Community Health Worker - Maternal Child Health

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a key component of the Ingham County Health Department’s Maternal Child Health Division. This culturally and geographically connected individual serves as a link between underserved communities and existing community resources. Through home visiting, this individual assists clients in overcoming barriers to health, social services, education and employment.

1. Assists clients in filling out forms (state, federal, local, paperwork and other documents) and reviews documents for proper completion. Coordinates with clients and providers to make necessary appointments in person, and/or by phone, and/or in writing, to ensure clients have completed required or recommended actions.

2. Assists in the creation, maintenance, and distribution of resource guides for food, housing, doctor office locations and other services to distribute to the community and its partners. Conducts program specific outreach to disseminate this information throughout the community.

3. Completes documentation utilizing the program’s client system to ensure consistent communication and up-to-date documentation with clients. Uses the program’s client contact protocols for care coordination activities at all times.

4. Assess individuals and families based on social determinates of health (SDOH), including but not limited to: health, physical and mental impairments, personal and family adjustments, finances, employment, food, clothing, housing and utilities; by determining and completing appropriate checklists and bringing information gathered back to program supervisor or team lead to oversee CHW interventions based on the nature and severity of problems.

Provides appropriate referrals based on needs assessment of individuals and families.

5. Assists in the maintenance of departmental filing systems by ensuring proper filing of documents and folders. Provides the retrieval of materials from various systems and conducts searches for necessary documentation. This includes filling out forms, assisting in Medicaid, SER and food stamps applications, checking client accounts, navigating issues with DHHS case workers and helping with Medicaid redeterminations via MI-Bridges and other statewide and local data systems.

6. Provides client information/education regarding primary care provider assessments about the ever-changing complex health processes, including specific information about services covered by various health plans, coordinating with primary care and sub specialty offices. Education may include program specific curricula.

7. Provides Medicaid outreach and education (medical, dental, vision, mental health, transportation coordination, etc.) to clients and the public regarding program guidelines and health department services through mobile health events, mailings, displays, telephone contacts and in person.

8. Utilizes word processing, excel and other software programs to track and distribute documents, spreadsheets, brochures, flyers, training materials and other informational or educational documents to targeted cultures and communities. Work with clients that have technology barriers, (no phones, internet and computer access or skills) or who speak other languages other than English to input all necessary information into required documentation.

9. Determining the importance of tasks needed to be performed to ensure quality of life for our clients that help prevent health related barriers such as but not limited to: connecting with primary care or sub specialty provider offices, MDHHS office, picking up resources for families, arranging transportation, and providing referrals for clients and families.

10. Maintains a client centered approach including cultural…