Opportunities

---

Community Health Worker (CHW)

Socorro County, NM

ILRC hiring a Community Health Worker (CHW) in Socorro, NM. The purpose of the position is to promote health within a community by assisting individuals and target groups to adopt healthy behaviors through education and awareness activities. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting them in effectively communicating with healthcare providers. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. Identify and collect data to help identify community health needs. This position reports to the Senior Programs Officer.

This is an exempt; full time position (grant ends 9/30/2024). Salary range is $55,000 – $60,000 per year.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Advise consumers or community/target groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
• Identify or contact people with disabilities who may be identified as members of high-risk or targeted groups.
  1. Maintain contact with consumers to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions promoting health, safety and well-being.
• Disseminate informational or educational documents to inform consumers of identified and targeted communities of various health promotion benefits.
• Refer consumers to health services.
• Attend community meetings or health related fairs or planning groups to understand community issues or build relationships with community representatives.
• Advise consumers or community groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings, such as breast cancer screening, blood pressure screening, diabetes screenings.
• Advise consumers or the community or targeted high-risk groups on issues related to risk or prevention of COVID 19, falls, decubitus ulcers.
• Identify the health care needs of individuals in the community or target groups within the disability community.
• Advise consumers or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as healthy eating and nutrition by providing information materials.
• May conduct home visits for identified or referred high-risk individuals to support them in monitoring their progress towards health promotion and attainment of health goals.
• Arrange for or accompany consumers to scheduled health appointments or COVID vaccination sites if requested.
• Advocate for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers.
• Report incidences of abuse, neglect, or threats of harm, to authorities as required.
• Provide training to individuals or groups or disseminate health promotion or prevention information to targeted high risk individuals adhering to cultural norms.
• Collect information from individuals to compile data about the general health of targeted groups within the disability community.
• Refer or assist individuals to apply for Medicaid, food stamps or refer to food resources for people with disabilities experiencing food insecurity.
• Support in advocating for interpreter or translation services or provide cultural or disability specific mediation related to accessing health services or health related information.
• Maintain contacts and liaisons with community networks and disability groups working to improve overall health such as the Department of Health and local Health Departments.
• Provide feedback to health service providers regarding improving service accessibility.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) or willing to become a Certified CHW at ILRC’s expense. BA in counseling, health science or closely related area preferred or a combination of skills, experience and education to perform the duties outlined. Self-monitoring of performance highly desired. Experience in record keeping and written communication a must. Knowledge and experience in independent living philosophy desirable. Experience providing services to people with disabilities. Persons with disabilities encouraged to apply. Ability to maintain and develop positive working relationships a must. Bilingual preferred. Travel in Socorro County required.

TO APPLY:

Send cover letter and resume to: Kate Unna, Senior Program Officer, Independent Living Resource Center, 1720 Louisiana Blvd. NE., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, FAX 505-266-5150, kate.ilrcnm@gmail.com. To request this announcement in alternative format, please call 505-266-5022 or 1-800-260-5022.