With compassion and commitment, Community Health Workers embody the Legacy mission of making life better for others. They do this by supporting and educating patients on navigating the healthcare system, conducting outreach and participating in the development of individual patient goals. Our Community Health Workers are advocates not just for our patients and the health of our community.

The Community Health Worker supports individuals, families, and the community in connecting to and navigating through the healthcare system. Works collaboratively with a team of health professionals to provide patients with opportunities to stabilize and improve their health. Serves as a bridge between the community and the system of health and social services. This position serves individuals with complex medical, mental health and/or chemical dependency needs.  Community Health Workers have expertise and/or experience in public health and working in local communities. To the extent practicable, they share ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, and life experiences with the residents of the community they serve. A Community Health Worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. Patients are seen in various locations including the clinic, hospital, their homes, or similar environments.

Education: 

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Community Health Worker training preferred.
• College Degree or any combination of equivalent education and experience preferred.

Experience: 

• Two years’ experience in healthcare, community-based outreach, social work, mental health, disability care, or education. 
• “Lived experience” with local health, education, human services, childcare, or disability services organizations preferred.
• Experience with documenting for billable services in an electronic health record preferred.
• Bi-lingual language skills preferred.

Knowledge /Skills:

• Cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the population being served. Intended to represent the population they serve while being culturally competent.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural and individual differences in communities.
• Basic medical knowledge including the ability to recognize social and medical risk factors and chronic disease conditions.
• Comfortable working with people with mental illness.
• Ability to work collaboratively with patients, listening to, implementing, and advocating for their treatment suggestions.
• Excellent English written and verbal skills.
• Ability to motivate others.
• Ability to engage and work collaboratively with others, including patients, patient families, clinical team members and community resources.
• Demonstrated self-motivation and the ability to work independently.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to openly address and acknowledge issues of substance use and mental illness.
• Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

LEGACY’S VALUES IN ACTION

Follows guidelines set forth in Legacy’s Values in Action.

Equal opportunity employer/vet/disabled.

Licensure/Certification: 

• Valid driver’s license required. 
• Community Health Worker (CHW) certification preferred.
  • If applicant is not a certified CHW, they will be required to obtain certification from the Oregon Health Authority, within 6 months of hire. *CHW certification timing may vary dependent upon course availability.
• AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers is required for all employees who perform this job.