RIPIN, Newport
$21-23/hour
Bilingual Spanish Required
Experience with Outreach & Special Needs
Job Summary: Bilingual Community Health Worker(CHW) provides peer-to-peer support to families and children with special health care needs; completes family assessments; works with family to determine family goals and implement plan for achieving goals; links families to an array of supports and resources; provides input regarding services and programs in RI and works to mitigate system barriers to accessing services. This CHW works in collaboration with the Newport Public Schools, increasing family/school partnerships, and creating awareness of parental/caregiver rights in the educational success for at-risk and students with disabilities.
Essential Functions:
- Provide Care Coordination of services and supports, while educating parents and primary caregivers in the navigation of systems of care for their CSHCN, by promoting person-centered care and medical home model
- Outreach to referred families within agency guidelines
- Conduct a Family Needs Assessment for referred families and develop an individualized Family Care Plan as appropriate
- Identify family strengths, concerns and natural supports; utilize motivational interviewing skills and culturally sensitive methods to support members in achieving their goals
- Support each family in finding geographically convenient supports and services; Collaborate with other service providers, helping families make necessary connections
- Mentor families encountering special education concerns, assisting families with navigating the education/special education system
- Assist families as they transition to independence /case closure; provide follow up support as needed
- Assist in statewide system analysis, planning and coordination with state agencies, state and local boards, community-based organizations, and community rehabilitation programs
- Actively participate as effective team member in assigned agency meetings and team meetings. Make constructive use of individual and peer supervision/one-on- one meetings
- Accept other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and tasks
- Ability to provide peer perspective as an individual or family member of an individual with a disability, chronic condition, and/or special health care need
- Advanced knowledge of special health care and education systems in RI and other human service systems supporting families of children with disabilities and/or special health care needs
- Problem-solving skills to facilitate empowering experiences and positive outcomes with families
- High level of interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills to interact on a professional level with our diverse stakeholders, including parents and professionals
- Ability to convey complex information in a clear and understandable manner
- Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and tasks
- Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and programs
- Proficiency in computer and internet navigation (online documents, search engine, government websites), as well as computer skills to maintain and update program related materials, reports and database
- Ability to effectively carryout the mission and philosophy of RIPIN and a willingness to work cooperatively and collaboratively with multiple constituents
- Ability to present to small and large audiences that include consumers, stakeholders, and professionals on RIPIN programs’ operations, mission, and focus
- A deep understanding of, commitment to, and ability to carry out the mission, vision, philosophy, and values of RIPIN
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office/computer skills to enter data, prepare reports and correspondence
Education and Experience:
- High school diploma/GED required; Associates Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Education, Health or related field strongly preferred
- Experience supporting families and individuals with special health care and/or educational needs required
- Demonstrated life experience as a consumer, parent or family member of a consumer with special health care and/or special education needs
- Demonstrated knowledge of RIPIN’s programs, mission and vision
- Experience working with and outreaching to diverse populations
- Community Health Workers certification preferred; non-certified incumbents are expected to earn certification within 18 months of hire date
- Fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in English and Spanish required