COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

This opportunity is part of the LA County Board of Supervisors' emergency response to the homelessness crisis. The Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Community Health Worker vacancies. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment based on a 100% weighted work performance assessment.

About the role

The Community Health Worker facilitates relations between the agency and the community by bridging communication between clients, patients, family members, and agency staff. This role involves advocating for client access to resources, assisting with applications for benefits and services, and providing emergency referrals to supportive agencies.

Responsibilities

• Communicate agency policies and programs to clients, patients, family members, and community residents while conveying community cultural patterns to agency staff.
• Assist welfare recipients and underserved populations in obtaining food stamps, housing, medical, mental health, or substance use care through service referrals.
• Advocate for client/patient access to departmental and community resources.
• Assist clients in completing application forms for benefits and services.
• Provide emergency services, including referrals to appropriate agencies and arranging for emergency shelter.
• Take medical, mental health, family, social, and employment histories and assist with necessary forms.
• Inform pregnant teenagers and their families about available medical, mental health, and social services, adoption agencies, and prenatal care providers; educate women on birth control methods.
• Facilitate client development of independent living skills through support groups on housekeeping, cooking, shopping, budgeting, public transportation, and personal hygiene.
• Provide services to chronically ill children and their families, including referrals to doctors or clinics.
• Screen referrals and place clients in appropriate counseling groups.
• Coordinate certification of job applicants for Model Neighborhood areas.
• Assist in research projects by monitoring questionnaires, conducting interviews, and collecting basic data.
• Support professional staff in supervising juveniles at detention facilities.
• Perform clinical duties such as taking patients' temperature and measuring height and weight.
• Coordinate and provide tutoring or linkage services for literacy programs targeting delinquent, foster, and at-risk youth.

Requirements

• Six months of full-time experience working with the public or community groups in roles such as interviewing clients or patients about health or social services, answering questions, or providing information about health, mental health, or social services.
• OR six months of experience at the level of Los Angeles County’s Mental Health Peer Advocate, defined as providing peer support, advocacy, and recovery services to clients transitioning to community living.
• Part-time work in these capacities will be prorated on a month-for-month basis.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use alternative transportation to perform job-related functions.

Physical Demands

This role is classified as Light physical effort, which may include occasional light lifting (up to 10 pounds) and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.