Job Description

Bring Your Passion to the Forefront:

Community Health Care Worker I

Join one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic medical centers, UChicago Medicine. The Urban Health Initiative has an opportunity for a Community Health Worker who will serve to bridge between the community and healthcare agencies to build trusting relationships with residents and their families. This is a grant funded position.

Job Summary:

In this role, the Community Health Worker (CHW) will work across neighborhoods in Chicago’s South Side to address social determinants of health (conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, etc. that affect a wide range of health outcomes and risks), and assist community members with self-managing health conditions and adopting improved health behaviors. The overall goal of the department is to enhance community health and wellness around specific priority health needs on Chicago’s South Side.

• The CHW will serve as a bridge between the community and healthcare agencies by building trusting relationships with residents and their family.
• Under the direction and guidance of the Manager of Patient Advocates in The University of Chicago Medicine’s Urban Health Initiative (UHI), the CHW will be responsible for providing health education and case management services to individuals, families and community members with asthma, diabetes and other chronic conditions within UCM’s community benefit communities.
• The CHW may also assist UCM with other outreach functions.
• You will be responsible for assisting with the organization of community health promotion activities and events, as well as program publicity and recruitment.
• The capacity in which the CHWs will serve in promoting health include:
• Serving as a link between community members and healthcare agencies (e.g., hospitals, community health centers, etc.)
• Providing guidance around necessary referrals to social and/or health assistance services
• Engaging in follow up care communications and case management with residents
• Linking patients to a primary care medical home and scheduling appointments after their emergency department visit

You'll thrive in this position if you:

• Create Value – you gather insights into what creates value; promote ongoing evaluation of the patient and customer circumstances, expectations and needs. You determine the processes, systems and behaviors that directly impact how the patient and customer feel. You pro-actively improve, through one’s role, the patient and customer experience; consistently positions the value of UCMC so the patient and customer recommend us to their family, friends and community.
• Deliver Results – you identify issues, problems and opportunities; pro-actively recognize the need for improvement. You work with others to develop a sense of common purpose; understand different perspectives on issues; gathers and examines information available. You generate alternatives - Create relevant options, including financial and resource implications, for addressing problems and opportunities. You select appropriate action - Formulate clear decision criteria; evaluates options by considering implications and consequences; chooses an effective option. You commit to implementation and work with a sense of urgency and a bias for action to implement the decision.
• Embrace Change – you treat change and new situations as opportunities for learning or growth; identifies the benefits and risks of change. You quickly modify behavior to deal effectively with changes; remains effective during times of ambiguity and uncertainty. You honor the need in others to ask questions; help others overcome resistance.
• Communicate with Impact – you focus on the message of others, provide undivided attention, and defer judgment. You convey messages logically, simply, and with confidence. You check for understanding by asking questions, seeking clarity, and responding accordingly.

Qualifications:

• Must have High School diploma or GED.
• Have experience working with children and/or adults with chronic conditions (or desire to do so)
• Familiarity with and experience working in Chicago’s West and/or Southside communities.
• Passion for and dedication to working with community members.
• Punctual, reliable and willing to learn.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Basic skills in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Proactive learner that feels comfortable in different environments.
• Have experience working with adults with chronic conditions (or desire to do so).