Community Health Worker Wellness Navigator

As our CHW Wellness Navigator you will be a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) with lived experience and specialized training in Substance Use and/or Mental Health Disorders, who will act as a vital bridge between patients and the healthcare system.

Every day, working within an interdisciplinary team across various hospital settings (including the Emergency Department, inpatient units, and labor and delivery), you will proactively promote health and well-being by preventing disease, disability, and the worsening of existing conditions. You will achieve this through health education, navigation assistance, screenings, assessments, and personalized support and advocacy. You will engage with patients, providers, and community organizations via in-person, telephonic, and written communication, connecting the individual to community resources and outpatient referrals.

To be successful in your role, you will strategically act as a vital bridge between patients and the healthcare system, proactively promoting health and well-being through comprehensive navigation, education, and advocacy. You will demonstrate exceptional expertise in substance use and/or mental health disorders, leveraging your lived experience and specialized training to facilitate access to crucial community resources and outpatient referrals, all while collaborating effectively within an interdisciplinary team across diverse hospital settings.

• Promotes preventative health within the behavioral health population, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), substance abuse, and behavioral health linkages to promote overall well-being and prevent worsening of conditions.
• Identifies and engages patients with substance use disorder or co-occurring mental health disorders building rapport and advocating for low-threshold Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) access. Refers to the provider for MAT initiation if appropriate
• Provides social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings within their patient assessment, to identify patient needs related to housing, food security, transportation, safety, and other social factors.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to formulate a plan of care.
• Promotes harm reduction strategies based on patients' goals, preferences, and life circumstances.
• Provides culturally sensitive health education and coaching on various topics empowering patients to take an active role in their health and recovery.

Required

• CHW Certification or commitment to attain CHW training and certification with 18 months of becoming employed
• 1 year experience in paid or unpaid role as a Community Health Worker, Lived experience, personal or loved one, impacted by SUD or other behavioral health challenges, social inequity, or violence.
• Ability to interact with patients in a culturally relatable manner.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to mental health conditions and addictive disorders.
• Knowledge of cultural diversity/issues/barriers and low literacy issues.
• Work Place Violence training as required for this role.
• Ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary and community partners for a mix of clinical, operational, and business activities related to that partnership.
• Proficient in email communications and internet usage along with basic use of electronic software for applications including documents, spreadsheets and slide presentation (google product line).

Preferred

• Associate Of Arts or BA 
• Knowledge and ability to work with individuals impacted by adverse conditions, including substance use disorders, mental health challenges, justice involvement, housing instability
• Possessing a nonjudgmental, energetic, positive approach to assisting patients with Substance UseDisorder (SUD) and Mental Illness
• Bachelors Of Arts

Founded in 1910, Dignity Health - Community Hospital of San Bernardino is a 343-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital. Serving over 75,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, maternity care and pediatrics, and behavioral health and long-term subacute care for adults and children. 

Additionally, Community Hospital of San Bernardino has been recognized with the gold seal of approval by the Joint Commission, as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and rated five stars for Children’s Subacute Center by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In 2025, we were voted Best Hospital by Inland Empire Magazine. 

Community Hospital of San Bernardino shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care.

One Community. One Mission. One California