Community Health Worker, Health & Benefits Access

FLSA Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $25.00-$31.00 per hour

Post Date: August 26, 2026

Close Date: September 09, 2026

Reports to: Project Manager  

To apply for this position: Please submit a resume and  answer a few brief application questions, a cover letter is optional. 

About Community HealthWorks  

Community HealthWorks (CoHeWo) advances health equity by helping individuals and families access the health coverage, care, and community services they need to thrive. We work at the intersection of healthcare and community support, partnering with managed care plans, health systems, community-based organizations, and government agencies to remove barriers to care.

Community Health Workers are central to this work. They serve as trusted connectors who help people understand complex systems, identify their needs and goals, and take practical next steps toward greater health and well-being.

Position Summary  

The Community Health Worker, Health & Benefits Access helps individuals and families understand and access health coverage, primary care, public benefits, and community resources. Support may begin through CoHeWo’s main service line, a walk-in visit or scheduled appointment at a CoHeWo office or service site, community outreach, or a referral from a partner or another CoHeWo team.

Services are provided at CoHeWo offices and service sites and at assigned community and partner locations, which may include clinics, schools, career centers, community-based organizations, and other locations where people seek assistance.

The CHW listens to what the person needs, explains available options in understandable language, assists with applications and next steps, and follows up when additional support is needed. A client may work with the same CHW over several interactions, but services are provided through a team-based approach. Clear documentation allows another team member to assist when needed without requiring the client to start over.

This is a non-clinical, non-supervisory role. Services may include Medi-Cal, Covered California, CalFresh, WIC, primary and specialty care, CalAIM programs, and other health and community resources.

What This Work Looks Like 

This role combines phone-based assistance, walk-in support, scheduled appointments, community outreach, documentation, and coordination with other teams and partners. Depending on the assignment, the CHW may work from a CoHeWo office or service site, clinic, school, career center, community-based organization, or another partner location.

Part of the day may include answering CoHeWo’s main service line or returning calls from people seeking help. The CHW may also assist people who walk in or have scheduled appointments at the location where the CHW is assigned.

Some needs may be addressed during one interaction. Others may require several contacts to gather documents, complete an application, understand eligibility requirements, connect with a provider, or work through a barrier. The CHW may remain the person’s main contact while support is active, while also drawing on the knowledge of other team members.

Health-coverage and public-benefit rules can change. The CHW must be comfortable learning new information, using current approved guidance, asking questions, and explaining complex information clearly.

A Day in the Life

You may begin your day at a CoHeWo office, clinic, school, career center, or another assigned service location by reviewing appointments, follow-up tasks, and messages. You might answer CoHeWo’s main service line, return calls, or assist someone who walks into a CoHeWo office or service site.

You may help someone understand their health-coverage options, identify documents they need, begin an application, report a household change, schedule an appointment, or connect with a colleague who has additional expertise. Later, you might meet with a scheduled client, contact a health plan or government agency, participate in a community outreach activity, and document what occurred and what needs to happen next.

No two days will look exactly the same, but clear communication, accurate information, timely documentation, and consistent follow-through are always part of the work.

What You’ll Do

Client navigation and follow-through

• Respond to calls and service requests received through CoHeWo’s main service line.
• Assist clients through walk-in visits and scheduled appointments at CoHeWo offices and service sites.
• Listen to the client’s needs, explain available options, and identify an appropriate next step.
• Conduct intake and needs assessments related to health coverage, healthcare access, public benefits, and community resources.
• Provide continued support when a need cannot be addressed during one call or appointment.
• Connect clients with healthcare providers, community services, and other CoHeWo programs when appropriate.
• Return calls, follow up on referrals and outstanding needs, and communicate when circumstances or timelines change.

Health coverage, benefits, and resource access

• Support applications, renewals, eligibility updates, and coverage retention for programs such as Medi-Cal, Covered California, CalFresh, and WIC.
• Help clients understand and gather the information and documents required to access services.
• Assist clients with reporting household, income, contact-information, and other changes that may affect eligibility, enrollment, or financial assistance.
• Help clients navigate transitions between Medi-Cal and Covered California and reduce avoidable gaps in coverage.
• Explain applicable changes to eligibility, documentation, enrollment, premiums, or financial assistance using current approved guidance.
• Provide culturally responsive support to individuals and families who may have questions or concerns related to immigration-related eligibility and documentation requirements.
• Recognize when a question is outside the CHW’s role and involve an appropriate supervisor, subject-matter expert, agency, or qualified legal resource.

Community engagement and outreach

• Provide services at assigned CoHeWo offices, clinics, schools, career centers, community-based organizations, and other partner locations.
• Participate in community outreach, enrollment, and health-education activities at assigned locations.
• Coordinate with CoHeWo teams, health plans, providers, government agencies, and community partners.
• Draw on the program and subject-matter expertise of colleagues to help clients receive connected support.
• Participate in integrated or place-based coordination as CoHeWo’s service model continues to develop.

Documentation, communication, and teamwork

• Maintain timely and accurate client records, service notes, referrals, follow-up tasks, and outcomes in Salesforce or other approved systems.
• Document the client’s needs, assistance provided, outstanding items, and next steps so another team member can provide informed support when needed.
• Protect client privacy and comply with HIPAA, confidentiality requirements, program standards, and organizational policies.
• Participate in supervision, team meetings, training, consultation, and data-quality activities.

 What Success Looks Like

Successful CHWs do more than complete an application or provide a referral. They help people understand what comes next and consistently follow through within the limits of the role. Success includes:

• Helping clients feel heard and understand what will happen next.
• Explaining complex information in a clear, patient, and understandable way.
• Job Requirements poviding accurate information and knowing when to verify an answer or ask for guidance.
• Following through on commitments and completing required documentation on time.
• Knowing when to continue assisting directly and when to involve another team member or subject-matter expert.
• Creating clear records so clients can receive consistent support without having to start over.
• Maintaining professional boundaries and avoiding promises about eligibility, approval, financial assistance, or decisions controlled by another organization.

What Can Be Challenging About This Work

Health-coverage and public-benefit systems can be complicated. Rules, documentation requirements, financial assistance, and processing timelines may change. Clients may be worried about losing coverage, frustrated by delays, or receiving conflicting information. Some people may not qualify for the program they hoped to access, and some barriers cannot be resolved immediately or by CoHeWo alone.

The work requires patience, accuracy, adaptability, and emotional steadiness. CHWs must be able to communicate difficult or uncertain information respectfully, remain helpful when someone is frustrated, and continue following established processes without taking sole responsibility for another organization’s decision or a client’s outcome.

How CoHeWo Supports You

Employees are expected to ask questions and are not expected to learn complex programs or navigate difficult situations alone. Support for this role includes:

• Structured onboarding, shadowing, and guided practice.
• Training on health coverage, public benefits, client navigation, privacy, and required systems.
• Updated guidance when program requirements, coverage rules, or resources change.
• Regular supervision, consultation, and team-based problem-solving.
• Access to colleagues with different areas of program and subject-matter expertise.
• Clear pathways for escalating questions or situations outside the role’s scope.

What We’re Looking For

Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to build respectful relationships with people from varied backgrounds and life circumstances.
• Clear communication, organization, confidentiality, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through.
• Ability to listen, identify an appropriate next step, and explain detailed information accurately and understandably.
• Comfort assisting people by phone and in person, including through walk-in visits and scheduled appointments.
• Comfort learning and using telephone systems, electronic documentation systems, email, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to work independently while remaining accountable and connected to a team.

Relevant experience that may help you succeed

Relevant experience may come from paid work, volunteering, education, caregiving, community involvement, or lived experience you choose to share. Applicants do not need to meet every preferred qualification to be considered.

Helpful experience may include:

• Healthcare, social services, community outreach, interpreting, customer service, telephone navigation, benefits enrollment, or another client-focused role.
• Knowledge of Medi-Cal, Covered California, CalFresh, WIC, managed-care plans, CalAIM, or local health and community resources.
• Experience helping people understand applications, eligibility requirements, required documents, or changes in coverage and benefits.
• Experience serving immigrant communities, mixed-status households, or people who prefer information in a language other than English.
• Community Health Worker, health-coverage enrollment, peer-support, or related training or certification.
• Post-secondary education in social services, psychology, public health, or a related field.

Requirements

• Valid California driver’s license, current auto insurance, reliable transportation, and ability to travel throughout Sacramento County and surrounding areas. Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with organizational policy.
• Completion of a criminal background check. Findings will be reviewed in relation to the position and in accordance with organizational policy and applicable law.
• Compliance with immunization, health-screening, safety, certification, and partner-site requirements applicable to the assignment.
• Maintenance of required training, certifications, and renewals associated with the role.

Work Environment & Schedule

This is a full-time, non-exempt position, typically Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Work may take place at CoHeWo offices and service sites, clinics, schools, career centers, community-based organizations, and other partner locations. Depending on program and community needs, employees may be assigned to one primary location, work across multiple locations, or have their assigned work location change over time.

The role includes phone assistance, walk-in services, scheduled appointments, documentation, community outreach, and coordination with colleagues and partners. Regular local travel may be required between assigned locations.

Occasional evening or weekend outreach events may be required and will be scheduled in advance when possible. Approved overtime will be compensated in accordance with applicable law and organizational policy.

Physical & Emotional Demands

The position requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, speaking, listening, computer and telephone use, writing, and operation of standard office equipment. Work may take place at CoHeWo offices and service sites, clinics, schools, career centers, community-based organizations, and other partner locations. Employees may work from one primary location or across multiple assigned locations, depending on program needs.

The employee may occasionally bend, reach, and lift or move approximately 10–15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

The role includes interaction with people experiencing health, social, economic, or coverage-related stress. The employee must be able to communicate calmly, use sound judgment, maintain professional boundaries, protect confidentiality, and seek support when needed.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit:

1. A resume describing your relevant experience and skills. 
2. Responses to a few brief application questions about your interest in the position and the experience you would bring to the role. 

A cover letter is not required.

We appreciate your interest in joining Community HealthWorks.