SOUTHERN VERMONT AHEC IS HIRING TWO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER COORDINATORS! 

These two regional positions (one each serving northern and southern communities) will support the building of the community health workforce to improve people’s health and provide equitable care across Vermont. Anyone who is a collaborator, advocate, and/or outreach professional and passionate about advancing health equity in initiatives in Southern Vermont should apply for our newly created Community Health Worker (CHW) Coordinator position with Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center. This individual will join our team in developing a statewide CHW network and workforce. Community Health Workers are the cornerstone of healthcare and bridge builders between community members and medical and social service providers helping people get access to not only medical resources but also to transportation, housing, and nutrition.

Job Title: Community Health Worker (CHW) Coordinator

Purpose: Support the capacity of the health workforce with a Community Health Worker network and infrastructure, to improve quality and equitable care across Vermont. 

Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center (SVTAHEC) is a nonprofit, educational organization committed to increasing access to primary and preventive care through workforce development. We are looking for an outgoing, motivated, and skilled individual to contribute to a statewide Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce development project in Vermont. This NEW project, in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health and funded by the CDC, aims to build a more diverse, skilled, and sustainable community-based health workforce and network with CHW allies, as a strategy to create better health with and for underserved populations, including minority populations and rural communities. 

About the CHW Specialist: We are hiring an individual with relevant community health experience, education, lived experience and unique qualities to join our creative and talented CHW Project Team! Community Health Workers (CHWs) are also known by other titles, such as community or family health representative, outreach worker, cultural broker, promotors/es de salud, patient navigator, peer counselor, lay health advisor, etc. 

This individual will serve as a resource for uniting Community Health Workers and ally organizations in Southern Vermont communities by forging professional networks and partnerships. As a community and regional ambassador of this initiative, the CHW Specialist will also support CHW professional identity, engagement, and workforce development activities. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

You will spend about 80% percent of your time: 

• Conducting strategic outreach, both virtually and in-person, to engage CHWs working in the Southern Vermont AHEC region as key collaborators in co-creating a CHW-member-led association to promote peer learning and improve the effectiveness and breadth of their practice 

• Engaging in activities to measure and assess the CHW workforce in VT from the points of view of CHWs, employers, payers, and other stakeholders 

• Helping plan and coordinate small group and local/regional meetings to set up collegial networks of CHWs and ally organizations, share resources and information and send communications to a range of collaborating partners. 

• Functioning as key staff on planning, promoting, and coordinating a Community Health Worker statewide conference 

• Increasing community awareness and stakeholder understanding about benefits of integrating CHWs into programs and services/team-based care 

• Taking part in regional and statewide activities, including expos, social media campaigns, and workshops to promote the documented value of CHWs in VT, including sharing stories of the effectiveness and impacts on the populations served 

• Maintaining regular communication with CHWs via social media, email, and video conferencing platforms 

• Organizing /coordinating the delivery of statewide training programs for CHWs in health/health related organizations, their employers, and organizations, based on VT-identified core competencies 

You will spend about 20% of your time: 

• Working in collaboration with staff throughout the Vermont AHEC network on developing shared equity-focused strategic priorities 

• Supporting development of a one-stop CHW Document Resource Center of tools, educational programs, and resources available to CHWs and key stakeholders for sharing and accessing information and resources 

Qualifications: 

• Associates Degree or equivalent credential and/or experience 

• Minimum two full years of relevant work experience in community or public health, outreach, health education/promotion, and/or advocacy. Experience as a Community Health Worker in health care or community-based organizations preferred 

• Exceptional interpersonal, organizing, and relationship-building skills 

• Demonstrated commitment to working with and on behalf of diverse and underserved communities and community organizations 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Experience using Microsoft Office Suite and other technologies 

• Ability to work as a member of a small team in a small dynamic organization and in cross-organizational collaboration, where high performance and creative thinking are highly valued 

• Familiarity with healthcare and social service systems and organizations in Southern Vermont 

• Passion for advancing health equity and social justice 

Work Environment: This is a hybrid (remote and in-person) position which requires the employee to have a valid Vermont driver’s license, safe driving record, and ability to use their own transportation during work time