Community Health Worker - Pathways/MSS

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization

Job Title Community Health Worker (Pathways)

Department PHS-MSS

Reports To MSS Program Manager

Union Status Union

FLSA Status Non-Exempt

Job Code CSWP08

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on

the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances

self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered,

culturally-aware services.

Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an

excellent client experience by:

• Understanding and empathizing with client needs

• Surpassing client expectations

• Demonstrating a high level of integrity

• Exhibiting compassion and commitment

• Advocating for social justice

• Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team

• Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology

As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their

utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

Position Summary

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will work in and according to the training provided by the

Pathways model to eliminate or mitigate barriers to health and social services as identified through the

client assessment. This position will work with pregnant women and their families to help navigate and

access community services, other resources, and to adopt healthy behaviors. The CHW will serve as an

advocate, linking at risk and high risk pregnant women and their families to appropriate government,

community resources, and services for improving self-sufficiency and health care outcomes. The CHW

will provide services in the home, community and office. CHW will document all client interventions

and services provided. This is a results oriented program and success will be measured by the

completion of the established pathways and improved client outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to those listed below. The CHW may

be required to perform other duties as assigned. Under the supervision of the MSS Program

Manager, the CHW will:

• Work primarily out in the community, where she/he can more readily reach and be accessible to

the patients.

• Be a patient advocate.

• Conduct standardized patient in-take and risk assessments.

• Based on the assessment, work to complete the assigned Pathways in a timely manner.

• Document all interactions and assessments in a timely manner, using Pathways documentation

platform and Sea-Mar’s EHR.

• Attend trainings and meetings by/for Pathways, Sea-Mar Community Health Centers, and other

entities as assigned.

• Establish a trusting relationship with the target population, referred clients, and community partners.

• Identify and assist clients with client identified health and social service goals as appropriate.

• As appropriate, act as a cultural liaison between the health and human service system(s) and clients.

Where appropriate communicate clients’ cultural preferences and needs with health and human

service system(s), community partners, etc.

• Assist in the development of strategies to address or eliminate barriers to care.

• Work collaboratively with the Program Manager, PCP, and other assigned personnel to make sure

that all relevant client needs are identified and addressed.

• Collaborate with HUB partners to identify high-risk clients and assist in the coordination of care

with Sea Mar Community Health Center and with other community partners and service providers.

• Demonstrate a commitment to the mission, vision and goals of Sea-Mar Community Health Centers

including the ability to integrate Core Values of Community Health Workers as defined by the

American Association of Community Health Workers: Access, Acceptance, Advocacy, Excellence,

Learning, Partnership, Social Justice, Strength, Trust and Unity.

• Participate in ongoing assessment of the client and family needs to determine if expected outcomes

are reached and to ensure implementation and/or adjustment of the service plan.

• Providing ongoing follow-up on treatment on PCP plans utilizing basic motivational interviewing and

goal setting with clients/families.

• Follow-up with clients via phone calls, home visits and visits to other settings where clients can be

found.

• Assist clients with completing applications and registration forms.

• Refer uninsured clients to an insurance Navigator/CSR to conduct eligibility determination,

enrollment and follow-up.

• Help clients set personal goals, identify and overcome barriers to attending appointments (such as

transportation and child care).

• Provide referrals for services to community agencies and partner with other agencies as

appropriate.

• Help clients connect with transportation resources and conduct appointment reminders to ensure

patients are keeping their appointments and meeting their goals

• Attend regular staff meetings, trainings and other meetings as required.

Qualifications

• CHW must be able to perform each essential duty as outlined above 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.

• The Community Health Worker must be a recognized and trusted member of the

community she/he is serving and

o Have the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and utilize good listening

skills.

o Ability to be an effective team member and be trusted to work independently.

o Maintain a clear understanding of the Federal, State, and community resources available.

o Provide unbiased and accurate education and/or referral(s), even if the clients’ needs might

be in conflict with personal viewpoint/belief system of the CHW.

o Be computer literate.

o Demonstrate the ability to recognize potentially dangerous situations to self in the clinic,

office, home and community settings and to take appropriate action.

o Be Knowledgeable of child abuse/neglect and mandated reporting law RCW.26.44.30.

o Be knowledgeable about and have the interest, compassion, and ability to provide services

to clients facing economic, emotional, physical, social, and other challenges which are

impacting their health and health outcomes.

o Demonstrate a basic knowledge of maternal child health issues (pregnancy, postpartum and

early infancy needs and risks).

• Recognizes that the focus of care is the client and understands that client participation and control

of their own care is our priority.

• Maintains focus of agency on the following client centered principles:

o Empanelment

o Continuous and Team-based Healing Relationships

o Client-centered Interactions

o Engaged Leadership whose focus is the client

o Quality Improvement (QI) Strategy that is inclusive and dynamic

o Enhanced Access

o Care Coordination

o Organized, Evidence-based Care

• Must be professional at all times and able to maintain the understanding, physical health, emotional

stability and personality suited to meet the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the

population served.

• No history or evidence of alcohol or other drug misuse for a period of three (3) years prior to the

date of employment, and no misuse of alcohol or other drugs while employed at this facility.

• Has not been convicted of a felony within the last seven years or ever been convicted of child abuse

and / or any crime involving physical harm to another person nor be a perpetrator of substantiated

child abuse.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

• EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or GED. Ability to read and understand documents such as documentation

requirements, community resources, safety rules, other instructions, and procedure manuals.

Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively one-onone with clients, families, colleagues and community partners. Must be computer literate and be

able to utilize computer documentation, researching community resource, etc.

• LANGUAGE SKILLS

Bilingual English/Spanish in reading, writing and verbal skills are strongly preferred and may be

required, depending on the target community being served. Other language skills may be

considered depending on site needs based on the needs of the population served.

Work Environment

Supervision

• MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

The applicant must have the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using

whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

• REASONING ABILITY

The applicant must have the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete

variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; ability to interpret a variety of

instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must possess a current Washington State driver's license. This person must receive a background

check from Washington State Patrol. Must have and maintain CPR Certification and TB test annually

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. CHW will conduct home visits

and work in the community with the clients. 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 the

essential functions.

• 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 the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The

employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with

hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel,

crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25

pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral

vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Facility ranges from quiet to loud depending on

activities of patients.

This position does not supervise any employees.

I have read and understand my job description as noted above.

Employee Signature Supervisor Signature

Employee Name (Printed) Supervisor Name (Printed)

Date Signed Date Signed

Physical Requirements

Acknowledgement

Date Reviewed:

Job Description Approved by Administration (Date):

Union Approval, if applicable

Job Description Sent to Union for Approval (Date):

Job Description Approved by Union (Date)

Hourly - Hourly Plan, 22.40 USD Hourly

What We Offer:

Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it’s a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Prescription coverage
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Paid-time-off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.
• We also offer 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment. 

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer.

Please visit our website to learn more about us at www.seamar.org. You may also apply thru our Career page at this link.