Community Health Worker OB GYN

Dignity Health Medical Foundation established in 1993 is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation with care centers throughout California.  Dignity Health Medical Foundation is an affiliate of Dignity Health - one of the largest health systems in the nation - with hospitals and care centers in California Arizona and Nevada. Today Dignity Health Medical Foundation works hand-in-hand with physicians and providers throughout California to provide comprehensive health care services to the many communities we serve. As Dignity Health Medical Foundation continues to grow and establish new premier care centers we provide increasing support and investment in the latest technologies finest physicians and state-of-the-art medical facilities. We strive to create purposeful work settings where staff can provide great care while advancing in knowledge and experience through challenging work assignments and stimulating relationships. Our staff is well-trained and highly skilled qualities that are vital to maintaining excellence in care and service.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

Position Summary:

The Perinatal Mental Health Community Health Worker (CHW) will provide non-clinical interventions to engage perinatal patients in their mental health care and connect them to community support. This position is responsible for serving as direct support to patients in screening for maternal mental health conditions and supporting the referral process as prescribed by the Obstetrician for identified maternal mental health needs. The CHW will be an integrated part of the obstetric clinic care team and will work directly with patients, and build and maintain relationships with community resource partners.

This position is funded through a 2-year grant.

Responsibilities may include:
- Provide patients with education on maternal mental health and screening including an overview of the screening process and why it is important to screen during the perinatal period.
- Administer the maternal mental health screening per project protocol.
- Follow protocol when a patient screens high: explaining the screening results to the patient, providing a brief treatment intervention, and explaining what services and treatments are available to the patient.
- Communicate with the Obstetric provider the findings of the screening and for treatment plan development. Assist in identifying non-clinical interventions and resources.
- Establish regular communication via phone or text message with patients who screen high to provide additional support and navigate the patient through any barriers in accessing treatment/support.
- Respect patients’ belief and observe, follow, and nurture the relationship without imposing one's own beliefs.
- Assess engagement with prescribed treatment plan and identify barriers to adherence and methods of minimizing such barriers for optimal health and resource utilization such as financial, psychosocial, cultural, language.
- Act as a liaison/link/intermediary for patients as they navigate the medical and behavioral health system.
- Continually evaluate the patient's status, risk factors and progression through the care plan as defined in clinic protocol.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Experience working in the community in a volunteer or paid capacity related to work within community service agencies, care management, or health care delivery. May include advocacy, community organizing, or other similar work.

- CHW/P/R certification
- High School Diploma or GED
- Demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural setting with a diverse population and exhibit cultural competency.
- Strong organization skills.
- Effective telephone and computer data entry skills required.
- Ability to formulate ideas and solutions into appropriate questions and assess/interpret the verbal responses.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
- Knowledge of community maternal mental health resources and services preferred.
- Exhibits professionalism and ability to build rapport and maintain relationships with patients/families, internal staff, and community based organizations preferred.

#DHMFCHW