Shelter Community Health Worker (Case Manager)
Job description
The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
About Us:
Eight million Americans are one paycheck away from becoming homeless. In Washtenaw County, 5000 people are experiencing homelessness. The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC) was established in 1982 and is the primary provider of services and emergency shelter for Washtenaw County individuals. SAWC is housed at the Robert J. Delonis Center in downtown Ann Arbor. SAWC works with a diverse range of people struggling with homelessness, including first-time homelessness, veterans, domestic violence survivors, and people battling substance abuse and/or mental health issues. Services are offered through our core programs: Residential Emergency Shelter, Non-Residential, Shelter Diversion, Critical-Time Intervention, and Warming Shelter. The SAWC serves almost 1500 people annually.
Mission:
Ending homelessness, one person at a time.
Position Profile:
The Community Health Worker (CHW) assists persons experiencing homelessness with acute medical conditions to assess their needs, create an integrated service plan, and provide care coordination. They make referrals for primary and specialty care, as well as behavioral services. The CHW helps those seeking shelter services apply for medical/mainstream benefits, and provide transportation to appointments as needed. They work extensively with hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and other local medical providers to ensure client medical needs are met, prescriptions are accessible, and needed medical supplies are available.
Pay & Benefits:
This is a salaried, exempt position with a salary of $42,994. The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County offers a strong benefits package that includes: medical, dental, and vision insurance with very low deductibles; 403(b) retirement matching; flexible spending account, generous paid time off, disability & life insurance. We are dynamic work environment that works to inspire hope in those we serve.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Community Health Worker General Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage case load of 25 individuals at a time.
- Coordinate with hospitals for client discharge to the SAWC Residential program.
- Assess whether clients with assistive devices, complex medical needs, and/or clients arriving from an assisted living environment can meet their basic needs and activities of daily living prior to joining Residential program.
- Be the Packard Health primary and behavioral health care liaison for the shelter by scheduling client appointments, coordinating client's medical needs with the onsite clinic, and using the Athena database.
- Collect copies of client's hospital discharge paperwork to follow up with client on scheduled appointments and communicate complex medical needs that may impact independent housing arrangements to the housing case manager.
- Engage homeless individuals by providing important medical necessities such as glucometers, inhalers, canes, or foot care supplies.
- Determine what health care coverage homeless individuals qualify for.
- Assist homeless individuals with the application process for Medicaid/Medicare, or other private coverage. Be or become a Certified Applications Counselor for the federal insurance marketplace.
- Coordinate and complete referrals for all patients that qualify. This includes MiCareConnect SIM referrals.
- Coordinate and arrange transportation to medical appointments when needed.
- Transport clients as needed to appointments.
- Educate the client about chronic care management when appropriate.
- Advocate for patient as appropriate including encouraging cultural competence among health care professionals serving vulnerable populations.
- Act as a liaison to other community health care providers on patient care issues.
- Facilitate provision mental health services as needed, including assistance in admission to programs and follow-up after Psychiatric Emergency Services.
- Support weekly vaccination clinics onsite including connecting clients to alternative COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Approach new clients accessing shelter about interests and questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccination.
- Provide organizational assistance to community groups (AA and NA) who operate in the shelter.
- Conduct psychosocial evaluations and coordinate therapeutic interventions including crisis counseling to individuals, groups and families as needed to facilitate recovery.
- Do real-time data entries in HMIS system to ensure that case record is complete and up-to-date.
- Monitor and organize medication closet for client stored prescriptions.
Additional Recuperative Care Duties and Responsibilities
- Support intake and referral into recuperative care shelter and housing crisis and stabilization programs with medical providers. Be the backup coordinator when Recuperative and Crisis Coordinator is not available to referring partners.
- Support outreach to hospitals to better understand patient level of care if needed prior to accepting referrals
- Coordination of discharge prevention plan for medical related reasons for recuperative care program
- Support nurses/medical staff implementing treatment plan and medical goals with patients
- Monitor medication administration procedures and ensure all staff are trained and follow medication log protocol
- Support with data collection, reporting and monitoring needs
- Facilitate access to client’s medical records including Explanation of Benefits of insurance provider
- Educate new partners and hospital discharge staff about the Recuperative Care program and referral process
Health and Safety during COVID-19
The Shelter Association is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our clients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is especially imperative as we work with a vulnerable population and this position requires in person work. To do this we are partnered with our local Public Health department and have enacted significant health and safety measures including:
- Health and Safety training provided for all new and current staff
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training and supplies provided
- Weekly COVID-19 testing for clients and staff
- Rigorous onsite cleaning protocols
- Social distancing strictly enforced
- Physical barriers including plexiglass dividers in place when needed
- Health and safety screening for each individual entering the premises
- Coordination with local hospital systems and Public Health
Qualifications:
- BSW or equivalent + 2 years’ experience or bachelor’s degree in the human service or health field with a proven track record of successfully working with diverse populations. Please note the SAWC will consider alternative, comparable experience to a degree.
- Knowledge of health care system and community resources.
- Prior certification and/or experience as a Community Health Worker.
- Eagerness to renew Community Health Worker certification/training.
- Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
- Must have strong critical thinking skills.
- Must have a positive attitude, be open to change, and eager to be a part of achieving greater mission of ending homelessness.
- Computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Access.
- Exhibit a commitment to diversity and issues related to poverty.
Additionally, the person that fills this position must be:
- Able to work as a team member
- A passion for the population
- Compassion, empathy, energy, and patience
- The ability to walk into an agency, talk to people, and build relationships
- Utilize good judgment and clear thinking in crisis situations
- High degree of cultural competency and equity lens
- Able to be mindful of personal boundaries, ethical obligations and the primacy of client needs.
- Commitment to economic justice, civil and human rights issues.
- Mature in nature and professional in action.
- Ability to occasionally transport clients, with a Valid Michigan driver’s license and access to a vehicle with proof of insurance and registration.
- Able to carry up to approximately 50 pounds for limited distances.
Application Process:
Please go to annarborshelter.org/employment and submit your resume and cover letter. Please note that the application deadline is May 8th, 2023. Please apply early as interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
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