Community Health Specialist - STI Program

Lake County•Waukegan, IL

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Community Health Specialist prepares and offers direct individual and community services, client advocacy, and general and specific health interventions in community, clinic, and home settings. Assignments are broad and in-depth, requiring a moderate degree of responsibility and independent action. The position is scheduled for 37.5 hours per week and serves clients through the STI Program. The specialist provides and documents client services, conducts counseling and testing, supports referrals and linkage to care, and contributes to program outreach, evaluation, reporting, and data management. The role also provides oversight and management of an assigned program area and collaborates with program staff, community providers, government agencies, and other organizations. The position requires maintaining a high level of patient confidentiality and the certifications required by the Illinois Department of Public Health for assigned services. Applicants must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work for the Lake County Health Department. The position is represented by AFSCME Council 31. Employment offers are conditioned on successful background screening and drug and alcohol testing, and may include a pre-employment medical examination.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, master's degree, or high school diploma or GED equivalent; preferably in a related field such as public health, health education, social work, psychology, sociology, early child development, or communications.
With a master's degree, no experience is required.
With a bachelor's degree, two years of experience are required.
With a high school diploma or GED equivalent, seven years of experience are required.
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
Valid driver's license and use of a personal vehicle.
Must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at Lake County Health Department.
Must complete the required background screening and drug and alcohol testing; a pre-employment medical examination may also be required.

Responsibilities

Provide direct services to clients in community, clinic, and home settings according to need and established protocols.
Plan and implement activities for clients and consumers.
Assist in developing and implementing marketing strategies to reach targeted client groups and recruit clients into needed services.
Develop and maintain positive contacts with allied community service providers; provide follow-up and referrals to appropriate services.
Plan and promote networking among people and organizations serving targeted clients.
Maintain appropriate documentation of direct services and submit quantitative and qualitative service data on time.
Use practice experience and service-data analysis to recommend future program directions.
Participate in staff meetings, assigned training, and program evaluation activities; write reports.
Develop and maintain computer skills needed for assigned duties.
Complete and maintain Illinois Department of Public Health HIV Section certifications for applicable counseling, testing, referral, linkage, prevention, support, navigation, medication-adherence, surveillance, health education, and risk-reduction services; provide HIV test results to clients served through the Program.
Complete and maintain Illinois Department of Public Health STD Section certifications for applicable comprehensive risk counseling, STD clinic, disease investigation, and surveillance functions.
Provide individualized HIV, HCV, and STD counseling and testing in office or outreach settings, as regulated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Provide group prevention and support related to STI, HIV, and HCV transmission and prevention.
Maintain daily reporting responsibilities and accurately update the STI Program database and the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center NextGen data system.
Oversee and manage an assigned program area, which may include syphilis or hepatitis surveillance, STI services, routine HIV testing, HCV or PrEP case navigation, special events, community relations, or outreach.
Schedule clinic, counseling, and nursing appointments using approved protocols and algorithms.
Maintain collaborative working relationships with other programs and represent the STI Program positively to government sections, the community, professionals, organizations, and state agencies.
Protect patient confidentiality, including not creating patient lists, disclosing patient names through correspondence, discussing patient information with other patients, or identifying patients in public or private settings; respect patient confidentiality within permissible employee actions.
Assist the STI Program Coordinator with program analysis, project design, organization, implementation, review, and staff training and educational opportunities.
Return communications from families, providers, program staff, and others within 48 business hours.
Perform other duties as assigned.