Ryan White Intake/Certified Peer Specialist

Aniz•Atlanta, GA

14h

About The Position

The Certified Peer Support Specialist provides peer-based support, intake, linkage, retention, and care navigation to individuals receiving or seeking services through the Infectious Diseases Clinic and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Under the supervision of the Ryan White Program Manager, this role uses lived experience, peer-support training, and knowledge of HIV care and community resources to build trusting relationships and reduce barriers to healthcare and supportive services. The specialist works as part of a multidisciplinary care team with medical providers, nurses, case managers, ADAP staff, outreach personnel, and community partners. The position helps clients understand program eligibility and expectations, complete required documentation, navigate healthcare and social-service systems, and access resources that support health outcomes and retention in care. It provides culturally responsive, person-centered support and education, helps clients develop self-advocacy skills, and assists with peer groups, client feedback activities, outreach, and care-team communication. The role also documents services and client contacts, tracks engagement and retention, prepares reports, and participates in quality-improvement activities while maintaining confidentiality and complying with program, HIPAA, and other applicable requirements. Work is primarily in an administrative and medical office or clinic environment. The position may involve a fast-paced setting, interaction with people facing health, social, behavioral, or economic challenges, potential exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids, occasional stressful or urgent situations, community outreach, and work outside standard business hours for special programs or events. Appropriate infection-control and safety procedures must be followed.

Requirements

Current certification, or qualification to obtain certification, as a Peer Support Specialist, Certified Peer Specialist, Certified Peer Counselor, or comparable state-recognized peer-support credential.
High school diploma or equivalent.
At least two years of experience working with individuals or communities disproportionately affected by HIV or other health disparities.
Experience in peer support, HIV counseling, targeted or expanded testing, outreach, referral, linkage to care, retention services, case-management support, or health navigation.
Experience working with people who may face healthcare barriers such as stigma, transportation challenges, housing instability, substance use, behavioral health concerns, or lack of insurance.
Knowledge of HIV confidentiality requirements, HIPAA, and appropriate handling of sensitive health information.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals and linkages.
Familiarity with public-health program implementation, documentation, data collection, and program evaluation.
Knowledge and practical application of motivational interviewing or other evidence-based engagement techniques.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and in a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic medical record or database systems.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience with HIV or experience as a member of a community disproportionately affected by HIV.
Associate or bachelor's degree in Community Health, Public Health, Social Work, Human Services, Behavioral Health, or a related field; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
Experience working within a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
Experience with ADAP enrollment or recertification processes.
Experience facilitating peer support groups or client advisory boards.
Phlebotomy certification.
Experience with NextGen, EMA, or similar electronic medical record and program-tracking systems.

Responsibilities

Schedule intake appointments for new and re-engaging clients, and follow up with clients who cancel or miss appointments.
Build trusting, respectful relationships and help clients understand the integrated care model and the importance of ongoing engagement.
Explain Ryan White eligibility requirements, program expectations, available services, and required documentation.
Remind clients about documentation needed for medical visits, eligibility determinations, recertification, and ADAP enrollment.
Help clients obtain and organize documentation and navigate enrollment and recertification processes.
Identify barriers to care and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team on strategies and referrals.
Provide culturally responsive, person-centered peer support to people living with HIV and others accessing HIV-related services.
Use lived experience, peer-support principles, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed approaches to encourage care initiation and retention.
Educate and support clients on HIV treatment, medication adherence, viral load suppression, prevention, healthy behaviors, self-advocacy, and available services.
Help clients develop self-advocacy skills and participate in healthcare and treatment decisions.
Facilitate or assist with monthly peer support groups and other client-engagement activities.
Assist with Client Advisory Board activities, gather client feedback, and complete surveys to improve services.
Act as a liaison between Prevention/Outreach staff and Infectious Diseases Clinic team members, including ADAP staff, registered nurse case managers, providers, and other team members.
Communicate relevant client needs and barriers to appropriate care-team members while maintaining confidentiality.
Establish and maintain linkages with healthcare providers, social-service organizations, community-based organizations, and other external partners.
Help clients access resources for healthcare, transportation, insurance and benefits, housing, food security, behavioral health, substance-use services, and other needs.
Participate in outreach, engagement, and retention activities to improve access to HIV care and treatment.
Document client contacts, services, referrals, and follow-up in the EMR and other approved tracking systems.
Complete data entry, document scanning, eligibility documentation, and updates in NextGen, EMA, and other applicable systems.
Track client engagement and retention and communicate unresolved barriers to the care team.
Prepare and submit monthly intake, engagement, and retention reports accurately and on time.
Participate in quality-improvement activities and use program data and client feedback to identify opportunities to improve access, engagement, retention, and patient experience.
Maintain accurate records in accordance with organizational policies, Ryan White requirements, HIPAA, and applicable laws and regulations.