Community Health Worker – Strong Beginnings

Welcome to Cherry Health - video about Cherry Health

Job Description Summary:

The Community Health Worker provides culturally responsive home-visiting, education, outreach, care coordination, and resource support to women, pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants, and families. This position works as part of a multidisciplinary team with social workers, nurses, healthcare providers, and community partners to improve maternal, infant, and family health outcomes.

This is a full time, benefit eligible position typically working Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm with our Strong Beginnings program based out of our Westside Health Center. This is a home-visiting program.

Certified CHW is required.

Responsibilities

Patient and Family Support

• Conduct visits in patient homes, community locations, virtually, and in the clinic.
• Build trusted relationships with women and families.
• Provide culturally responsive education, peer support, and resource navigation.
• Support prenatal, postpartum, interconception, infant, and family health needs.
• Help patients overcome barriers to healthcare and community services.
• Assist with transportation, interpretation, telehealth, and other access needs.
• Follow up on referrals, missed appointments, and identified patient needs.

Care Coordination and Collaboration

• Collaborate with social workers, nurses, healthcare providers, and community partners.
• Participate in multidisciplinary care planning and team communication.
• Serve as a cultural and linguistic bridge between patients, providers, and community resources.
• Support patient outreach, enrollment, scheduling, and continued engagement.
• Help patients identify goals and connect with appropriate services and resources.

Documentation and Program Expectations

• Maintain an active caseload and meet established visit and encounter expectations.
• Document visits, outreach, referrals, and services accurately and within required timelines.
• Respond to referrals and patient needs promptly.
• Participate in supervision, team meetings, outreach events, and program improvement activities.
• Follow all organizational policies, confidentiality requirements, ethical standards, and compliance expectations.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Associate degree or higher preferred but not required.

Certification

• Community Health Worker certification from an approved or accredited program is preferred.
• Candidates who are not currently certified must complete an approved Community Health Worker training and certification program within 180 days of hire.
• This position may be filled at the Community Health Worker I or II level based on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and certification status.

Experience

• Experience in healthcare, home visiting, maternal and infant health, social services, or a community-based setting preferred but not required.
• Experience working with women, pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants, and families preferred but not required.

Language

• The patient population served is primarily Latinx and Spanish-speaking, with additional language needs in Mam and K’iche’.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, Mam, or K’iche’ is strongly preferred.
• Ability to provide culturally responsive and linguistically accessible support is required.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to provide culturally responsive, person-centered, and linguistically accessible support.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, organization, problem-solving, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Basic knowledge of maternal and infant health, public health, and community resources.
• Ability to manage a caseload, schedule patient visits, and complete timely documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic health record systems.

Scheduling and Travel

This is a home-visiting and community-based position requiring local travel. The role requires flexibility for occasional evening patient visits and weekend outreach events.

Physical Requirements

• Standing: Occasionally

• Sitting: Frequently

• Independently mobile between clinic, patient homes, and community locations

• Frequent typing, grasping, and fine motor tasks

• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally

Equipment, Tools, and Technology

• Desktop or laptop computer
• Telephone with voicemail
• Networked copier, printer, and scanner
• Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Electronic Health Record software, including NextGen

Environmental Factors

Work is performed in clinic, office, patient home, and community settings. The role includes local travel, occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions, and possible exposure to individuals experiencing illness or infection.

Supervision

Received by this position: Work is completed independently, with progress reviewed through supervision and regular check-ins.

Given by this position: This role does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.

Client Population Served

Women, pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants, and families participating in Strong Beginnings and related maternal and infant health services.

The essential functions of this position must be able to be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodations.

Who we are:

Cherry Health, Michigan’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), operates in six counties across the state, is based in Grand Rapids. With a team of more than 800 health care professionals at 20 locations, Cherry Health focuses on removing barriers, expanding access, and delivering comprehensive quality health care services to underserved communities, regardless of an individual’s insurance status or ability to pay. We provide primary care, dental, vision, behavioral health, pharmacy services, substance abuse services, residential re-entry services, school-based health centers and more.

Our Mission: 

Cherry Health improves the health and wellness of individuals by providing comprehensive primary and behavioral health care while encouraging access by those who are underserved.

Our Vision: 

Our community will be healthier because we will seek out and welcome those who need our services. All will be treated as family with integrated, coordinated care to improve health and personal well-being.

Our Values:

• Collaboration – Support the Cherry Health mission by encouraging teamwork to accomplish organizational goals.
• Customer Service – Serve internal and external customers in a welcoming manner with compassionate care.
• Innovation – Embrace creativity to improve patient care and workplace efficiency while remaining curious and open to learning.
• Integrity – Uphold the highest ethical standards by being honest and trustworthy.
• Professionalism – Create a positive work environment where we care accountable for our decision, our action and the results.

Benefits:

Cherry Health has excellent benefit offerings dependent on employment status.  Check out a sample of the benefits available to our team members below!

• Loan repayment through the NHSC and Michigan State Loan Repayment Program for select roles
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your family
• Generous Paid Time Off benefit – 4 weeks per year for full time
• Paid holidays - 8 full day paid holidays (Including Black Friday!) and 2 half day paid holidays!
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with generous employer match - $ for $ match up to 5% 
• MET and MESP 529 Savings Plans
• Pet Insurance!
• Employee Assistance Program  

Our policy is to offer all employees and applicants for employment equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, height, weight, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, or any other protected category.