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Community Health Advocate Dorchester, MA

Community Health Advocate

Full Time • Dorchester, MA
Job Title: Community Health Advocate  
Department: Community Wellness 
Supervisor: Wellness Director 
FLSA: Non-Exempt 
Compensation:  $22-28/hour+ Benefits DOE
Telework: Eligible for Limited Telework after 90 Days 
Date Revised: May 21, 2024 
 
MISSION  
The Mission of Native American LifeLines is to promote health and social resiliency within Urban American Indian communities. Native American LifeLines applies principles of trauma informed care to provide culturally centered behavioral health, dental, outreach and referral services. 
 
AGENCY OVERVIEW  
Native American Lifelines Inc. (NAL) is a small nonprofit community-based agency in Baltimore, MD, with an additional service location in Boston, MA. NAL serves American Indians/Alaskan Natives, primarily providing health education, health promotion, case management, substance abuse counseling, dental services, transportation, and support groups. 
NAL has an annual operating budget of approximately $2.4million, a staff of 10-15 full time employees, various contractors and 3-5 behavioral health intern/externs. Our program is part of a network of 41 Urban Indian Health Organizations nationally and a member of the National Council of Urban Indian Health. NAL’s substance use & mental health outpatient treatment program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). 
 
POSITION SUMMARY  
The Community Health Advocate is a frontline public health worker that is responsible for building trusting and sustainable relationships with community members that result in increased access to health care. This position will work closely with staff and leadership to advance direct care initiatives by providing care coordination and connection to resources and programs that support Health Promotion and Disease Prevention efforts. The CHA will serve as a liaison or intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. They will also build 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. 
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES 
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. 
  • Contribute to the achievement of established organization goals and objectives and adheres to organizational and departmental policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety standards. 
  • Assist individuals with understanding their health condition(s) and develop strategies to support their health and well-being. 
  • Facilitate health care and social service system navigation. Proactively identify and refer individuals to federal, state, private, and non-profit health and human services programs. Help patients identify socio-economic issues that affect their overall health and develop health/social management plans and goals. 
  • Identify or contact community members engaged in or eligible for NAL services, connecting them with routine care and other priority preventive care needs, such as prenatal care, diabetes, and hypertension.
  • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to risk prevention (i.e. HIV), diagnostic screenings such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings. Perform basic diagnostic procedures such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening. 
  • Transport or accompany clients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites. Enhance community members’ ability to effectively communicate with health care providers. 
  • Attend community meetings and health fairs to understand community issues or to build 
  • relationships with community members. 
  • Document all patient encounters in electronic health record system. Collect, track, and report important health data that helps guide Health Promotion and Disease Prevention initiatives. 
  • Participate in multidisciplinary quality and service improvement teams as appropriate. Participate in meetings, serve on committees, and represents the department and facility in community outreach efforts as appropriate. 
  • Other duties as assigned.
 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 
  • Effective oral and written communication skills with a variety of audiences – staff, clients, community members, healthcare professionals. 
  • Ability to reason and problem solve – analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses, notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, and think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.  
  • Personal knowledge of target population. 
  • Cultural knowledge and ability to provide culturally attuned services. 
  • Knowledge of local resources and system navigation. 
  • Basic knowledge of general health and public health indicators (i.e. human behavior, growth and development, oral health, communicable disease, chronic disease, nutrition, substance use disorders, nutrition, harm reduction, etc.)
  • Advocacy and community capacity building skills - establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, community groups, and healthcare professionals. 
  • Care coordination skills among individuals, community groups, and health and social service providers. 
  • Self- and Situational-Awareness – be mindful of others’ reactions and understand the possible causes, look for ways to help people, change behavior in relation to others’ feedback, and use various methods to learn or teach new things. 
  • Understanding of community outreach methods and strategies. 
  • Understanding of ethics and confidentiality issues. 
  • Ability to use and understand health information technology. 
  • Managing work time appropriately in a variety of settings. 
 
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE 
Background Check is Required

Required Qualifications 
  • High School Diploma or GED  
  • 1 year work- or volunteer-experience in a healthcare setting, or a demonstrated dedication to Urban Indian health initiatives 
Preferred Qualifications 
  • Bachelor's Degree 
  • 1-3 years' experience as a Community Health Advocate (also known as a Community Health Worker or Community Health Representative) 
  • Driver’s License and access to reliable transportation 
  • Community Health Worker certification or willingness to earn a CHW certificate 
  • Familiarity with medical terminology preferred
 
TELEWORK/REMOTE WORK 
This position is eligible for limited telework after 90 days, or situationally as determined by leadership. Some travel between NAL service locations in Baltimore and Boston is required. All work-related travel will be paid for by NAL. 
 
HOURS 
Business hours are Monday - Friday 9am – 5pm. Some evenings and weekends are required. 
 
BENEFITS 
  • In addition to salary, you receive the following benefits after your 90 day probationary period: 
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage 
  • EAP (Employee Assistance Program), STD/LTD, AD&D, Life coverage 
  • Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • 3% match SIMPLE IRA (after 1 year) 
  • Assistance with applicable licensure fees, including assistance with obtaining a Community Health Worker certification
  • Assistance with continuing education credits
 
PTO/HOLIDAYS 
Staff health and wellbeing is central to our ability to aid the community in achieving their own wellness goals. In addition to regular staff care activities, NAL offers a generous combination of sick and personal hours, accrued vacation, and an average of 15 paid holidays annually. 
 
INDIAN HIRING PREFERENCE (USC 48 CFR 1452.226-70) 
This position is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service division and as such is an Indian Hiring Preference position per US Code 48 CFR 1452.226-70. All Native and non-Native applicants are encouraged to apply. 
 
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 
Native American LifeLines, Inc. is a diverse, inclusive workforce that provides equal employment opportunity for all candidates and employees, regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or other legally protected status. This policy extends to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment (including hiring, job assignment and training, promotion, compensation and benefits, and termination), as well as the use of NAL facilities and participation in all activities sponsored by NAL.

If assistance is needed in completing this application, please email us at apply@nativelifelines.org and include your name, preferred contact information, position you are applying for, and any questions you have.
Compensation: $22.00 - $28.00 per hour




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