Job Summary:
The Community Health Worker is responsible for overall implementation and accountability of the Great Plains Healthy Start (GPHS) program site.
Essential Functions:
Administrative
- Provide daily management of the local GPHS project in accordance with all contractual and cooperative agreement, as well as funding agency requirements.
- Ensure project objectives and deliverables are met and are in compliance with all GPTCHB and GPHS policies and procedures.
- Assist with ensuring accurate and timely financial transactions that are consistent with GPTCHB policies.
- Prepare and write a wide range of reports.
- Ensure collection of program data.
- Report to the GPHS Program Manager and/or Director of Maternal and Child Health on a regular basis regarding overall program performance and progress.
- Attend and assist in all required classes, meetings, GPHS in-service training and required community events.
- Ensure program/participant confidentiality.
Programmatic Duties
- Create, promote and disseminate information to community members to recruit program participants and raise public awareness and education regarding MCH issues.
- Aid in the development of appropriate service plans for enrolled families.
- Conduct home visitations.
- Track client information and provide proper follow-up in regards to referrals and appointments.
- Update and coordinate the tracking of infant immunization records.
- Serve as an advocate for clients. Consistently demonstrate the ability to link client/families with community resources. Stay informed of relevant community resources in order to make appropriate referrals.
- Assist the Public Health Nurse in conducting home visits and transporting clients when possible.
- Advocate for, and participate in, local inter-disciplinary Infant Mortality Review activities.
- Recruit local community action network (CAN) members, conduct CAN meetings, provide attendance records and minutes of said meetings. Participate in CAN activities.
Professional Behavior
- Effectively plan, organize workload and schedule time to meet the demands of the position.
- Work in a cooperative and professional manner with GPTCHB staff.
- Treat Great Plains tribes and collaborators with dignity and respect.
- Utilize effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Abide by the GPTCHB policies, procedures, and structure.
- Advance personal educational development by attending training sessions and seminars as appropriate, especially those focused on maternal and child health.
Requirements
- Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors and guests.
- Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness and respect.
- Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
- Familiarity and/or experience working with the American Indian populations; respect for and knowledge of traditional, cultural and spiritual practices of diverse American Indian communities, as well as an ability to work with other racially, culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
- Consistently demonstrate respect and acceptance toward differing capabilities, race, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
- Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
- Must be able to handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
- Must be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
- Possess the ability to resolve problems with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision.
- Able to exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
- Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including evenings, weekends and overnight or extended travel as necessary.
- Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to community members, clients and other employees of the organization.
- Proficiency with computer programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other Internet technologies.
- Valid driver’s license must be kept current; certificates, credentials or licenses must be kept current and consistent with regulations required by applicable Federal, State and/or grant regulations.
- Ability to promote an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free lifestyle.
- Embrace modes appearance and attire which reflects a professional presence.
- Adhere to GPTCHB policies and procedures.
Education/Experience/Certificates/Credentials
- Minimum education required is a high school diploma or GED with two to five years of administrative and/or case management experience.
- Knowledgeable of maternal and child health issues.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills. Must be able to present to, and interact with both public and private health officials at tribal and community levels.
- Experience that indicates the ability to interact effectively with leaders among Indian communities, government agencies, scientific and academic communities, medical and health-related organizations, non-governmental groups and the public at large is required.
Work Environment/Physical Demands
The characteristic demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is often required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Travel: Frequent local travel required; occasional out-of-town travel required.
Native American/American Indian Preference in hiring will be applied as defined in title 25 usc 44-46 &474.
Employment is contingent upon the outcome of all required criminal background checks.