Meridian Health Looking for Community Health Worker – Southern Region at New Jersey Full Time

Overview How have YOU impacted someone’s life today? At Hackensack Meridian Health our teams are focused on changing the lives of our patients by providing the highest level of care each and every day. From our hospitals, rehab centers and occupational health teams to our long-term care centers and at-home care capabilities, our complete spectrum of services will allow you to apply your skills in multiple settings while building your career, all within New Jersey’s premier healthcare system.

Community-Health Workers (CHWs) provide social support, navigation and advocacy to high-risk low-income patients within the communities they serve in order to help them reach their health goals. CHWs act as caring neighbors to help patients address the social, medical and community problems that lead to poor health. The goal is to help patients deal with the `real life’ issues that keep them from staying healthy, help with the tasks of getting medical care, and work on health goals by doing things like planning healthy meals or finding time to exercise.

Responsibilities A day in the life of a Community Health Worker at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Meet patients in the primary care clinic or hospital and conduct a needs assessment, including assisting patients to set health goals.
• Make weekly follow-up calls and home visits to patients.
• Motivating patients to meet their health goals.
• Provide resources to help patients with social issues like homelessness, substance abuse and hunger.
• Assist patients with organizing their records, making follow-up appointments, and filling their Prescriptions.
• Help patients fill out applications for benefits like insurance and food stamps.
• Work with other CHWs and staff to create a directory of community resources.
• Document each patient encounter in detail.
• Run a weekly support group for patients.
• Prepare reports and documents as needed or requested.
• Attend regular team meetings.
• Attend a paid training program.
• Other duties as reasonably assigned.

Qualifications Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• High School Equivalent degree.
• Vast knowledge of social service resources available to respective community
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to carry out written and oral instructions.
• Ability to exercise judgment in the application of professional services.
• Comfortable with home visits and outreach.
• Comfortable with computer data entry.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Must be proficient in MS Word and computer data entry.
• Prior experience as an outreach worker.

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!