Connect for Health Advocate
Job Description
Connect for Health is a program of the Lifespan Community Health Institute. We operate at Rhode Island Hospital’s Center for Primary Care and Medicine Pediatrics Clinic, as well as Hasbro Children’s Hospital Pediatric Primary Care and Adolescent Healthcare Clinics.
Connect for Health understands that a lack of basic resources is often at the root of poor health. We acknowledge that medicine alone cannot treat the non-medical factors that impact patients’ health, and thus strive to integrate basic resources into healthcare delivery. Connect for Health is at the core of a health system that addresses basic resource needs such as food, heat and housing as fundamental to health and well-being.
AdvocateResponsibilities
- Work with all patients who call or walk up to the desk; conduct thorough intake interviews to collect demographic info and assess patients’ social needs and provide them with in-person assistance on a variety of resources for their varied social needs. Patiently and respectfully work in-depth with patients to address social needs until needs are resolved.
- Enter provider referrals and screening information into an online database; call assigned patients regularly to assess progress; manage a caseload of patients (this includes weekly follow-up with designated patients and coordinating community resource connections); meet or exceed program standards for client follow-up.
- Attend Advocate Development meetings (bi-weekly, Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 pm) and supervision meetings (bi-weekly, day varies by student schedule).
- Approximately 7 to 10 hours total weekly commitment – but can be more depending on funding source.
- Contribute to grant applications, data projects, presentations, or other group collaborations to advance the program, as opportunities present.
Required Advocate Commitments
- Training: Complete full-day new advocate orientation on a Saturday in February 2023 (remote) and submit all onboarding documentation by stated deadlines.
- Service: Serve at least 2.5 hrs/week on shift for the entire semester with the Connect for Health desk to which you are assigned. Students are urged to secure funding/credit through school programs or grants.
- Professionalism: Always be on time and professionally dressed (C4H polo provided, no jeans) during your shift. Notify the Program Manager at least 2 days in advance if must miss a shift. No absences permitted other than illness, family emergency, or an approved extenuating circumstance.
- Supervision: Advocate will participate in in-person supervision and case review with C4H coordinator, options for one-on-one individual supervision, weekly group follow-up meetings, and bi-weekly professional development workshops.
Skills & Qualifications
*Please Note: Regardless of working in person or remotely, Lifespan requires ALL volunteers to be up-to-date on the adult immunization schedule, have a PPD planted and read within the previous 6 months, provide proof of COVID vaccination and at least 1 booster, and provide proof of influenza vaccination during the current flu season.
- Demonstration of Lifespan’s core values- Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence
- Undergraduate or graduate student dedicated to health equity with academic studies in public health, healthcare, public service, social work, health equity, human services, social justice, or related course of study
- Dedicated to achieving health equity with humility and willingness to learn
- Ability to work independently and in a team-based approach
- Highly organized with personal accountability for the quality, follow-through and impact of work
- Excellent communication skills, professional demeanor, sound judgment, and strong organizational skills
- Superior attention to detail with thorough documentation
- Ability to multitask
Benefits of the Advocate Role
As an advocate you will gain:
- Experience working with a variety of patient populations in a clinical setting
- Professional interaction with nurses, providers, and social workers while managing patient cases
- Respectful and supportive interaction with patients who have complex medical and/or social needs
- Opportunities to serve as an advocate at specialized clinics
- Opportunities for professional growth through leadership roles in Connect for Health
- Opportunities to engage with the Providence community in an off-campus setting
- Opportunities to attend relevant meetings and participate in Lifespan training offerings
- Opportunities to expand your professional and personal skillset through on-campus training (past examples of trainings include Naloxone administration, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and advocate self-care)
- Opportunities to interact with and learn from local non-profit leaders
- Membership in a community of fellow advocates who are passionate about promoting health equity
- Growth in advocacy skills, understanding principles of health equity, knowledge of systems change strategies, health literacy, cultural humility, and professional confidence
If you have a work study award and would like to earn your award through this position, contact the Feinstein Center at engage@rwu.edu or call 401-254-3765. Please note, students are responsible to provide own transportation to/from the facility.
*Students are prohibited from driving during work-study employment with the limited exception of authorized work-study driver positions.