UPMC Community Care Behavioral Health is seeking a full-time Community Health Worker to support the Allegheny County Care Management Department!

The Community Health Worker will work daylight hours, Monday through Friday, in a hybrid work structure! This role will primarily be out in Allegheny County and surrounding areas, visiting members at community organizations, provider locations, shelters, private residences, and so on to support member needs. This role will also be able to work remotely when not out in the community, with limited office time at the Heinz 57 Center for occasional meetings, as well as only limited evening and weekend event opportunities.

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will work directly with individuals receiving services, family members, providers, and other stakeholders, requiring the candidate to have a close understanding of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. CHWs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities, such as outreach, community education, social support, and advocacy.

The ideal candidate for this position will have expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, informal counseling, career training, and social support. The CHW will provide care coordination services to address the health needs of individuals enrolled in the program, which includes telephonic and face-to-face contact with individuals receiving services, family members, and other stakeholders to engage in problem-solving and referral strategies (e.g., community-based services, resources for housing, and resources available to members to promote recovery). This role also represents the organization to the general public, individuals in and seeking recovery, family members, and to stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities:

• Flexibility in schedule to meet members' needs.

• Travel throughout the region.

• Work in the community setting at least 50-80% of the time, to have direct contact with members, support teams, treatment providers, and recovery supports.

• Provide 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.

• Identify challenges members face in the Eight Stages of Wellness and Recovery.

• Connect the members to community-based treatment and recovery supports.

• Mobilize the community level to enhance provider understanding of community needs and preferences.

• Advocate for the members' community, 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).

• Represent Community Care and UPMC Health Plan's 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.

• Promote principles of recovery with members, providers, and stakeholders.

• Bridge the gap between physical health care and behavioral health treatment.

• Assist members with specific non-medical needs that affect health and access to care.

• High School diploma or GED equivalent.

• 1 year of experience providing customer service, clinical service, social service, or case management in the community required.

• A person in the community who has expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, career training, and community education.

• 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).

• Demonstrated 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.

• 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.

• Willingness to travel throughout our service area.

• Has own vehicle.

• This person will also be working with members that have concurrent medical difficulties.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Automotive Insurance

• Driver's License

• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting

• Act 33

• Act 34

• Act 73 FBI Clearance

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran