Harm Reductions Peer Community Health Worker

St. John's Well Child & Family Center•San Bernardino, CA

54d

About The Position

This position will work with and assist people who use drugs (PWUD) by providing comprehensive harm reduction services for low-income Latinx and Black/African American residing in San Bernardino. Many of our participants will be uninsured, undocumented, homeless/housing insecure, LGBTQ+, reentry, and have substance use disorder (SUD) with co-occurring mental disorder (COD), HIV, and/or vital hepatitis and are in need of support services (outreach, counseling, navigational, and case management services). Our multi-modality, trauma-informed, peer-driven harm reduction program (HRP) will be delivered by expertly trained staff at San Bernardino Waterman Location, during street-based and in-clinic outreach, and integrated into our continuum of programs that target similar populations. Services will include overdose prevention education/naloxone distribution, syringe services, support services, and linkage to comprehensive services that address medical, behavioral health, and other social determinants of health-driven needs. Annual numbers of individuals to be served are minimum of 300 unduplicated participants. Our overarching goal to reduce the impact of drug-related harm in San Bernardino through expanding access to comprehensive harm reduction services. As a Harm Reduction Peer Community Health Worker, shared lived experiences with potential clients is strongly desired.

Requirements

Minimum of two years' experience in healthcare and/or harm reduction-based services, in community mental health, or related discipline;
Significant knowledge of health-related issues faced by PWUD;
Knowledge and understanding of HIV, viral hepatitis, overdose prevention & other areas of healthcare as program develops;
Bilingual in Spanish and English (Required) read, write, speak;
Knowledge of community resources in area of residence;
Comfortable working with diverse populations including people who use drugs, formerly incarcerated individuals, undocumented individuals, LGBT populations, communities of color, and those experiencing homelessness, and/or mental illness;
Exceptional ability to connect and engage with people;
Good oral and written communication skills;
Detail oriented, organized and possess time management skills;
Able to work flexible job hours;
Willingness to work in various environments, including jail settings, street outreach, home visits, homeless encampments and/or shelters;
Position requires staff to become Narcan certified within 30 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Associate's or Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Prior experience working with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals and/or homeless individuals is desirable;
Prior experience as a health navigator, peer support worker, outreach worker or promotor is desirable;
Persons with a history of SUD or homelessness strongly encouraged to apply;

Responsibilities

Provide direct harm reduction services to people who use drugs (PWUD).
Distribute harm reduction supplies and ensure safe disposal of collected bio-waste.
Provide safer injection/smoking and safer sex education to participants.
Provide street-based outreach, engagement and health promotion for PWUD.
Provide support services to participants.
Maintain outreach activity calendars and logs according to program standards.
Conduct motivational interviewing with participants to assist them with identifying their needs and strategizing to address needs.
Empower, support, and educate clients in their SUD harm reduction process through mentorship.
Operate in a supportive role within an interdisciplinary health care team utilizing an integrated care and treatment model.
Connect patients to SJCH for a medical home and support services as needed (MAT, HIV/HCV, housing services, transgender health).
Work with medical and behavioral health providers to ensure coordination of services and that all support service needs are met.
Collaborate with primary care providers and behavioral health providers to provide health and behavioral interventions that will maximize patient health outcomes.
Provides support, empowerment, education and targeted case management services to clients.
Conducts assessments of client's history with medical/dental/behavioral health services, social and economic resources for purposes of linkage.
Educates clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and self-management of their chronic illness.
Educates clients about the health care system and facilitates relationship building between the two.
Documents work with clients through appropriate record keeping that follows St. John's policies and procedures.
Links clients to needed services and facilitates access to community resources.
Advises clients and others regarding health care and other facilities available to them; assists patients in utilizing services; makes follow-up contacts when required.
Attend regularly-scheduled and impromptu meetings and maintain communication with program team members and supervisor.
Attend appropriate community resource meetings and trainings, as assigned.
Participate in data collection activities.
Ensure necessary documentation to meet funding contract(s) performance requirements.
Work in collaboration with other departments and agencies when required.
Evening and/or weekend hours may be required to ensure the fulfillment of all duties and responsibilities.
Other duties may be assigned or may be modified as business needs dictate.