Spanish Community Health Worker

Job Overview

Working along with and in support of MGH Chelsea pediatricians, the Community Health Worker - Early Childhood Program Specialist uses the Healthy Steps model to address non-urgent, non-medical questions on a variety of topics such as child development, parenting, and behavior. They assist parents and other primary-care givers during well-child visits with the goal of facilitating children’s healthy growth and development.

The Community Health Worker - Early Childhood Program Specialist resides primarily in Pediatrics to deliver evidence-based strategies for families with children ages 0-3. The Early Childhood Program Specialist - CHW helps parents build healthy attachments with their children by growing skills to deal with common parenting challenges and by providing positive and responsive caregiving.

They explore family risk factors such as maternal depression, food insecurity, housing instability or homelessness, utility needs, transportation needs, interpersonal safety, substance misuse, and tobacco. When necessary, they make referrals to both in-house and community resources. A background in child development, social work, early childhood education or early intervention is an important requirement for this position.

• Provides consultations to families to address specific concerns about a child's development and/or behavior or a parental concern.
• Conducts office visits, either jointly with the physician/pediatric nurse practitioner or alone.
• Works closely with the pediatric providers around care coordination, goal setting, counseling, coaching and education about key aspects of a child's behaviors, development and parenting practices.
• Closely tracks progress made in ongoing checkups.
• Refers patients, parents, and families to both in-house and community resources based on identified needs.
• Partners with community resource providers and families to help parents coordinate and navigate complex systems, offering close follow-up and support when barriers occur.
• Uses care coordination to empower families by enhancing their health literacy and systems navigation capabilities so they become their child and family's own best advocates.
• Provides parents with guidance, education, information, and resources that help them support their children through the different stages of development.
• Offers parents and families concrete strategies, activities and tools designed to support their child's early learning.
• Provides anticipatory guidance to parents and other primary care givers around common concerns such as early learning, fussiness, sleep, feeding, discipline, toilet training, etc.
• Works closely with MGH Chelsea Pediatric staff as a resource for developmental and parenting concerns.

High School Education Required, Masters Degree Preferred

At least 3 years of experience in positions requiring addressing parenting, child development, or human service issues.

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? Yes.

Community Health Worker [CHW - Massachusetts License] - Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professionals preferred

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and provide advocacy for all populations and communities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with various populations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office and database management.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in child development issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with underserved populations in a community setting.
• Must be empathic, supportive and patient.
• Strong motivational interviewing skills.
• Ability to work with people of many cultures.
• Ability to take initiative and willingness to learn.
• Ability to work well both in teams and independently.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with parenting, child development or with human service work.
• Ability to collect and enter data for program management, evaluation and reporting purposes.

The General Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.