Field Based Community Health Worker - Slidell, LA

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Whole Health Engagement Community Health Worker (CHW) will be the primary care navigator for members with complex behavioral health needs. The CHW works assertively to locate and engage members in the community to develop individualized plans of care that focus on the member's definition of success and identify and address social determinants of health (SDOH) or other barriers impacting members ability to achieve their stated goals. This position will collaborate with an interdisciplinary care team (ICT) to provide comprehensive care navigation, improve clinical and quality outcomes, and reduce total cost of care.

CHWs will approach their member work with an understanding of how inequities drive health disparities and use this information to advocate and promote health equity.

This position is full-time, Monday - Friday. Employees are required to have flexibility to work any of our 8-hour shift schedules during our normal business hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST and CST. Our office is located at Slidell, LA.

We offer 2.5 weeks of paid training. The hours during training will be 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CST from Monday - Friday. On the job training will continue up to several weeks after the first two weeks.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Locate and engage members within a 60-mile radius of a designated region of within 60 miles of assigned regions of St. Helena, Livingston, Tangipahoa, Washington or St. Tammany Parishes
• Assess SDOH needs using a standardized screening tool and coordinate with ICT to identify and connect members to available community resources
• Engage with members post-discharge from inpatient setting to facilitate connections with community-based services and Peer Support Specialist as needed
• Provide support to improve medication adherence ensuring access to medications through dispensing pharmacy and facilitating connection to clinical pharmacy programs
• Proactively provide education and coaching to support self-management of health and care needs as outlined in member's care plan and in alignment with member-stated goals
• Partner and collaborate with the ICT, community-based organizations, and inpatient/outpatient providers to ensure members can access medical, behavioral, and substance use treatment services to meet their healthcare needs.
• Understand member-specific Medicaid benefits and assist with coordination of applicable services to support care goals and needs
• Collaborate with clinical team and member to develop a personalized care plan to address member need.

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma / GED
• Must be 18 years of age OR older
• 3+ years of experience with working within the Community Health setting in a field-based healthcare role
• 2+ years of experience with working within the local community, with demonstrated knowledge of community culture and values and familiarity with available resources
• Experience with listening and collecting relevant information, building rapport quickly, responding compassionately, working independently, adapting to change, and interacting with internal and external customers in a variety of environments
• Access to reliable transportation that will enable you to travel to residential OR commercial locations within a designated area
• Access to a designated workspace in your home (separate from non-workspace areas) with the ability to secure sensitive company documents including Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Access to existing high-speed internet service OR reside in a location that can receive a UnitedHealth Group approved high-speed internet connection
• Ability and willingness to travel 75% of the time within 60 miles of assigned regions of St. Helena, Livingston, Tangipahoa, Washington OR St. Tammany Parishes
• Demonstrated knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid benefits
• Ability to work between the hours of 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM from Monday - Friday

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish
• Knowledge and / OR experience with behavioral health OR substance use disorders
• Previous case management experience
• Experience with working in team-based care
• Training in Whole Health Action Management and Trauma Informed care

Physical and Work Environment:

• Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with OR without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to transition from office / telecommute to field locations multiple times per day