The Division of General Internal Medicine – Geriatrics is seeking a part-time candidate who is detail-oriented and results-driven to join the New Mexico ICOPE program as a Community Health Worker. ICOPE is a World Health Organization (WHO) program implemented in China, India, Mexico, France, and other countries, but not in the United States. New Mexico has the most rapidly growing percentage of adults aged 65 and over, with 26.4 percent of the population as Seniors in 2030. New Mexico also ranks in the top three among the US states in poverty rates among this age group. New Mexico (NM) will be the first US state to implement ICOPE. The program takes a community-based approach to building person-centered, long-term care systems with a coordinated model of care. Every six months, the program assesses vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, psychological well-being, and malnutrition risk in each enrolled member aged 65 years or older to identify any decline in these intrinsic capacities and to provide early interventions that contribute to healthy aging. Key factors for healthy aging include social care support, caregiver support, and urinary incontinence. Seniors will be offered resources and services available in New Mexico. We are looking to implement the program with a target ~42,000 seniors across the state, with close to half of them outside the Albuquerque area.
The ICOPE program requires close communication and engagement with the community for the success of its implementation, as the program is tailored to put seniors' perspectives first and provide them with personalized care plans for healthy aging. One key role for this engagement will be achieved with a Community Health Worker to extend the reach of the program to our extensive rural areas in New Mexico.
The ideal candidate for the Community Health Worker position will have experience working with the community of New Mexicans. The candidate will also have a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities to reach out to community services, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a variety of university and community stakeholders. The stakeholders might include health care providers, funding agencies, university and federal researchers, and patients.
Specific responsibilities and duties:
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Community Engagement & Outreach
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Build trust and maintain relationships with older adults, families, and local organizations in rural communities.
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Conduct outreach activities to raise awareness about the ICOPE program and available services.
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Organize or participate in community events, health fairs, and local meetings to engage and educate residents
Health Screening & Assessment Support
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Assist with basic health screenings aligned with ICOPE’s domains (mobility, cognition, vision, hearing, nutrition, psychological well-being).
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Help identify older adults at risk or needing more comprehensive care or referrals.
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Care Navigation, Promotion & Coordination
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Help seniors navigate ICOPE resources from healthcare and social service systems.
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Support ICOPE activities for local nurses, primary care providers, and social workers.
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Provide culturally sensitive information on healthy aging, chronic disease management, fall prevention, nutrition, and other relevant topics.
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Distribute ICOPE educational and promotional materials and facilitate small group discussions with local seniors.
Data Collection & Reporting
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Provide regular reports to supervisors and contribute to evaluations of program effectiveness.
Collaboration & Training
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Participate in ongoing training related to ICOPE, community health, and aging-related issues.
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Collaborate with local health departments, tribal health organizations, community centers, and faith-based groups.
See the Position Description for additional information.
