Enhance Community Health Worker

Job Title: Enhanced Community Health Worker (ECHW)

Location: Orange, California

Employment Type: Full-time

Salary: $24.00 an hour

Date Posted: 9/15/2026

The Enhanced Community Health Worker (ECHW) provides culturally responsive, community-based support to individuals with significant mental health and substance use needs enrolled in Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) and/or Drug Medi-Cal (DMC/DMC-ODS) programs. As part of California’s BH-CONNECT initiative, this role helps individuals overcome barriers to care, navigate complex systems, access community resources, and remain engaged in treatment and supportive services.

The ECHW serves as a trusted connector between clients, providers, families, and community resources while promoting stability, wellness, and improved health outcomes.

• Conduct outreach and engagement activities with individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges and complex social needs
• Build trusting relationships using culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches
• Support re-engagement efforts for individuals who have disconnected from services or are at risk of disengagement
• Provide education on mental health, substance use, wellness, and healthy lifestyle practices
• Assist individuals with self-management skills, goal setting, and health-related behavior changes
• Reinforce treatment plans and provider recommendations as directed by the treatment team
• Support clients in navigating healthcare, behavioral health, and social service systems
• Assist with appointment scheduling, transportation coordination, referrals, and follow-up activities
• Connect clients to housing, food assistance, benefits, employment resources, transportation, and other community services
• Identify and address barriers impacting access to care and community supports
• Conduct screenings and informal assessments to identify needs, strengths, and service gaps
• Advocate for clients and support access to appropriate services and resources
• Document services, interventions, and outcomes in the electronic health record according to Medi-Cal and organizational requirements
• Collaborate with clinicians, case managers, peer support specialists, medical providers, and other team members to coordinate care
• Participate in team meetings, case consultations, and care coordination activities
• Perform additional duties as assigned

• Demonstrated lived experience reflective of the populations served, including behavioral health, homelessness, justice involvement, recovery, or similar experiences
• Completion of a Community Health Worker certificate program or equivalent experience aligned with Community Health Worker competencies
• Strong communication, engagement, and relationship-building skills
• Knowledge of community-based resources and service systems
• Ability to work effectively with high-acuity and diverse populations
• Understanding of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and person-centered care practices
• Basic computer skills and ability to utilize electronic health record systems
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and active automobile insurance if field-based travel is required
• Ability to complete required continuing education and training requirements

• One year or more of experience in community outreach, care coordination, case management, peer support, or behavioral health services
• Bilingual Spanish preferred
• Experience working in Full Service Partnership (FSP), ACT, crisis, or community-based behavioral health programs
• Knowledge of Medi-Cal, Specialty Mental Health Services, DMC/DMC-ODS, or county behavioral health systems
• Experience working with older adults, high utilizers of healthcare services, or individuals with…