Outreach Coordinator, Children's Health Resource Centers

The Children's Health Resource Center provides health information and community resources to adults, adolescents and children in our children's hospital's service area. The AmeriCorps member will function primarily as an Outreach Coordinator. In this role, the member will assess patients’ families and community members for resources and refer them to community-based resources to address social determinants of health. Their service also includes elements of health education and community outreach. The member will educate patients' families and community members how to find reliable health information and provide it as needed. The member will also have the opportunity to plan and implement events with their supervisor to promote program services at community events, particularly in areas targeted for increased health equity. The member will be encouraged to hear directly from community members about their health information and community resource needs and serve as a liaison between the community and the children's hospital to reduce health disparities. The AmeriCorps member will expand the current capacity, reach, and scope of the Children's Health Resource Center existing services by serving new geographic areas and reaching a more diverse population in our service area. 
 

The AmeriCorps member will serve in the Children's Health Resource Centers (CHRC) at Advocate Children's Hospital (ACH) in Park Ridge and Oak Lawn. These resource centers provide easy access to reliable health information and community resources to ACH patients, team members and the surrounding communities. The centers collaborate with interdisciplinary departments and community-based agencies to address health information needs of patients, families and community members. The member will serve particularly in previously unreached, underserved communities. The member would have the opportunity to: 

• Develop and implement plans to integrate CHRC services into the ACH environment and underserved communities, 
• Educate families (including care givers, adolescents, and children) how to find and access reliable health information and community resources, 
• Refer families to appropriate community resources using NowPow, our community service referral tool, 
• Provide early literacy resources to families with young children, 
• Plan community events and services in ILE zip codes in collaboration with community-based agencies (e.g., public libraries, school districts, faith-based organizations), and
• Track impact and utilization of services provided. 
• An AmeriCorps member will support us in developing additional programming as identified.

• Developing and providing health education for the community
• Collecting, recording, and evaluating data to inform education on health issues
• Providing education to clients and referring them to providers
• Providing health education to at-risk populations
• Responding to and tracking requests through online services

• Provide patient referrals to community-based resources to address social determinants of health.

• Integration of Children's Health Resource Center services: strategize effective ways to incorporate CHRC servicers in ACH environments and surrounding communities.

• Developing and distributing new materials for patients, clients and/or organizations using principles of health literacy.

• Participating in and promoting health education programs and other community events.

• Familiar with health equity-related issues
• Multi-tasker; able to balance
• Comfort speaking with others, individually or in groups
• Able to communicate effectively with individuals or diverse backgrounds and identities
• Compassionate
• Able to positively represent Advocate Children's Hospital in the Children's Health Resource Center and at community events.
• Skill with finding reliable health information and relevant services using approved online tools.

• Knowledge of AmeriCorps/Health Corps member requirements
• Skill with Microsoft Office or other software for a variety of data processing operations involving a range of problem solving, record keeping, correspondence, and service tracking options.

• Ability to use, NowPow (an online community resources referral tool and survey evaluating social determinants of health), the Children's Health Resource Center website and eBook library.

• Working knowledge of safety procedures and privacy policies to protect themselves, our patients and our communities.

• Member uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments following set procedures, independently
• The supervisor assigns service activities, advises on changes in procedures, and is available for assistance when required
• The supervisor assigns service activities in terms of project objectives and basic priorities and is available for consultation in resolving controversial issues.
• The supervisor chosen to work with the AmeriCorps member is a registered nurse with master’s degree with 20+ years at Advocate Children’s Hospital. She has extensive experience in providing health information to patients and community members, collaborating with teams, and developing programs. She has experience mentoring high school, college, and graduate students.  The supervisor will work closely with member to discuss specific projects and best practices to implement them. Different projects may require different levels of supervision.
  For example, the referral project is an added service for the program and the member and supervisor will work together to develop new techniques and approaches to providing the service.
  After considerable 1:1 orientation, the supervisor (or her delegate team member) will be available to the member during business hours and any time the member is representing the organization (e.g. at a community event on evenings or weekends) via Zoom, Teams, email, phone call and text.

• The service activities are reviewed for accuracy through spot checks, through complaints from customers, and through observation of the member at service.
• Completed projects are reviewed very generally to determine that objectives have been met and are in compliance with policies and regulations.
• Help text: In the space below, please provide any additional information or explanations.
• Summaries/minutes of meetings and monthly reports that demonstrate number and impact of health information requests and service referrals will also be used to review service activities. The member will carry out projects and select approaches and methods to be used in solving problems in collaboration with the supervisor. The supervisor will be available as a mentor to the member on any project upon request.

• Written and oral guides provide specific instructions for doing service
• A user's manual will be provided and explained. Training will be provided on use of approved online tools. The member will be able to identify when to contact supervisor using these guidelines, training sessions and when to use their own judgement.

• Member has to develop, analyze, or evaluate information before the service position can progress
• The facts or conditions of the service position are clear cut, predictable, and apply directly to the assignment

• The referral project is an added service for the program and the member and supervisor will work together to develop new techniques and approaches to providing the service. Additional projects are available to the member. Some tasks may be complex and worked on simultaneously, requiring the ability to determine priorities, balance time, and multi-task activities. Often there are many moving parts in the hospital and community to address when working on a project. Other tasks may be clear cut and predictable.

• Some tasks may be complex and worked on simultaneously, requiring the ability to determine priorities, balance time, and multi-task activities.

• Some tasks are clear cut and predictable.

• Unusual physical demands involving climbing, lifting, stooping, and reaching, etc.
• Unusual service hours, involving evenings, weekends, or long shifts
• Personal vehicle required
• Special safety regulations or precautions that must be observed
• Language proficiency (complete the following question if language proficiency is required)
• Health screening or service required
• Criminal history check requirements beyond those required by National Health Corps

• Some lifting of boxes and bags of books and promotional materials may be required. Carts and wagons are provided to do this safely.

• Training of hospital safety procedures will be provided through computer-based training modules and individual education sessions with supervisor.

• Onboarding process will include demonstration of compliance with Flu and 2-step COVID vaccinations, negative drug test, criminal background check and computer-based training modules.

• Advocate Children's Hospital has a Human Resources policy and background check process that would possibly eliminate members with a criminal history.