Health & Wellness Navigator

Esperanza Health Center (EHC) is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with three clinic sites across North Philadelphia, including Hunting Park (19140), Fairhill (19133), and Kensington (19134). In addition to offering holistic, integrated patient care at each of these sites, our Community Health and Wellness (CHW) team seeks to provide health education, programming, and wellness initiatives for patients and community members. With a focus on addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and building protective factors for community residents and families, the CHW team serves as a bridge between the clinic and the community. To greatly expand EHC’s efforts around preventive health and wellness, EHC has opened The CORE, a four-story community wellness center with community classrooms, a gymnasium, fitness space, and event space, just one block behind our clinic site in Kensington.

The CORE is the first EHC facility that will be focused on health and wellness initiatives that would supplement the clinical care provided at our health centers. With our Kensington health center site just one block away, we see an innovative opportunity to link clinical care with wellness offerings to best care for our patients.

Esperanza Health Center (EHC)’s NHC Member will serve as a Health and Wellness Navigator, linking patients to resources, support and opportunities within EHC to help them affect lifestyle changes. This navigator will help to create a bridge between the diet and exercise guidance patients receive in the clinic, with the tools to practice that advice both individually and with others. They will also function as a peer support member of the Community Health and Wellness team who is able to walk alongside the patient to achieve their goals. Lastly, they will assess barriers experienced by patients struggling with chronic disease to identify areas for assistance, provide recommendations to EHC staff, and reduce health disparities.

• Providing brief health education to patients
• Recruiting clients to participate in health classes
• Conducting phone outreach as assigned by leadership
• Assisting in care coordination and resource referrals
• Tracking referrals and closing the referral loop
• Following up on referrals from various members of the care team and connecting patients to health and wellness programming and opportunities within EHC and in the community.
• Providing support and ongoing assistance with lifestyle change for patients needing it.
• Assessing barriers to chronic disease management and addressing barriers as feasible.

• Ability to foster a spirit of humility, listening, and unity in dealing with patients, and with team members

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Creative problem-solving

• Organized; sound organizational skills

• Demonstrated interest in Social work, health and wellness

• Knowledge of AmeriCorps/Health Corps member requirements
• Skill with Microsoft Office or other software for a variety of data processing operations involving a range of problem solving, record keeping, correspondence, and service tracking options

• The supervisor assigns service activities, advises on changes in procedures, and is available for assistance when required
• In the space below, provide additional information or explanations.:

• Regular supervision in check-ins will be provided.

• The Member will work on their projects in a collaborative fashion with the supervisor who will not monitor each call or patient interaction but will be available for questions and regular check-ins after the Member has received sufficient training.

• Guidelines are generally applicable, but adaptations may be made in collaboration with the supervisor who will be available for discussion and clarification.

• Member will work with their supervisor to develop tasks and activities, many of which have precedence but are open to flexibility and creativity.

• Language proficiency* (see below)
• Health screening or service required
  • We are following the mandate that all workforce members be vaccinated for COVID-19. If the NHC Member does not plan to get vaccinated, they may request an exemption for valid religious and medical reasons. 
  • Provide evidence of the following immunizations (or tiers indicating immunity)
    • Tuberculin testing is also required as indicated below.
    •  Hepatitis B Vaccination: Please provide evidence of vaccination or titer results indicating immunity.
    • Varicella Vaccination: Please provide evidence protective Varicella IGG Ab titer or proof of 2 doses of varicella vaccination administered at least 4 weeks apart.
    • Tdap – Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis: Please provide evidence of Tdap vaccination.
    • PPD (Tuberculin test): Please provide evidence from your PCP of the last PPD. If no evidence, a 2-step Mantoux PPD testing will be administered on the first day at Esperanza Health Center. If written evidence of a PPD test within the past 12 months is provided, then only one PPD test is required.
       

• Will require the ability to work some nights and weekends, with flex time provided as agreed upon with the supervisor.

• Professional dress code required.

• Must be willing to work in a complex community, including following any safety recommendations advised by supervisor and colleagues.

• Comfortable working in a faith-based work environment.

• Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred
• Minimum Professional Proficiency: Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics.
• Reading Proficiency: Able to read simple prose, in a form equivalent to typescript or printing, on subjects within a familiar context.