Summary: This bilingual-Spanish position is housed in Heartland Alliance Health and will provide on-site outreach services to participants of its Shelter-Based Care and Oral Health Forum programs. This CHW role will split its time between the two programs and will work with participants in shelters and programs around the city of Chicago. This position will provide oral health and shelter-based case management to individuals, children, and families by connecting participants to health and support services as based on their individual needs, including COVID-19 information and access to vaccination. It will also provide preventive health education services to participants that help improve health habits. Most work hours will be conducted in the field providing direct service and community outreach. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below. This position is governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement for which the employee, as a condition of employment, shall be required to remit dues or fees to the Union for administration of the contract.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Engages Shelter-Based Care and Oral Health Forum participants in service delivery.

· Assists participants in understanding their individualized service needs.

· Provides information and access to COVID-19 vaccination.

· Helps participants integrate preventive care recommendations into their daily life activities.

· Advocates for participants to help reduce barriers and promote behavioral change.

· Assists in the planning and creation of strategies, along with a collaborative team, to facilitate referrals and transitions through communication within systems of care on behalf of participants.

· Assists participants with obtaining access to support services and physical, behavioral, and oral health care services.

· Assists participants with navigating through the health care and social services systems.

· Assists participants with maintaining relationships with health care and support service providers; supporting participants’ right to self-determination by collaboratively identifying health and wellness goals that reflect each participants’ readiness to improve behavioral habits and initiate change.

· Assists participants through peer support and frequent communication and follow-up utilizing communication best-practices rooted in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and Harm Reduction.

· Provides basic advocacy, assessment, planning, and case management services for individuals, children, and families.

· Assists staff in collaborating with community health care, social service providers, and partner organizations to identify and remove barriers and gaps in service.

· Maintains confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries in accord with program and organizational policies and guidelines.

· Completes accurately, and in a timely manner, all necessary forms, data entry, and statistical reports, and submits such documentation to supervisor within designated timelines.

· Participates and contributes actively in regular supervisory and team meetings, in-house training sessions, conferences, and other activities as needed.

· Participates in program and operational planning.

· Completes all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, the ideal candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Living in the community served by the position is strongly preferred.

· Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or equivalent. At least two years of related experience in community services required. Experience in outreach and peer education programs preferred. Experience and certification in community health work strongly preferred.

· Computer skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.

· Language Skills: Fluency in a second language is required (Spanish). Ability to read and interpret documents such operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

· The employee is frequently required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.

· The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.

· The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust and focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions.

· The employee may frequently be required to visit participants in their homes, schools, or in institutions/other settings.

· The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Employee Services Office at (312) 660-1431.