BILINGUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

Job Role Summary

This position requires a person to be fluent in both English and Haitian-Creole as well as possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Requires a person to work well with other members of the Community-Based Care team to provide interpretation for client interactions. This position is responsible for providing outreach and follow-up services as a member of the health care team for prenatal clients.  The primary objective is to provide continuity of care for prenatal and postpartum clients, and their infants through home visits, community visits, phone contact, and interaction with other team members.  There will be frequent traveling in Marion County in order to visit in homes and other community sites.

Essential Duties

Responsibility 1: 20%

• Provide home visits to clients to provide support, encouragement and guidance related to their health. 
• Provide interpretation services during various processes, have outstanding problem-solving skills, and have the ability to work to a high level of accuracy.
  • Acting as Interpreter between a wide range of people with diverse voices, accents, speaking tempos and personalities.
  • Providing parties with clear and exact translations of written materials, and interpretations of verbal communication.
• Providing interpretations of questions, answers, statements, arguments, explanations and other forms of verbal communication.
• To provide referrals for resources/medical care.
• To collaborate with the assigned Public Health Nurse as needed to review individualized care plans; share information, report progress with families and to report any unusual circumstances/concerns.
• Assist women to get into early prenatal care – advocate for clinic appointments that fit their schedule; assist with transportation arrangements.
• Assist with completion of application forms for needed services, i.e., Medicaid, Food stamps, etc.
• Encourage preventive child health care – immunizations and medical appointments. 
• Assist with appropriate referrals.

Responsibility 2: 10%

• Outreach - Identify and contact clients who need follow up; assist with necessary medical follow-up. 
• Network within the community to develop relationships in the Haitian-Creole neighborhoods and community programs.
• Make face to face contact or telephone contact with clients referred for home visiting services.
• Distribute fliers/posters within the community.
• Contact and provide program information to neighborhood agencies.
• Ask clients to refer program to family and friends.
• Seek new resources for follow-up based on needs of clients.

                                      
Responsibility 3: 10%  

• Record services rendered in the client record. 
• Learn and update knowledge of network software.
• Data entry is up to date and accurate.  
• Paperwork is kept safe and filed appropriately.
• Once data entry is completed, medical record files are filed in the designated space.
• Documentation is clear and concise.

Responsibility 4: 55% 

• Other District Health Office responsibilities:
• Complete Quality Assurance responsibilities for OnBase as assigned by supervisor
• Cross train in other areas. 
• Trained in the distribution of Tuberculosis (TB) medications to clients who are on directly observed therapy.  Aware of the side effects and circumstances that are reportable to the Case Manager.
• Trained to perform front desk duties at the front desk in the District Health Offices. 
• Trained to assist in other district health duties – such as school vision and hearing screenings, off-site immunization services, etc. 

Responsibility 5: 5%Meetings 

• Participate in periodic staff meetings, team meetings and committee meetings.
• Attend inservices/seminars to increase job knowledge.
• Attend MCPHD mandated meetings, HIPAA, BBP, Emergency Preparedness, etc.
• Participate in 8 hours of health fair activities per year.

Qualifications

• Fluent in English and Haitian-Creole 
• High School Diploma or GED
• 1 to 3 years of previous work experience, preferred experience in health related field
• Computer skills and keyboard use including typing a minimum of 30 words/minute
• Valid Indiana driver's license, use of automobile, and personal vehicle insurance required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Must be attentive to detail.
• Must be able to work assignments and be self-motivated to function independently.
• Must be able to work effectively under pressure.
• Must be flexible in working with a variety of community partners.
• Must be able to complete data entry in a timely manner.
• Skills in effective interpersonal communication in a multi-cultural setting; may require the use of the language line or an interpreter.
• Must be able to exercise good judgment.
• Requires knowledge of communities and organizations that they may come in contact.
• Work collaboratively with a broad range of people.
• Interact tactfully and diplomatically with colleagues, personnel and the public.
• Maintain confidentiality of information according to HIPAA.

Working Environment

• Unconfined and confined sitting, standing or walking to and from community sites, etc., climbing stairs, steady use of hands for data entry; and lifting and carrying equipment.
• May be exposed to substandard and unsanitary living conditions.
• May be exposed to allergens of all types (i.e., pets, dust, smoke, etc.)
• In adverse weather conditions, may be requested to make home visits for Directly Observed Therapy for TB medicines.
• Required to wear N-95 masks in situations where client is considered infectious.