Community Health Navigator (CHN) – (New Jersey)
Department: Operations
Reports To: Program Manager
Location: Field-Based (Community and Member Home Settings)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel Requirement: This is a field-based position requiring daily travel within assigned New Jersey counties to members’ homes, provider offices, community organizations, and other community-based settings.
About MedZed
MedZed delivers value-based, technology-enabled social support to high-cost Medicaid members who have been unreachable through traditional outreach methods, disconnected from primary care, and utilizing emergency and hospital services as their primary source of care. We combine innovative technology with field-based outreach to engage members, reconnect them to healthcare services, address Health-Related Social Needs (HRSNs), and empower individuals to better manage their health and wellbeing.
Primary Focus
Support Medicaid members with behavioral health diagnoses and complex medical and social needs through ongoing community-based engagement. The program focuses on improving access to healthcare services, increasing behavioral health connectivity, addressing social determinants of health, and reducing barriers that contribute to poor health outcomes and avoidable utilization.
Position Overview
The Community Health Navigator (CHN) engages members following program consent and provides ongoing support through telephonic outreach, home visits, and community-based interactions. Referred members may present with mental health diagnoses, chronic medical comorbidities, behavioral health barriers, and complex social needs requiring intensive navigation and coordination support.
The CHN assists members with navigating healthcare systems, scheduling and coordinating medical and behavioral health appointments, addressing social needs, and improving overall care engagement. The CHN will work collaboratively with an internal nursing team that provides clinical guidance, case support, escalation assistance, and care coordination oversight for high-risk members.
This role requires close collaboration with leadership and operations teams, including participation in field-based ride-alongs, observational visits, and in-person operational support initiatives designed to ensure member engagement quality, workflow adherence, and program success.
Preference will be given to candidates who are Certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) in the state of New Jersey.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct daily outreach and engagement activities through phone calls, home visits, and community visits.
- Build and maintain ongoing relationships with consented members to support continuity of care and sustained engagement.
- Complete member assessments and identify barriers impacting healthcare access, behavioral health engagement, and treatment adherence.
- Assist members with scheduling primary care, specialty care, and behavioral health appointments.
- Collaborate with the internal nursing team regarding member needs, clinical concerns, escalations, and care coordination support.
- Support members with care coordination activities and provider follow-up.
- Engage members with mental health diagnoses, chronic conditions, and co-occurring social needs using trauma-informed and member-centered approaches.
- Address social determinants of health including food insecurity, housing instability, transportation barriers, and access to community resources.
- Facilitate referrals to behavioral health providers, community organizations, and support services.
- Educate members on available healthcare services, preventive care, medication adherence, and program resources.
- Maintain assigned caseload and meet outreach and engagement expectations.
- Collaborate with leadership and operations staff during field visits, ride-alongs, and operational oversight activities.
- Document all member encounters, assessments, and interventions daily within the designated system.
- Escalate urgent, high-risk, behavioral health, or clinically complex cases to leadership and clinical staff appropriately.
- Participate in team meetings, conferences, training, and quality improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) in the state of New Jersey preferred.
- Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in community outreach, healthcare navigation, behavioral health, social services, or care coordination preferred.
- Experience working with Medicaid populations, behavioral health populations, or underserved communities strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of behavioral health resources, community resources, and social service systems within New Jersey preferred.
- Effective communication, motivational interviewing, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently in both community and field-based environments.
- Comfortable conducting home visits and engaging members in community settings while working alongside leadership, operational teams, and clinical nursing support as needed.
- Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance required.
Performance Expectations
- Maintain consistent daily outreach and member engagement efforts.
- Support ongoing engagement with consented members following enrollment into the program.
- Facilitate timely behavioral health appointment scheduling and linkage to care.
- Support members with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs through coordinated interventions.
- Demonstrate collaboration and participation during operational field support and leadership oversight activities.
- Effectively partner with internal nursing staff to support member care coordination and escalation processes.
- Meet documentation, productivity, and care coordination expectations established by program leadership.
- Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and effective communication in all interactions.