Community Health Worker

This is a Temporary to Permanent OpportunityABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEW YORK

Ronald McDonald House New York provides temporary housing, care, and support for families whose children are undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses. The House is a place of comfort, stability, and community during some of the most challenging moments in a family’s life.

• Serving families since 1978
• Located in New York City
• Pediatric illness support
• Community-centered mission

The Community Health Worker (CHW) plays a crucial role in ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care by addressing social determinants of health and connecting them with critical support services. CHW’s work with patients, healthcare providers, and community organizations to facilitate care navigation, resource linkage, and service coordination to improve overall well‑being

CHW’s are responsible for conducting outreach, identifying social needs, assisting with housing navigation, providing case management, and ensuring Medicaid‑eligible individuals receive the necessary support services. The role requires strong interpersonal skills, a passion for advocacy, and the ability to develop trusting relationships with patients.

Essential Functions:

The CHW is a member of an interdisciplinary care team that has a remit to support individuals by addressing their health‑related social needs (HRSN) and assisting in service coordination.

• Conduct comprehensive HRSN screenings to assess social and economic barriers affecting health outcomes.
• Provide housing navigation support, assisting individuals in securing stable housing by helping with applications, documentation, and liaising with housing authorities.
• Support patients with transportation coordination, including Medicaid‑sponsored rides and community‑based transportation resources.
• Assisting individuals applying for public benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, SSI, etc.), ensuring proper documentation and follow‑ups.
• Establish linkages with community‑based organizations that provide services such as food assistance, utility support, and legal aid.
• Assist with patient advocacy by helping individuals understand their rights and options for social services.
• Conduct home visits and in‑person/virtual follow‑ups to assess ongoing social support needs.

Referral & Documentation Responsibilities:

• Coordinate referrals for housing support services, ensuring clients receive assistance with shelter applications and housing stabilization programs.
• Maintain detailed and accurate documentation in electronic health records (EHRs) and referral platforms.
• Track patient progress and follow up on referrals to ensure services are accessed and outcomes achieved.
• Assist with data collection and reporting for Medicaid Waiver initiatives and contracted programs.
• Support program compliance by adhering to contractual obligations for PHS HRSN services, including tracking performance metrics.

Education:

• High School Diploma required; associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, public health, or a related field preferred.

Experience:

• At least 1 year of experience in social services, community health work, or care coordination.
• Experience in housing navigation, case management, or Medicaid programs is highly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with diverse populations.
• Familiarity with local housing resources, community‑based organizations, and public benefits programs.
• Ability to maintain accurate records in electronic health records (EHRs) and case management systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and data entry platforms.
• Bilingual skills preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, or another language commonly spoken in NYC communities).
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed care, harm reduction strategies, and motivational interviewing is a plus.

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to…