WORTH Community Health Worker (Entry - Senior Level)

Job Summary:

This is an amazing opportunity to join CU's WORTH team! Wellness, Opportunity, Resilience Through Health (WORTH) is a collaborative effort between the University of Colorado's School of Medicine and Colorado's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and is closely aligned with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The goal of the program is to support people coming out of jail to access community-based medical care by establishing relationships with WORTH staff during a participant's incarceration that will continue post-release. Program services include peer support, health navigation, community outreach, and jail in-reach as desired by the participant and will expand as indicated by program evaluation.

With a focus on men's health, this position serves to bridge the gap between the medical system and people releasing from jail who want to access healthcare. The Community Health Worker (formerly "Health Navigator") does this by providing WORTH participants with health education, education and support around how to navigate the complexities of insurance and health systems, and assistance with coordinating medical care. This includes sensitive conversations to help men feel comfortable discussing their health priorities and concerns with their medical care team and will likely discuss and educate men around potentially sensitive topics like testicular, prostate, and sexual health. This position collaborates closely with the program's Peer Support Specialists to develop meaningful relationships with program participants to support them in advocating for their needs and meeting their health goals. This program focuses on increasing the resiliency and self-efficacy of clients independent of their desire for sobriety or recovery from substance use or mental health and works with clients to meet their overall wellness goals using harm reduction, creativity, empathy, and trauma informed approaches. It is critical that the incumbent in this role creates a judgment-free environment that supports participants in openly addressing these issues, empowering them to take proactive steps in their health journey.

This is an open-rank recruitment, where candidates are being considered for the entry, intermediate and senior levels dependent on qualifications.

Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meets with WORTH participants in jails, the WORTH office, public community places, and at medical appointments to support them in identifying their desired health goals, barriers to those goals, and developing plans that incorporate the participant's skills and strengths to assist them in achieving their goals.
• Uses culturally competent and effective strategies for educating participants around human anatomy and health/disease, recommended treatment plans, insurance coverages, and the workings of health systems to improve patient understanding, engagement, and autonomous decision making around health needs and care plans.
• Tracks and analyzes relevant patient data to develop appropriate and tactful intervention strategies to ensure that the patient's health goals are being met.
• Supports care navigation activities including assistance in coordination of medical records, medication refills, assistance in scheduling and remembering appointments, tracking, and coordinating (with the participant) the recommended follow-up care.
• Assist patients with Medicaid and insurance applications and navigation as indicated.
• Maintains positive, collaborative relationships with the medical teams at county jails in order to serve as the program's critical point of connection between the community, jail medical teams, and the patient.
• Serves as the critical point of contact between WORTH's community-based clinical partners and the program.

Work Location:

Onsite - This role is expected to work onsite with a primary office located in Aurora, CO and within the Denver Metro area.

Why Join Us:

The Division of General Internal Medicine (GIM), established at the University of Colorado in 1977, was one of the first GIM divisions established within the United States. Building on a rich history and tradition, our GIM Division has undergone significant change and evolution to maintain our goal of being a national leader in patient care, medical education, and health services research.

We take our three-part mission of patient care, medical education, and researchseriously. Each of our affiliated institutions has its own unique medical care programs. These programs, when taken together, provide a wide breadth and depth of clinical experiences that allows our trainees to experience virtually all aspects of inpatient and ambulatory medical care.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation, and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Diversity and Equity:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty, and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnically minoritized individuals, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community and all veterans. In addition, the Anschutz Campus has also been recognized as an Age-Friendly University. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Entry Level:

• A bachelor's degree in biological science, nutrition, nursing, health, human services, psychology, counseling, social work, public health, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.

Intermediate Level:

• A bachelor's degree in biological science, nutrition, nursing, health, human services, psychology, counseling, social work, public health, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• One (1) year of professional level experience in a medical clinic, health insurance company, hospital, public health, corrections, social services, or a directly related field.

Senior Level:

• A bachelor's degree in biological science, nutrition, nursing, health, human services, psychology, counseling, social work, public health, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Two (2) years of professional level experience in a medical clinic, health insurance company, hospital, public health, corrections, social services, or a directly related field.

A combination of education, related technical/paraprofessional experience, and/or lived experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Personal development associated with lived experience of any social area that relates to the participants that are served by WORTH.
• One (1) to two (2) years of professional experience working in a medical clinic or assisting clients navigate healthcare systems.
• Previous training or experience using Motivational Interviewing techniques.
• Currently listed on the Colorado Health Navigator Registry.
• Previous experience in a care team working alongside Peer Specialists.
• Personal or professional experience with the criminal justice system.
• Limited working proficiency or higher in Spanish.

Condition of Employment:

• Due to the mobile nature of this role traveling around the community, a current driver's license and vehicle in good working condition are required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Skills to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed growth.
• Ability and desire to have positive, respectful, and non-judgmental relationships with people involved in the criminal legal system.
• Must honor, support, and accept all pathways to wellness and recovery using a harm reduction emphasis.
• Strong understanding of, or willingness to learn, the workings of all aspects of the healthcare systems from insurance to care.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain rapport, positive relationships, and critical thinking.
• Cross-cultural skills, and experience and desire to work with culturally diverse populations.
• Strong organizational skills, especially around tracking and completing tasks and follow-through in a timely manner.
• Experience working successfully with multiple tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position.

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address.

Questions should be directed to: Patricia Colella, GIM HR, patricia.colella@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until November 24^th, 2024. Those interested are encouraged to apply right away.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as:

Entry Level: $56,556 - $71,939

Intermediate Level: $61,546 - $78,287

Senior Level: $66,537 - $84,635

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.