Have you ever helped a family member or friend receive healthcare services? Do your neighbors or friends come to you for help? Are there things harming your community you feel passionate about changing? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," this might be the service opportunity for you!
Site Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Program Start Date: September/October 2023
Position Description:
CHWs are trusted, knowledgeable frontline health personnel who typically come from the communities they serve. CHWs bridge cultural and linguistic barriers, expand access to coverage and care, and improve health outcomes.
This position will support AUCH’s partnership with Salt Lake County to conduct health education and outreach to target populations within county limits.
UHC CHW responsibilities include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- Establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families to help them become more engaged in their health
- Providing health education, including testing and vaccination
- Conducting intake interviews with patients utilizing motivational interviewing and health coaching, and enrolling and/or referring patients into applicable health and community resources
- Following-up with patients via phone calls, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be found
- Working closely with clinical teams to ensure that patients have comprehensive and coordinated care
- Documenting patient activities and outcomes in appropriate databases
- Participating in regular team and project meetings
- Attending team meetings as assigned to discuss progress, successes, and challenges related to the position
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor must be in accordance with AmeriCorps terms and conditions
About AmeriCorps: UHC, an AmeriCorps program of the Association for Utah Community Health (AUCH), currently supports more than 20 members serving in over 10 sites throughout the state of Utah. UHC CHWs make a difference in the community by providing vital health education and connections to health and social resources to improve patient lives. AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at 21,600 unique sites including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, more than 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing more than 2.3 million volunteers for the organizations they serve. AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.
Service Schedule: UHC CHWs are expected to serve at least 1700 hours over 48 weeks (11 months). This includes participating in direct service, additional activities, events, service projects, and training as provided or mandated by the program. Exact service schedule will be determined in coordination with supervisors but will take place during normal business hours.
Program Benefits: Full-time UHC CHWs will receive the following program benefits:
- Living stipend in the mount of $2,272.72/month ($25,000/11 months), distributed bi-monthly
- Eli Segal Education award in the amount of $6,895 upon successful completion of service
- Postponement of eligible student loans
- Health insurance premium reimbursement (to include dental) up to $170 per month for those not enrolled in a plan
- Childcare assistance, if eligible
- Professional development and subject-matter training
Qualifications and Requirements: The following requirements must be met to be considered for the program:
- At least 18 years of age
- High school diploma or GED
- Pass the necessary program background checks
- Legal Permanent Resident or citizen of the U.S.
- Written and oral fluency in English and Spanish required
- Basic computer skills
- Ability to commit to approximately 36 hours per week for 48 weeks (11 months)
- Ability to attend a mandatory 5-7 day orientation
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with patients and program stakeholders
- Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the target community
- Willingness to be present on-site in clinical and community spaces
- Willingness to conduct home visits
- Good communication skills such as listening, speaking, and writing
- Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients
- Ability to work independently and as part of a group
- Willingness to take initiative and be pro-active in daily work
- Willingness to travel to community-based organizations as needed
- In order to be qualified for service with UHC, individuals must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive an approved exemption.
A national sex offender, state, and federal background check will be conducted on all potential candidates. Women, minorities, veterans and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation will be made for those with disabilities.
How to Apply: Interested candidates should complete the application located here or submit a resume and cover letter to AmeriCorps Program Director, Ashlynne Rasmussen at arasmussen@auch.org. Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.