Community Health Representatives provide basic healthcare, promotion, and disease prevention services rooted in traditional values, focusing on improving Social Determinants of Health for Tribal communities through advocacy and facilitation. Essential duties include conducting home visits, coordinating client transportation, performing non-emergency medical monitoring, and accurately documenting all client interactions in the Electronic Health Record system.
Requirements summary
Level I requires a High School Diploma or GED, while higher levels require an Associate degree or relevant experience combinations. All candidates must demonstrate a commitment to providing culturally sensitive services to American Indians and be willing to learn about and work with American Indian/Alaska Native people.
high schoolassociate degreeTeamworkTime ManagementConfidentialityReportingCare Plan DevelopmentElectronic Health RecordPolicy DevelopmentData CollectionMentorshipClient AdvocacyTransportation CoordinationCultural SensitivityHome VisitsMedication DeliveryNon-Emergency Medical Monitoring
Job description
SUMMARY
Community Health Representatives (CHR) are essential in providing basic healthcare, promotion, and disease prevention services rooted in traditional values.
Their primary goal is to enhance health-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices by advocating, facilitating, and supporting comprehensive healthcare initiatives.
As the frontline workforce, CHRs focus on improving Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) for Tribal communities, employing a community-based approach to reduce health inequities.
CHRs perform a wide range of tasks related to assisting United Indian Health Service (UIHS) clients with health services and access to other key health resources within the community.
Throughout their work, they prioritize trust-building, clear communication, and the enhancement of social connectedness and traditional knowledge to ensure their clients are receiving appropriate care.
Essential duties and responsibilities
Level I
Conduct home visits, including safety checks, to UIHS clients within the service area, adhering to Community Health Care Services Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Care Plans, and directives from CHCS Public Health Nurse, the CHCS Manager, and client Provider.
Provide medication delivery to homebound clients following established SOPs and as directed by the CHCS Manager.
Coordinate and/or provide client transportation to clinical and social services appointments. Transportation coordination occur with our Transportation Department or with external resources/services.
Conduct non-emergency medical monitoring in homes or community events, including vital signs, height, weight, blood glucose, vision, and hearing.
Collecting assessment data to develop personalized care plans aligned with client goals and cultural values in collaboration with the CHCS Public Health Nurse, the CHCS Manager, and client Provider.
Record client interactions and healthcare appointments promptly and accurately in the Electronic Health Record system.
Address client referrals promptly, prioritizing needs and coordinating interventions effectively with guidance from CHCS Public Health Nurse, the CHCS Manager, and client Provider.
Work as an integrated team within the CHCS Department to care for our clients and community.
Facilitate collaboration with UIHS’ clinical teams, and outside agencies/organizations/tribes, as needed to ensure a team approach to healthcare delivery.
Advocate for clients and provide education on accessing health services, facilitating appointment scheduling, and connecting them with available program resources.
Demonstrate flexibility in working hours to accommodate scheduled medical/dental appointments, distant transport, and community awareness events.
Adhere strictly to established protocols for promptly reporting instances of abuse/neglect (i.e. child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, etc.), ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals.
Actively engage in ongoing training and professional development to remain current on emerging health issues, best practices, and advancements in the field, ensuring up-to-date knowledge and skills.
Maintain accurate documentation of activities for community, cultural and group events, including client sign-in logs, and other required forms for administrative and quality assurance purposes.
Participate in community events/activities as needed in collaboration with other UIHS departments and community partners.
Maintain and complete vehicle logs and schedules for maintenance. Follow all policies and SOPs in connection with operating General Services Administration (GSA) vehicles. Maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of GSA vehicle guidelines.
Complete monthly reports to track and monitor work completed.
Serve as a resource in the health field and be able to identify and refer clients to other resources that would meet their healthcare needs.
Demonstrate effective time management, prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines while focusing on client-centered care.
Maintain professionalism and confidentiality in all aspects of work.
Attend at least one (1) cultural presentations/trainings per year to enhance understanding of American Indian culture and demonstrate ability to work with American Indian/Alaska Native people.
Maintain a professional, organized, and clean working environment following organizational policies and safety standards.
Fulfill any other assigned duties within the CHCS Department.
Must be willing to learn more about the American Indian culture and attend at least one Cultural Presentation/Training per year.
Must be willing to work with American Indian/Alaska Native people and demonstrate cultural awareness and humility
Must be willing to deliver services in a culturally responsive manner.
Adheres to accreditation and compliance standards/guideline
Other duties may be assigned.
Level II – Able to act independently in completing the above duties and
Assist in the development of departmental policies, procedures, and quality improvement activities within the department as directed.
Contribute to the evaluation and improvement of CHCS processes and efficiency within the organization.
Special
Projects: Takes on leadership roles in special projects as assigned, demonstrating creativity, resourcefulness, and a solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.
Provide insight, direction, and assistance with the planning of CHCS related events, including participation in community events and/or activities.
Assist with providing mentorship and training to CHR staff, sharing knowledge and expertise to support their professional growth and development.
Assist in the development and ongoing updating of the program’s educational materials.
Level III – Able to act independently in completing the above duties and
Develop and oversee the ongoing updating of the CHCS program’s educational materials.
Assist the CHCS Manager with strategic planning and decision-making processes related to CHCS Department.
Assist in efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of CHCS programs and interventions, using data to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
Assist with the implementation of quality assurance measures to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care and services, monitoring outcomes and implementing corrective actions as needed.
Provide mentorship and training to new CHR staff, sharing knowledge and expertise to support their professional growth and development.
Lead and actively contribute to the development and implementation of initiatives within the CHCS Department, demonstrating leadership qualities and taking initiative to drive progress and improvement.
Supervisory responsibilities
• This position has no supervisory responsibility.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All individuals must demonstrate a commitment to the provision of culturally sensitive counseling services to American Indians.
Education/Experience: Educational degrees must be from a US Department of Education accredited school
Level I
High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
Level II
Associate degree or two (2) years of related experience in the field or a combination of both.
Level III
Associate degree and one (1) year of related experience in the field or three (3) years of related experience in the field or a combination.
