Community Health Worker – Contact Tracing

Overview:
This position is open until filled with first review of applicants to take place on May 14th at 12pm.

Under the direction of the Communities Fighting COVID! (CFC!) Manager, the incumbent will serve a vital role as the link between individuals in their community and health professionals by conducting phone and in-person visits with people who may have been in close contact to a person with COVID-19.

Community Health Workers (CHWs) will work as part of a team to establish contact with individuals who have had close contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19, inform them of their exposure, and request that they self-quarantine. In addition, CHWs will provide referrals to resources as needed to ensure that contacts can quarantine safely. Communication with contacts will take place via telephone, email, text, USPS mail, and/or in-person under strict confidentiality rules. Community Health Workers will interview contacts to gather information and to provide them with education, information, and support, including referrals to community resources. Community Health Workers will be responsible for entering information about encounters into data management systems during and after their encounters.

Position will require some community-based work and potential risk for exposure to COVID-19. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided by the project.

Responsibilities:
After initial training, Community Health Workers will be responsible for but not limited to:

Contract Tracing (55%)

Promptly notify close contacts of COVID-19 cases of possible exposure

Conduct notification of exposure in a manner that maintains confidentiality of contact and document when attempts to communicate with a contact telephonically are unsuccessful

Interview individuals that have had close contact with COVID-19 cases and inform them of the need to self-quarantine; elicit responses on demographics, risk factors, symptoms and exposure

Employ interview with cultural sensitivity, preferred language and empathic interviewing skills to build rapport and maintain trust with contacts of target communities

Schedule follow-up communications with contacts

Elevate complex situations to supervisor for further guidance

Refer to basic resources, social supports, and medical resources as needed to support contacts during the quarantine period

Health Education & Promotion (10%)

Provide information and education on the benefits of self-quarantining and self-monitoring and what to do if symptoms develop by phone, text, and email.

Support contacts to collaboratively develop a quarantine and (if applicable) testing plan

Support other health promotion efforts as assigned

Request project mail out self-quarantine instructions, temperature & symptom logs and other resources as needed

Support Services (10%)

Provide assistance/referrals to overcoming barriers to quarantine (food insecurity, temporary housing, rental assistance, health insurance, medical resources, unemployment/disability, legal aid, variety of discount programs and COVID-19 testing)

Home Visits (10)%

Perform in-person visits to contact’s place of residence or community settings as needed

Assess contact’s ability to safely and effectively quarantine at home

In-person visits are subject to additional compensation when assigned

Functional and Administrative (5%)

Gather and report information collected during communication with contacts through project tracing web application & other tracking forms on a tablet to include initial contact, monitoring phase, referrals and close out of record. Data to be referred to Data Entry team for inclusion in the County of San Diego’s WebCMR (a system that supports disease reporting, investigation, surveillance, and case management)

Community Health Workers are expected to support data entry for the project as needed

Generate requests for employer requested excuse/quarantine letters to document entry & release

Trainings and Development (5%)

Keep informed and updated by supervisors on COVID-19 developments

Attend workshops and trainings as assigned

Provide input and feedback to supervisors to improve processes, materials and resource needs, as appropriate

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned (5%)

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:
Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of and familiarity with tablets such as iPad / Android tablets

Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets or other similar software with ability to enter data accurately.

Ability to read and write English at level appropriate to the position to support maintaining accurate records and reading medical terminology

Bilingual (Spanish, Arabic, or Tagalog) if applying to serve the Spanish-speaking, Arabic-speaking, or Tagalog-speaking community

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Detail-oriented with good organizational skills

Ability to follow established protocols

Able to work evenings and weekends, as assigned

Ability to maintain harmonious relations and interact effectively, professionally, and diplomatically with faculty, colleagues, to carry out assignments independently without detailed instructions and within established deadlines

Ability to provide reliable transportation and provide a valid driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance, current Motor Vehicle Record (mileage reimbursed) if driving own vehicle.

Ability to demonstrate a high level of cultural humility

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED equivalency

Preferred Qualifications

Previous work as Community Health Worker or Promotor(a)

Prior experience conducting interviews

Previous work experience handling confidential data

Personal experience in health education