs and concerns as they relate to their family their community and their health.
• Provide supported referrals to Casas Continuum of Care including Outpatient ATS/CSS OBAT and Residential Treatment.
• Collaborate with community partners on outreach and infection control strategies.
• Plans and leads group sessions and discussions on assigned health topics.
• Makes referrals to family support health and social service agencies in the area and follows up with individuals to ensure they receive needed services.
• Reduces stigma and other barriers to initiating or continuing health care by providing good information to both community members and health care providers.
• Develops relationships with local health care and social service providers to facilitate information sharing and service provision.
• Represent the agency by providing education and participating in Boston community health events.

General:

• Maintain all client records and necessary reports within Casas Electronic Health Record Evolv.
• Participate in weekly clinical meetings and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Actively participates in and successfully complete trainings provided by Casa and other agencies.
• Biweekly supervision with Program Coordinator.
• Assist in all reporting as required by Program Coordinator.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the local healthcare system and community resources.
• Must be available to work weekends and evenings as needed.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Experience doing outreach to individuals at risk for addiction mental illness trauma and violence.
• Crisis management skills.
• Ability to provide education service planning and health navigation.
• Knowledge of care coordination and community resources.
• Familiarity with substance use field including motivational counseling cognitive behavioral theory AA/NA 12-step philosophy and stages of change theory.
• Knowledge of co-occurring disorders.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer skills minimum Microsoft Word.
• Experience in group facilitation.
• Awareness of the intersection of culture addiction mental illness trauma health and homelessness.
• Ability to meet the physical and training requirements of the position.

Experience required/preferred for the position:

• Bilingual English/Spanish required.
• Two years experience in community-based outreach.

Education/Training required:

• Bachelors degree or three years of relevant work experience or lived experience
• Have either a Community Health Worker (CHW) certification or a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or willingness to acquire one within one year of employment
• Knowledge of SUD and mental health treatment the recovery process and resources supported employment and/or vocational and education services housing supports and HIV services
• Experience doing outreach and engagement with individuals with a history of or at risk for justice involvement HIV addiction mental illness trauma and violence
• Able to work weekends and evenings as needed
• Familiar with social health and cultural issues specific to the Latine population
• Ability to work as a team member and independently
• Solid knowledge of community resources and effective teaching/coaching skills.
• Understanding of harm reduction principles and techniques
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and crisis management skills
• Be in good standing with their board of professional licensure as applicable.
• Computer skills minimum Microsoft Word
• A valid Massachusetts drivers license is required.
• A clear DMV driving record is also required.

Work Type: On-Site Full-Time

Work Schedule:Day shiftMonday to Friday with flexibility to cover shifts between 8am to 8pm & Weekends

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

What we offer:

Casa Esperanza Benefits Package:

• Compensation: $22.00 - 24.00 per hour
• Holiday Pay (12 days per year 1 floating holiday)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)18 days year one 20.5 days at year 2 23 days at year 5
• Sick Pay10 paid days per year
• Long/Short-Term Disability
• Paid by Company Life Insurance
• Health Insurance (Medical Dental Vision)
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• FSA/DCA (Flexible Spending Account & Dependent Care)
• ComPsych Guidance Resources - EAP
• Educational Opportunities
• Tuition Remission
• Employee Ticket at Work (Discounts for Entertainment travel movies; etc.)
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Increased Salary for Credentials
• and more....

Physical & Mental Requirements

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to walk stoop kneel crouch or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision peripheral vision and depth perception.

At Casa Esperanza Inc. the health and safety of our people is our number one priority. Thats why all offers of employment are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19(currently one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and boosted when eligible) to pass the pre-employment requirements. Individuals with medical issues or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement.

Casa Esperanzas EEO Statement

Casa Esperanza Inc. values its diverse workplace and encourages women people of color LGBTQIA individuals people with disabilities members of ethnic minorities foreign-born residents older members of society and others from minority groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.

We recruit hire employ train promote and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. Casa Esperanza Inc. also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination including harassment because of race color sex gender age religion or religious creed national origin ancestry citizenship marital status sexual orientation gender identity gender expression genetic information physical or mental disability military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. All employees interns volunteers and contractors of Casa Esperanza Inc. are responsible for maintaining a work culture free from discrimination and harassment by treating others with kindness and respect.

Casa Esperanza Inc. also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation or need assistance with completing the application process please email.