Community Health Worker

## Description **The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD** (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a **Community Health Worker** to join our team. The Community Health Worker (CHW) serves as a frontline member of the Integrated Primary Care and Behavioral Health Home, supporting adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), including individuals with co-occurring chronic physical health conditions and complex social needs. The CHW provides outreach, engagement, care navigation, and barrier reduction services to promote continuity of care, improved health outcomes, and long-term stability. Operating within a CCBHC framework and utilizing a “Channels of Reveal” approach, the CHW connects individuals who are disengaged from care or cycling through hospital, crisis, justice, and community systems to evidence-based treatment and wraparound supports. This role emphasizes relationship-based engagement, whole-person care, and coordination across behavioral health, primary care, and community partners. **Your role in action:** Outreach & Engagement • Conduct proactive, community-based outreach through “channels of reveal,” including emergency departments, inpatient units, crisis services, justice settings, and other community locations where individuals with untreated or poorly managed SMI frequently present. • Engage individuals who are treatment-naïve, disengaged from care, or identified as high utilizers of emergency or inpatient services. Linkage to Care • Connect individuals with SMI to Integrated Health Home and CCBHC services using warm handoffs. • Support appointment scheduling, care engagement, and follow-through with recommended treatment plans. Care Coordination & Navigation • Serve as a trusted connector between individuals and the multidisciplinary care team, including behavioral health clinicians, primary care providers, nursing staff, peer support specialists, and external partners. • Assist individuals in navigating healthcare appointments, preparing for visits, understanding care plans, and following treatment recommendations. • Support medication access and adherence in collaboration with the care team. Addressing Health-Related Social Needs • Identify and address social determinants of health impacting stability and recovery, including housing, food insecurity, transportation, employment, legal issues, and access to benefits. • Connect individuals to appropriate community resources and social service supports. Transitions & Continuity of Care • Support individuals during high-risk transitions such as hospital discharge, emergency department visits, or community reentry following incarceration. • Conduct follow-up outreach to reinforce discharge instructions, coordinate follow-up appointments, and support medication continuity to reduce avoidable crises and relapse. Documentation & Team Participation • Document outreach, engagement, navigation, and support activities in the electronic health record. • Participate in team huddles, case conferences, and care planning meetings. • Contribute to quality improvement activities and support data collection related to engagement, retention, and utilization outcomes. Performs other related duties as assigned. **What qualifications you will need:** **Education:** - High School Diploma or G.E.D required. - Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)–Certified Community Health Worker or ability to obtain certification within required timeframe - Completion of DSHS-approved training and continuing education in accordance with state requirements - Compliance with Texas CHW Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics - Experience working with individuals with Serious Mental Illness and complex social needs preferred. **Experience:** - One (1) year of related experience, required. **Required** **Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:** - Ability to adapt to constant changes in a fast-paced environment. - Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of all work-related matters with the ability to…