Food for Families COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER I
Location: Chelsea Massachusetts
Description: Massachusetts General Hospital (GHC) is at the momment seeking for Food for Families COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER I right now, this job will be placed in Massachusetts. Detailed specification about this job opportunity please read the description below. Responsibilities
The Food for Families (FFF) program was established in 2009 to identify patients and families who ! are experiencing food insecurity and hunger. Food for Families utilizes a screening process in Pediatrics and Obstetrics to identify patients in need, and receives referrals from other departments throughout the HealthCare Center. The program aims to connect patients with local and federal food resources such as SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps), the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program, food pantries, and community meal sites. In addition to focusing on concrete resources, the Food for Families Program offers one-on-one and group education sessions about “healthy eating on a budget†to inform patients about making smart food choices in their everyday lives.
Results from the program have revealed that 41% of Obstetric patients and 23% of Pediatric patients are experiencing food insecurity. For patients and families who may not be eligible for publicly sponsored food resources because of their immigration status, the FFF program recently launched a ! food pantry with the aim of not only providing an additional f! ood resource for our patients, but also to promote healthy eating.
The Community Health Worker coordinates with the MGH Chelsea health center staff and providers to advocate for hunger resources for patients as an essential component of primary health care. The Community Health Worker provides linkage and creative solutions between the community, patients, and the Health center, specifically connecting patients with resources through DTA (Department of Transitional Assistance), food pantries, and other programs. He/she is responsible for the coordination and functioning of MGH Chelsea’s weekly food pantry and relationships with key partners such as Project Bread and the Greater Boston Food Bank. Additionally, he/she manages databases, analyze data, and prepares reports and Power Point presentations.
Responsibilities:
Coordinate with health center staff, providers and outside organizations to ensure full accessibility to food resources;
Link pat! ients directly to community resources, including accompanying them as necessary;
Meet one-on-one with patients to identify needs, assess eligibility for food resources, and do individualized teaching about “healthy eating on a budgetâ€;
Conduct intake assessments with patients and families using formal research tools;
Provide advocacy, patient education, and support in a culturally-sensitive way with patients from variety of cultures;
Conduct 6-month follow up assessments with patients to ensure they have connected with, and are using the appropriate resources for food;
Initiate contact with providers and other community health workers if follow-up indicates that interventions have not been successful; brainstorm with providers and other staff around alternative solutions to address patients’ hunger situations;
Document both initial intervention and follow-up assessment in ETO data base and in the electronic medical record system;
Report on ! the outcomes of interventions to the providers, program staff and resea! rch team through data entry, emails, clinical messages, LMR notes, report writing and presentations;
Research external hunger programs and recommend programmatic additions and changes as appropriate;
Lead efforts in conjunction with Cooking Matters Massachusetts, the Chelsea WIC Program, and MGH Chelsea nutrition professionals to promote “healthy eating on a budgetâ€, “cooking on a budgetâ€, “shopping on a budgetâ€, etc..
Work with community food pantries and soup kitchens to improve access to and increase MGH Chelsea patients’ comfort with these resources;
Oversee the coordination and functioning of MGH Chelsea’s weekly food pantry, including ordering food supplies, stocking the pantry, assessing patients’ eligibility to visit the food pantry, booking appointments, and serving patients during food pantry hours;
Manage food pantry data and generate reports for funders as needed;
Manage the departments’ system of providing emergency f! ood vouchers â€" including approving, tracking and reporting back to the funder;
Serve as the public face for the Food for Families program within and outside of the health center â€" giving presentations at meetings and conferences and writing summaries and formal reports;
Participate in meetings in the health center, hospital, and community, and serve as MGH Chelsea’s primary advocate for hunger resources.
Qualifications
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work or related field preferred.
Bilingual in Spanish and English required.
Experience working as a patient advocate/community health worker strongly preferred.
Experience accessing hunger resources.
Strong interviewing and data collection skills.
Proficient in all Microsoft applications, including MS Office and PowerPoint and data base applications.
Knowledge of electronic medical records a plus.
Ability to be ! creative and work towards further program development.
Demonstrated! ability to work both independently and as a team member in multicultural settings.
Ability to counsel and educate patients around hunger in a compassionate and sensitive manner.
Ability to interact and communicate very effectively with all clients, community and all levels of staff.
Demonstrated commitment to helping underserved populations.
Superior oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge of HIPAA policies, procedures and laws.
Strong detail-orientation.
Demonstrated ability to multi-task.
Strong time management and planning skills.
Prior research experience a plus.
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If you were eligible to this job, please email us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Massachusetts General Hospital (GHC).
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This job starts available on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:16:18 GMT