Community Health Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:

A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted member of the community who helps promote and maintain stable health and wellness for families, through connecting hospital, home-based, and community-based services. The Wellness and Recovery after Psychosis (WRAP) CHW is responsible for providing advocacy and education around psychosis care; partnering with patients to establish and enact health goals; facilitating access to and coordination among internal and external resources; monitoring patients’ progress; and problem-solving with patients, families, and caregivers to increase engagement in outpatient psychosis care. The CHW will play a crucial part in decreasing barriers to accessing first-episode psychosis clinical care, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the WRAP program’s initiatives.

Position: Community Health Worker

Department: Psychiatry Research

Schedule: 40 Hours (Days)

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Patient Connection, Navigation, & Education:

• Serve as a central contact for first-episode psychosis (FEP) team members to help patients navigate the many systems encountered during the recovery journey.

• Develop FEP CHW referral process for FEP team members and community health centers in collaboration with WRAP leadership.

• Offer psychosis psychoeducation for patients and families in accessible and culturally relevant language.

• Work with patients and families/caregivers to set WRAP clinic visit cadence with shared decision making. Facilitates the scheduling of visits and additional testing/procedures, such as primary care appointments, etc.

• Perform THRIVE screener with FEP patients and families/caregivers and provide referrals to relevant community resources.

• Follow-up with patients and families/caregivers at regular intervals to problem-solve around any barriers to care.

• Assist patients and families/caregivers in identifying and accessing community support services.

Resource Management:

• Design culturally relevant educational materials for FEP patients and families/caregivers around psychosis treatment

• Maintain and update resource directory, ensuring clinical team members have access to accurate and current psychosis-specific community resources.

• Identify resources for financial assistance, medication needs, home health care, insurance questions, transportation, and other concerns.

• Documents barriers to care and develop new plans for resource connections, ensuring a collaborative approach for psychosis treatment.

Community Engagement and Leadership:

• Serve as a liaison between communities and the Wellness and Recovery after Psychosis (WRAP) clinical program.

• Attend local community health fairs and community groups.

• Enhance community residents’ ability to communicate effectively with health care providers.

• Advocate for individual and community mental health.

Training and Development:

• Participate in trainings on first-episode psychosis.

• Participate in training in the 10 Core Competencies for Massachusetts community health workers.

• Use training to enhance patient care strategies.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

High school diploma or GED required, Bachelor’s Preferred

EXPERIENCE:

2-5 years of prior healthcare, public health, or community-based experience in community setting

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

• A commitment to improving community mental health outcomes and addressing social determinants of health.

• Willingness to undergo training in psychosis education and treatment and team-based approach to care.

Why Join Us? This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on community mental health by enhancing patient support and fostering collaborative care. As a CHW, you will be at the forefront of innovative mental healthcare strategies that directly benefit our patients and the community.

Application Process: Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience and motivation for applying. We look forward to welcoming a passionate CHW to our WRAP team!

Compensation Range:

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

NOTE : This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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