Job Information
Trillium Health NY Community Health Specialist 2 in Rochester, New York
Purpose: Participate in the operation of daily Syringe Exchange and Harm Reduction Services; provide risk reduction education and services to people who use drugs and/or racially and ethnically diverse populations within the Finger Lakes Region; provide point of care testing services to people at risk of HIV/HCV/STI infection and transmission; provide linkage to care services for people who use drugs.
Key Job Responsibility Areas
Syringe Exchange Operations
Service Delivery
Service Navigation
Ryan White
Miscellaneous
Detail of Key Job Responsibility Areas
- Syringe Exchange Operations
Participate in the daily operations of Syringe Exchange Program, including
Assess and enroll individuals interested in services
Educate participants about harm reduction techniques, supplies and services available to them
Provide harm and risk reduction strategy counseling services
Conduct 1:1 syringe exchange encounters with program participants
When requested, provide special arrangement/delivered supplies to program participants
Participate in the preparation of supplies to ensure adequate service delivery (including loading/unloading, delivery and storage of supplies)
Ensure the appropriate disposal of all used syringes as per Agency and Program Policies and Procedures
Enter, compile and report program data as required by funder(s)
- Service Delivery
Participate in outreach and provide risk-reduction education and tools to contacts in the field
Drive mobile unit to assigned outreach events/locations
Provide HIV/HCV/STI counseling and testing services as needed
Provide pre and posttest counseling services
Administer the point of care test(s)
Link individuals to appropriate clinical services (Primary care/treatment, HIV, HCV, PEP, PrEP services) following test encounter
Accurately document encounter according to agency policy and procedure in the electronic medical record and/or database as required by funder(s)
Demonstrate developing knowledge of HIV/HCV and other health-related issues affecting people who use drugs
- Service Navigation
Provide direct connection to Harm Reduction Specialist, Harm Reduction Nurse and/or health care providers for access to wound care assessment and MAT/suboxone services.
Facilitate referrals for people who use drugs that will enable them to access any needed services including phone screens, paperwork, appointments and/or pick up medications
Coordinate and/or provide transportation to appointments
Track participants’ referral outcomes to determine utilization and completion of referrals
Increase individuals’ awareness of and access to local health and human service care systems
Maintain relationships with community providers to ensure seamless service delivery following referrals/linkages to care
- Ryan White
Based in rural outreach settings and the Harm Reduction center, provide Ryan White Early Intervention Services (EIS) to individuals at risk of HIV who do not know their status including counseling, high risk targeted HIV testing, referral and linkage to HIV treatment, additional STI testing and/or PrEP navigation services.
Conduct outreach and engagement in rural settings with the principal purpose of identify PLWH and/or re-connecting with PLWH who have been lost to care.
Work to initiate Rapid Start ART for newly diagnosed HIV+ individuals.
- Miscellaneous
Requires the ability and commitment to respect and support inclusiveness and diversity including but not limited to individuals of different backgrounds, cultures, races, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, experiences, opinions, etc.
Maintain a compassionate, positive, and respectful attitude towards people who use drugs
Requires individual demonstration of commitment to the One Trillium behaviors and business impacts and modeling them in the organization.
Responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all patient, client, employee, protected and proprietary information.
Employees are accountable for meeting the performance standards of their departments and must participate as requested in compliance audits, process improvement and quality improvement plans.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field, an Associate’s degree and three years outreach and HIV/Harm Reduction programming experience with targeted population, or HS Diploma or equivalent with five years relevant experience preferred. Bilingual/Spanish preferred.
Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. Occasionally the employee must stoop, bend and lift or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
In support of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this job description lists only those responsibilities and qualifications deemed essential to the position.