Community Health Worker

Join UPMC's Western Maryland outpatient primary care offices as a Community Health Worker and play a vital role in connecting patients and families with the resources, support, and services they need to improve their health and well-being. In this community-focused role, you will serve as a trusted liaison between patients, healthcare providers, and community organizations, helping to address barriers such as housing, transportation, recovery support, and access to care. Preferred candidates will have experience supporting diverse populations with complex medical and social needs, along with a strong understanding of community resources, care coordination, and strategies to address barriers to health and well-being. If you are passionate about advocacy, outreach, and empowering individuals to achieve greater health and self-sufficiency, we encourage you to apply and make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

This full-time position will work Monday through Friday, typically between 8:00am and 4:30pm. No holidays, evenings or weekends are required. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license and reliable transportation to conduct home visits and community-based outreach. Responsibilities include meeting with patients and their families in a variety of settings, including patient homes, hospitals, clinics, and community locations, as well as providing telephonic outreach and support.

Responsibilities:

• Flexibility in schedule to meet members' need
• Provides telephonic assistance to members and family members concerning recovery tools and resources
• Engage the community to improve underlying social and economic conditions that impact health
• Assist in scheduling appointments as needed
• Identifying challenges a member faces in the Eight Stages of Wellness and Recovery
• Connect the member to community-based treatment and recovery supports.
• Travel throughout the region
• Mobilize the community level to enhance provider understanding of community needs and preferences
• Advocate for the members' community needs, medical and behavioral health needs
• Empower the member to self-advocate and follow through with treatment (making and attending scheduled appointments, setting goals, and community networking
• Represents community Care's and UPMC Health Plan recovery and transformation at all levels
• Utilize motivational interviewing to effectively identify the member's strengths, needs, motivation, triggers, and goals in managing life circumstances.
• Collaborate with Community Care and UPMC Health Plan care management staff, as needed, for interventions
• Promotes principles of recovery with members, providers, and stakeholders
• Bridge the gap between the physical health care and behavioral health treatment
• Work in the community setting at least 80% of the time, to have direct contact with members, support teams, treatment providers and recovery supports
• Assist members with specific non-medical needs that affect health and access to care
• A person in the community who has expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, career training and community education.
• This person will also be working with members that have concurrent medical difficulties.
• Proof of high school graduation or GED
• 1 year providing customer service, or clinical, or social service or case management experience in the community required
• Ability to develop rapport and demonstrate good interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of basic mental health systems and co-occurring substance use issues, substance use recovery issues and services, education, social services, medical systems, etc preferred
• Personal or family experience in the health care system preferred
• Knowledge of key concepts and principles (recovery, resiliency, and wellness
• Demonstrate ability to work with other people through a cooperative effort
• Ability to utilize motivational interviewing
• Ability to model and share the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility-Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and use of Community supports
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft products
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to travel throughout our service area
• Solid organization skills and ability to set priorities and schedule time efficiently
• Self-directed and flexible to meet the needs of our members
• Value for and ability to deliver excellent customer service
• Has own vehicle

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Automotive Insurance
• Driver's License

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran