Community Organizer jobs in Benton Harbor, MI

Description

Become part of a Migrant and Community Health Center, where you will:

• Have a passionate purpose.
• Do worthwhile work.
• Make a difference in people’s lives.

InterCare is searching for a Seasonal Full-time Community Outreach RN to join our team  with positions located in Allegan County, Ottawa County, Van Buren County, Kalamazoo County, Berrien County, and Cass County! At InterCare, you’ll find a rewarding and challenging work environment and competitive compensation.

Work Schedule:

Temporary Position: End date may vary. 30 hours per week, typically 4:30pm-10:00pm.

At InterCare Community Health Network, we believe all people have the right to equal access to quality health care.

This position is responsible for helping patients and their families to navigate and access community services, other resources and adopt healthy behaviors. The Community Health Worker builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

Description of Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Provide ongoing follow up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
• Conduct intake interviews with patients, including enrolling and/or referring patients into MI Bridges, Sliding Fee Program, Healthy Michigan Plan and other programs.
• Assists patients with completing applications and registration forms.
• Conduct eligibility determination, enrollment and follow-up with uninsured patients.
• Provide referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate.
• Act as a patient advocate and liaison between the patient/family and community service agencies (i.e. schools, Department Human Services, hospitals, support groups, etc.).
• Works closely with an integrated care team to help ensure patients have comprehensive and coordinated care.
• Responsible for providing consistent communication to outreach nursing/provider care team to evaluate patient/family status, ensuring that provided information, and reports clearly describe progress.
• Reduce stigma and other barriers to initiating or continuing health care by providing culturally/linguistically humble care, reliable information to both community members and health care providers.
• Help patients set personal goals, and attend appointments.
• Follow-up with patients via phone calls, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be located.
• Assist patient in understanding care plans and instructions.
• Coach patients in effective management of their chronic health conditions and self-care.
• Plans, organizes, and participates in Migrant Outreach efforts, health fairs and other public events.
• Convey the purposes and services of a program to the user population and the impact that program or service would have.
• Provides health information through community outreach, group health education sessions, individual encounters, and home visits, to assess client needs and concerns as they relate to their family, their community and their health.
• Distribute information to grower and farm workers about InterCare programs and resources, plan daily camp visits to designated service area, and initiate contact with appropriate farm representative.
• Utilize maps, patient charts and migrant camp directives to locate patients and properly document enabling services on logs, referral forms, and encounter forms.
• Serves as a cultural mediator and patient advocate as it relates to communication barriers.

Requirements

General Development

• Maintains BCLS Certification is required.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement and motivation to patients.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people and maintain positive working relationships with site staff, clients, providers, clinical support staff, agency representatives, and management.
• Possesses skills in motivation, self-direction, and punctuality.
• Ability to work well as part of a team and keep team members updated on current project developments
• Ability to continuously expand knowledge and understanding of community resources, services and programs provided; human relations and procedures used in dealing with the public as part of a service or program.

Technical Skills

• Basic to intermediate level skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to present educational information to patients one-on-one or in group settings.
• Ability to create letters, forms, documents, presentations.
• Knowledge of medical terminology preferred.

Communication Skills

• Possesses a professional level of written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex concept in a clear effective manner.
• Possesses excellent cross cultural communication skills and the ability to communicate to staff members at all levels.
• Fluent in Spanish and English, reading, writing, and speaking skills.

Physical Demands

Job duties are performed during irregular evening hours outside of the typical office environment. The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following:

• In-home and warm weather outdoor work with occasional in-office work.
• Extensive travel using reliable personal vehicle.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, frequently sit, and lift up to 25 lbs.
• Requires ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, reach with arms & hands, and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and manipulate (using keyboard, office equipment).
• Visual acuity to use keyboard, operate office equipment, and read printed material and regularly required to talk and hear.