Community Organizer jobs in Lowell, MA

Lowell Community Health Center strives to advance health equity, improve health outcomes, and promote well-being of our patients by addressing health-related social needs, systems navigation, and care coordination as standard of care. Our vision is to create a just and healthy community where each individual lives a healthy life with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and racism. 

JOB SUMMARY:

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted members of the community who help patients improve access and coordinate their health care. CHWs encourage behaviors that promote wellness and health of the individuals and communities they serve, and provide a link between the community, health educators, and other healthcare and social service professionals. CHWs have a close understanding of the communities they serve and are therefore able to function as liaisons between at-risk individuals and the health/social services available to them.

Outreach and education efforts will be coordinated with all departments at Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) and collaborate with external agencies to meet the health center's priority areas. The Community Health Worker (CHW) will help patients and their families navigate and access health center and community services as well as other resources with the goal to promote, improve and maintain the health of patients and their family. The CHW will apply an integrated community-based approach when reaching the community. The candidate will also provide social support, informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs, and provide services such as interpreting, and health education as needed. Outreach efforts will target Latinos and others who do not have health insurance or are not regular users of primary care. 

Outreach is an effort taken by individuals and/or groups to connect ideas or practices to specific groups of people. It is an act of extending services and/or assistance beyond day-to-day offerings, raising awareness, advocating, building capacity, training, building strategic partnerships and collaborations for patient and community benefit.

KEY FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Assist patients with navigating health care and social service systems.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining trusting relationships in the community, 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 primary care and other programs. 
• Assist patients with completing applications and registration forms that support their health care needs. 
• Ability to perform health education and outreach on various topics in a variety of settings.
• Connect with community members via multiple avenues such as faith-based organizations, community organizations and other outreach locations.
• Motivate patients to be active, engaged participants in their health.
• Provide referrals for services to community agencies and programs as appropriate.
• Effectively communicate the mission of Lowell Community Health Center.
• Knowledgeable about appropriate community resources that meet the needs of the community.
• Identify available community-based resources and actively manage appropriate access, engagement, follow-up, and coordination of services.
• Educate patients on basic Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) (e.g., transportation, food, clothing, shelter, income, utilities).
• Participate in health fairs and other outreach and promotional events as requested.
• Maintain accurate documentation of work and prepare appropriate records.
• Contribute to a positive experience for patients and families, providers of care, and community-based social service organizations.
• Perform all job functions in compliance with applicable federal, state, local and company policies and procedures. Knowledge of HIPAA policies, procedures, and laws
• Participate in staff meetings.
• Some evenings and weekends are required.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively to provide advocacy for racially and ethnically diverse populations and communities. Strong commitment to racial, social justice and health equity
• Demonstrated success in working independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team including communicating and collaborating with Providers, Nurses, Social Workers, and other health care teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and online work-based communication platforms
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, with the ability to multi-task in a demanding and constantly changing environment.
• A strong commitment to serving the underserved and vulnerable populations of the local community.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills including demonstrating active listening skills, empathy, and respect.
• Ability to build rapport and trust with community members and agencies; navigate the health care system and advocate for self and others.
• Experience in community work, understanding of basic public health education concepts in health care strongly recommended.
• Creativity, flexibility, sound judgment, ability to take initiative and work well within a team.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and educationally diverse staff and clients. 
• Positive attitude, ability to show empathy and compassion.
• Proficiency/mastery in written and verbal English language
• Compliance with all Lowell CHC HR Policies and Procedures related to job title. 
• Proficiency/mastery of CHW core competencies in providing supportive non-clinical interventions.

EXPERIENCE:

• Any combination of 3 years health/social services experience preferably in health care setting or community-based organization.
• Experience working as a patient navigator/community health worker preferred.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Written and oral fluency in one of these languages and English: Spanish or Haitian Creole or Portuguese required. 
• Completion of a CHW comprehensive outreach education program such as CHEC’s or AHEC’s Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate (COEC) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of high school degree or equivalent.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients.
• Understanding of multi-cultural beliefs, practices, and culture.
• Interest in Health Care.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Bilingual in one of these languages and English: Spanish or Haitian Creole or Portuguese.
• Ability to read, write and speak in public forums.

LICENSE: Reliable transportation required; Driver's License (Preferred).

HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00pm- Onsite availability. Occasional evenings and weekends are required. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: In office and community based.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 25lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses, and other department staff. Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs. Occasional stress and pressure caused by multiple simultaneous demands. May be exposed to various body fluids and/or infectious diseases. Universal precautions and techniques are included in orientation and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.

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