Peer Community Health Worker - Reentry

About the Role

A Peer Community Health Worker supports individuals preparing for release from jail or recently released, who have chronic diseases (including substance use disorder and/or mental health issues), by providing outreach, counseling, navigational, and case management services. Shared lived experiences with potential clients are strongly desired.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach, case management, and navigational services to a caseload of up to 30 recently released, chronically ill individuals with co-morbid substance use and mental illness per quarter.
• Empower, support, and educate clients in their re-integration process through mentorship.
• Operate in a supportive role within an interdisciplinary healthcare team using an integrated care and treatment model.
• Maintain outreach activity calendars and logs according to program standards.
• Collaborate with primary care providers and behavioral health providers to maximize patient health outcomes.
• Provide support, empowerment, education, and targeted case management services to clients.
• Conduct assessments of clients’ history with medical, dental, and behavioral health services, as well as social and economic resources for linkage purposes.
• Educate clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and self-management.
• Educate clients about the healthcare system and facilitate relationship-building between clients and providers.
• Document work with clients following St. John’s policies and procedures.
• Link clients to needed services and facilitate access to community resources.
• Advise clients regarding available healthcare and other facilities, assist in utilizing services, and make follow-up contacts as required.
• Attend regularly scheduled and impromptu meetings, maintaining communication with program team members and supervisors.
• Attend assigned community resource meetings and training courses.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and agencies as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned or modified based on business needs.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED (required).
• Knowledge of community resources in the area of residence.
• Comfortable working with diverse populations, including formerly incarcerated individuals, undocumented individuals, LGBT populations, communities of color, and those experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, and/or mental illness.
• Exceptional ability to connect and engage with people.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and possess time management skills.
• Able to work flexible job hours.
• Willingness to work in various environments, including jail settings, street outreach, home visits, homeless encampments, and/or shelters.

Qualifications

• Prior experience working with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and/or homeless individuals (desirable).
• Prior experience as a health navigator, peer support worker, or outreach worker (desirable).
• Bilingual English/Spanish (read, write, speak) preferred.
• People with a history of incarceration or homelessness strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits

• Free medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 13 paid holidays plus PTO.
• 403(b) retirement match.
• Life insurance and EAP (Employee Assistance Program).
• Tuition reimbursement.
• SEIU Union membership.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Continued workforce development and training.
• Succession plans and growth opportunities within the organization.