Community Health Worker

The Substance Use Research and Education (SURE) Center at the UNM College of Pharmacy is looking for a Community Health Worker (CHW) for the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study. The HBCD study is a longitudinal study completed in collaboration with 25 sites across the United States. The study team will recruit pregnant people, including some who are experiencing challenges with substance use and other mental health issues, and facilitate retention of these participants and their children for up to 10 years. Under the general supervision of the Principal Investigators (Dr. Ludmila Bakhireva and Dr. Lawrence Leeman), the Community Health Worker will support this recruitment and retention of pregnant people and/or families affected by substance use disorders (SUD), mental health disorders, and other conditions or socio-economic factors requiring more support in the HBCD study. The Community Health Worker will serve as the liaison between the HBCD research team and vulnerable participants and their families. He/she/they will assist participants in accessing health-related services and overcoming barriers to obtaining medical care and /or social services. Additionally, he/she/they will assist with community liaison efforts and outreach activities specific to vulnerable populations while working closely with co-Investigators, research personnel, clinical staff, and mentors.   

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Hold Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) certification.
• Assists participants in their homes, community, or research setting. Communicates to participant the purposes of the program.
• Documents all participant encounters; completes and submits monthly reports; maintains comprehensive electronic participant files. Documents activities, service plans, and outcomes achieved by study participant in an effective manner.
• Coaches participants in effective management of study participation. Assists study participant in understanding visit schedules and study instructions. Motivates patients/clients to be active and engaged participants in the study.
• Assists participants in accessing health-related services, including but not limited to: overcoming barriers to obtaining needed medical care and /or social services.
• Continuously expands knowledge and understanding of community resources and services. Facilitates participant access to community resources, including locating housing, food, clothing, prenatal classes, parenting, and providers to teach life skills and relevant mental health services. Assists participant in utilizing community services, including scheduling appointments with behavioral health resources, and assisting with completion of applications for programs for which they may be eligible.
•  Facilitates communication and coordinate services between research staff and the participant. Coordinates and monitors services, including comprehensive tracking of participants' compliance in relation to research objectives.
• Works collaboratively and effectively within a team. Establishes positive, supportive relationships with participants and provides feedback to other members of the team. Builds and maintains positive working relationships with the participant, providers, nurse case managers, agency representatives, research staff, supervisors, and office staff, from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Works to reduce cultural and socio-economic barriers between participant and institutions.
• May travel extensively to participant homes, community locations, various agencies, and other outreach destinations.
• May provide occasional weekend and evening coverage as needed.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned. 

See the Position Description for additional information.

• Possession of a valid New Mexico driver's license is a requirement for this job.
• Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
• Fingerprinting, and subsequent clearance, may be required for this position depending on assignment.
• May be required to obtain a Community Support Worker (CSW) certification within six months of hire.
• May be required to hold a Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) certification if acting as a peer support worker.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• Successful candidate must submit to post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check.

High school diploma or GED; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Knowledge of transportation and other barriers to services that may be encountered by participants.
• Experience working with pregnant people and/or families belonging to vulnerable populations.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
•  Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Knowledge of community agencies and resources for substance use disorders, behavioral health, and social services.
• Proficiency in oral and written Spanish.
• Skill in use of personal computers and related software applications, including e-mail.
• Analytical, evaluative, and critical thinking skills.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

The University of New Mexico has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement for UNM students and employees. For detailed information, visit https://bringbackthepack.unm.edu/vaccine/vaccine-requirement.html

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.