Community Support Services - Harm Reduction Specialist

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center•Lawrence, MA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

Established in 1980, the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Inc. (GLFHC) is a multi-site, mission-driven, non-profit organization employing over 700 staff whose primary focus is providing the highest quality patient care to a culturally diverse population throughout the Merrimack Valley. Nationally recognized as a leader in community medicine (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, and geriatrics), GLFHC has clinical sites in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill and is the sponsoring organization for the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency program. GLFHC is currently seeking a bilingual Community Support Services Harm Reduction Specialist to join our HIV and Infectious Disease Prevention Team. The Harm Reduction Specialist will provide an array of onsite and community (mobile) based harm reduction and screening services including but not limited to street and venue based outreach, prevention, counseling, integrated screening and linkage services to groups identified at highest risk for HIV/AIDS, STI’s, Viral Hepatitis and latent tuberculosis as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Services (BIDLS). The Harm Reduction Specialist will be phlebotomy trained or receive training in the first 18 months of employment in order to provide confidential screening services for HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Latent Tuberculosis. This position will recruit, screen and link individuals who test positive with HIV, HCV, STI’s, and/or TB results and/or at high risk for HIV, HCV, STI, or TB to appropriate levels of care, treatment, and supportive services through short term care coordination and navigation. The Harm Reduction Specialist will also provide overdose education and prevention, Narcan enrollment and Syringe Services (distribution of sterile injection equipment and syringe pick-up).

Requirements

Certified phlebotomist or willing to become trained within 18 months of employment
Certified Application Counselor or willing to become trained within the first 6 months of employment
Valid Massachusetts Driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
Takes initiative, strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, ability to follow-through; excellent communications abilities; able to work under pressure, meet inflexible deadlines, and set priorities
Demonstrated computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word)
Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize assigned duties
Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and well-written documentation
Associates Degree in Human Services field or two years of relevant work experience.
Strong knowledge of substance use, HIV, STI’s, and HCV and its transmission and prevention and community resources

Nice To Haves

Bilingual/bicultural (English/Spanish) preferred.
Experience working with priority population as mentioned above strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide an array of onsite and community (mobile) based harm reduction and screening services including but not limited to street and venue based outreach, prevention, counseling, integrated screening and linkage services to groups identified at highest risk for HIV/AIDS, STI’s, Viral Hepatitis and latent tuberculosis.
Provide confidential screening services for HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Latent Tuberculosis (requires phlebotomy training or training within 18 months of employment).
Recruit, screen and link individuals who test positive with HIV, HCV, STI’s, and/or TB results and/or at high risk for HIV, HCV, STI, or TB to appropriate levels of care, treatment, and supportive services through short term care coordination and navigation.
Provide overdose education and prevention, Narcan enrollment and Syringe Services (distribution of sterile injection equipment and syringe pick-up).
Assess clients’ risk factors including sexual and substance use behaviors.
Conduct HIV/STI/viral Hepatitis counseling and screening sessions both in individual and group settings in an appropriate cultural and linguistic manner, including pre and post-test counseling and health education regarding HIV/STI/HCV infections, transmission, testing, treatment and prevention.
Assist in the preparation and giving of test results and document test result delivery.
Assist and educate clients in the development of a risk reduction plan and distribute all appropriate harm reduction materials such as condoms, bleach kits and syringes, safe disposal containers and harm reduction materials both onsite and community based.
Collect specimens via venous blood draw and/or urine specimen for HIV/STI/HCV and coordinate transport to the State Laboratory for processing.
Conduct mobile phlebotomy during venue based outreach.
Provide low threshold interventions to active substance users and drug users (IDUs) and coordinate detoxification services.
Follow established GLFHC and MDPH protocols including but not limited to safe handling, storing and disposal of syringes.
Collect used injecting and smoking equipment from clients and in the community and safely and appropriately dispose of them.
Complete daily, weekly or monthly paperwork.
Assist Supervisor and Coordinator with gathering, counting and writing data needed for submission of reports to funders on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis (or as needed).