Community Wellness Advocate

The Adolescent OB Clinic Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) is a key grant funded member of Adolescent OB Teen Clinic who will help to promote and maintain stable health and wellness for adolescent clients in the prenatal and postpartum periods by connecting hospital and community-based services to these adolescent clients and their families. Their responsibilities will include: ensuring adequate scheduling of all client’s prenatal, postpartum and ultrasound appointments; facilitating access and coordination among social service resources and other internal and external resources; helping coordinate transportation for clients in need via PT-1/Uber; maintaining data on our adolescent pregnant and young parents educational and employment status; co-facilitating Centering Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Support/ Adolescent Parent Postpartum Support Groups; creating individualized interdisciplinary care plans that focus on a client’s health/education and employment goals and monitoring their progress; problem solving with clients to both accelerate and enhance access to concrete supports; and holding weekly check-ins with clients either in person or virtually. CWAs provide clinic-based, in-home or community-based one-on-one, family, and/or interdisciplinary group support and collaborate with all members of the care team to conduct needs assessments to identify and respond to barriers to the families’ health and wellness. As a member of an innovation team tasked with testing new and novel care delivery approaches, the specific activities of the CWA may evolve over times as the Adolescent Teen OB Clinic evolves. The CWA position is grant funded by the Massachusetts Pregnant and Parenting Teen Initiative( MPPTI). The MPPTI program model and services to mitigate the negative economic and social/emotional impacts on expectant and parenting youth ages 14-24 and their families through increasing life opportunities and enhancing family stability in the community of Greater Boston.

Position: Community Wellness Advocate, OB/GYN Research

Location: Boston, MA

Schedule: 40 hours per week, Hybrid

ABOUT BMC:

At Boston Medical Center (BMC), our diverse staff works together for one goal — to provide exceptional and equitable care to improve the health of the people of Boston. Our bold vision to transform health care is powered by our respect for our patients and our commitment to ensure everyone who comes through our doors has a positive experience.

You’ll find a supportive work environment at BMC, with rich opportunities throughout your career for training, development, and growth and where you’ll have the tools you need to take charge of your own practice environment.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Adolescent OB Clinic Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) will help to promote and maintain stable health and wellness for adolescent clients in the prenatal and postpartum periods by connecting hospital and community-based services to these adolescent clients and their families. CWAs provide clinic-based, in-home or community-based one-on-one, family, and/or interdisciplinary group support and collaborate with all members of the care team to conduct needs assessments to identify and respond to barriers to the families’ health and wellness. The CWA role may evolve over time as the Adolescent Teen OB Clinic evolves. The CWA position is grant funded by the Massachusetts Pregnant and Parenting Teen Initiative (MPPTI). The MPPTI program model and services to mitigate the negative economic and social/emotional impacts on expectant and parenting youth ages 14-24 and their families by increasing life opportunities and enhancing family stability in the community of Greater Boston.

JOB RESPONSIBILTIES:

• Functions a key member of an inter-disciplinary team (nurse, social workers, behavioral health clinicians, physicians, resource specialists, clinical support staff, etc.)
• Provides parent coaching and support, including outreach to and engagement with families to define individual goals, promote healthy development and access to care and services
• Schedules and completes initial hospital, clinic, or community-based (homes, shelters, housing agencies, substance use treatment programs, etc.) visit screening, care plan, and follow up visits and phone calls for enrolled patients within specified timeframes
• Assists families in addressing and overcoming barriers with a range of concrete supports, including but not limited to: healthcare support services, behavioral health, financial mobility coaching, school-based interventions, early-intervention, child-care and caregiver support, housing, support with utility bills, food, financial entitlements, clothing, transportation, food pantries, violence prevention, social isolation and any other appropriate community resources
• Teaches families key educational and developmental messages using a variety of culturally, linguistically and educationally appropriate strategies, in a variety of settings
• Clearly documents all activities in the patient’s record and care management system. Records and monitors the participants’ progress toward goals within specific timeframes. Documents assessments and key patient updates in Epic system; documents relevant day-to-day activities and patient data.
• Communicates plans and updates with members of the care team and works in partnership with SW Case Management and SW Integrative Behavioral Health to comprehensively assess families’ needs and strengths
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with the community and community resources to ensure patient access

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• HS Diploma with knowledge of MA community services landscape (specific knowledge of services in Dorchester and Roxbury preferred) or bachelor’s degree required
• Completion of Community Health Worker training program/certification program or equivalent work experience

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED :

• MA Driver’s License required

EXPERIENCE:

• 2-5 years of prior healthcare, public health, mental health, or community-based programmatic experience preferred
• Bilingual, preferably in English and either Spanish or Haitian Creole

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Basic knowledge of healthcare system and social service landscape
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Understanding of how language, culture and socioeconomic circumstances affect health

This position is grant funded through 6/30/2026. There may be opportunity beyond this grant funding for position integration into ongoing operations.

JOB BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay
• Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs
• Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Career Advancement/Professional Development: Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will not only enhance your skills but also expand your knowledge base.
• Pioneering Research: Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

As the primary teaching hospital for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and BU schools of public health and dentistry, intellectual rigor shapes our inquiries. Our research is led by a belief that skin color, zip code, and financial circumstances shouldn’t dictate health.

Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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