Job Description
Where You'll Work Founded in 1899, Dignity Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center is a 355-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Stockton, California. Serving over 125,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level III NICU, cancer care, heart care, and a family birth center. Additionally, St. Joseph's Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and was named one of America's 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in 2026.
One Community. One Mission. One California
Job Summary and Responsibilities As a Certified Community Health Worker (required certification within 1 year of employment), the Community Health Advocate (CHA) is responsible for working in conjunction with patients, providers, interdisciplinary teams, and community based health and social service providers to provide education, outreach, and linkage services to patients with an identified social, behavioral, physical, and/or mental health need to improve the individual's overall health outcomes.
The Certified Community Health Advocate will operate across diverse settings, including hospital inpatient and outpatient departments (like the Emergency Department), community clinics, and patient homes to reach those in need where they are. Their role encompasses healthcare navigation, screening for health-related social needs, connecting individuals to social service resources and referrals, and delivering general health education. These efforts aim to promote prevention through enhancing health access, improving disease self-management, and boosting health literacy.
The CHA will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to support patients from varied backgrounds, considering age, gender, race/ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, and health status. This support extends to diverse populations such as mothers and infants, Emergency Department patients, and inpatients transitioning home or to other environments. Services provided by the CHA will include transitional care support, short-term case management, healthcare navigation to facilitate access, health education (with materials) for smoother care transitions and care continuity, and preventive services. Maintaining accurate and timely documentation and data collection is crucial for the CHA along with meeting caseload productivity goals for billing and ensuring position sustainability.
Job Requirements Education & Experience:
- Two years of healthcare and/or community-based work experience that would demonstrate attainment of the requisite job knowledge/abilities.
- Certificate Other CHW certification (12 - months).
Preferred:
- Experience with Cerner or Epic.
Job Tags
Temporary work, Work experience placement