Are you ready to make a difference while enjoying a flexible work schedule and a hybrid work environment? Consider joining our team as an AmeriCorps Community Health Worker with the Epilepsy Foundation New England (EFNE). As an Epilepsy Community Health Worker in training, you'll work alongside the professional team from Epilepsy Foundation New England starting in June 2023 and ending in May 2024 to gain valuable career and professional skills. We're currently seeking candidates in Burlington, Vermont, Boston, MA, Rhode Island, Portland, Maine, and New Hampshire to connect individuals and families living with epilepsy with social and community resources and help them navigate their healthcare journey. This position offers paid service training leading to certification as a Community Health Worker. As an EFNE Community Health Worker, you'll be managing an Epilepsy Resource Room, which serves as a valuable hub for patients seeking information and support. You'll work with a talented team at EFNE and a major medical institution, providing referrals to age-appropriate EFNE and hospital-based programs and resources to increase health knowledge for patients and families living with epilepsy. With flexible hours and a hybrid work environment, you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of those living with epilepsy. This 11-month service program begins in June 2023. There is flexibility with start dates. If you're passionate about helping others and ready to embark on an unforgettable personal and professional growth journey, we encourage you to apply today. Join our team of compassionate and dedicated professionals and make a real difference in the lives of those affected by epilepsy. The benefits include a stipend and education award to apply to further school or student loans.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provide active listening, support, and coaching to patients on life changes that support health and wellness.
• Build community among patients by developing and implementing new and existing youth programs.
• Connect patients to EFNE, hospital, and community resources.
• Arrange inpatient support and/or recreational programs.
• Assist in new initiatives as well as participating in interventions, telehealth, resource referrals, and back to school support.
• Mentor patients and connect them to community resources.
• Implement community outreach by participating in events and providing education.
• Maintain a library of helpful literature while assisting hospital staff with site-specific needs to improve patient support.
Specialties:
• Support groups and Outreach
• Care Management and 1:1 support
• Financial Assistance Requests
· Full-time members receive a total living stipend of $22,500 for 11 months of service
· Earn an education award
· Gain professional skills and experience in Public Health
· Community Health Worker Certification
· Seizure First Aid Certification
.
Service Activities
Group Facilitation
1:1 Client Care Management
Training Delivery
Planning and organizing community activities
Data Collection
Volunteer recruitment and management
Leverage Community Partnerships and Networking Opportunities
Community Need Addressed
Epilepsy is prevalent: 1 in 10 people will have a seizure and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy in their
lifetimes. According to the CDC, there are 146,200 people living with "active epilepsy" in CT (35.9K),
MA (66.9K), ME (13.2K), NH (13.2K), RI (10.5K), VT (6,300) - the states served by the proposed
project. According to the CDC, people living with epilepsy (PWE) experience significant health and
health care disparities compared to people who do not have the disorder. The US Institute of Medicine
states that PWE has a much lower Quality of Life (QOL) than average and requires support services
in addition to their medical care to improve physical and socioemotional health outcomes. Epilepsy -
which is characterized by unpredictable seizures that are like electrical storms in the brain - can be
difficult to manage, and PWE may take many medicines, see multiple doctors, face stigma, live alone,
have depression and/or anxiety, and lack resources (e.g., income, transportation), and have limited
participation in society. Research shows that addressing patient knowledge of epilepsy and improving
patient supports and social connectedness are essential to improving QOL for PWE
Position Outcomes
Epilepsy Foundation New England proposes to have 56 AmeriCorps members who will serve as
Epilepsy Resource Room Coordinators (i.e., providing Community Health Worker services) in 16
hospitals and health care institutions in CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT. At the end of the first program
year, the AmeriCorps members will be responsible for increasing the health knowledge of 4,889 and
improving the health of 742 people. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage 150
volunteers who will be engaged in supporting health education events, support groups, and
community recreation for people living with disabilities
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Community Health Worker Certificate
Professional training in the healthcare field
Seizure First Aid Certificate and Trainer Certificate
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
Seizure First Aid
Community Health Worker Certification
Skills you will gain
time management, work/life balance, counseling skills, active listening, motivational interviewing, data collection and reporting, goal setting, group facilitation skills, training delivery
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment