Health Navigator (CHPLA)

Heluna Health•Los Angeles, CA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Founded in 1992, Community Health Project Los Angeles (CHPLA) aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by substance use in Los Angeles. CHPLA combines direct services, advocacy, outreach, education, and research collaborations. The Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) provides harm reduction and syringe access, focusing on disease and overdose prevention. SEP delivers services through outreach and stationary syringe sites within Los Angeles County. Through SEP, clients are provided with materials and knowledge to reduce sharing of contaminated injection equipment. The ultimate goal of SEP is to reduce HIV and HCV infections, prevent opioid overdose, decrease risk of skin and soft tissue infections, and increase access to primary care. SEP serves the most marginalized and highest risk populations in Los Angeles. The Health Navigator reports to CHPLA’s Assistant Director of HCS. This position will be responsible for outreaching, identifying, and linking clients to supportive services including but not limited to MAT (Medically Assisted Treatment) providers, primary medical providers, psychiatric services, Hepatitis C and HIV testing and treatment, and drug treatment services. The Health Navigator will be accountable for collaborating with fellow providers to promote participant engagement and provide continuity of care. Ongoing responsibilities include supportive interventions for care retention, care coordination, assessing client needs and goals, identifying barriers to accessing services, data collection, and documentation of the overall care of the client. This is a full-time benefitted position (40 hours per week) provided by Heluna Health.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
Experience or field work serving people who use drugs, people at-risk for overdose, and/or vulnerable populations.
Understanding of substance use and harm reduction strategies along with a demonstrated passion and understanding for serving chronically homeless populations with co-occurring disorders.
A valid California driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
Valid California Class C driver’s license required
Must legally be able to drive company vehicles to various locations across Los Angeles
Background check clearance required.
Commitment to overall mission of CHPLA and program goals.
Knowledge of low threshold medications for addiction treatment, basic knowledge of HIV and HCV, overdose prevention, use of Naloxone preferred
Experience with Microsoft Office programs, including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and public speaking skills, with the ability to effectively relate to staff and clients from a variety of cultures, languages and educational backgrounds.
Strong organizational and time management skills with strong attention to detail.
Ability to maintain regular and timely attendance
Ability and willingness to work some evenings and other non-traditional hours as needed
Ability to remain positive and composed, despite working in a high stress and high demand environment
Able to travel and work in the field as needed
Ability to maintain HIPPA guidelines
Demonstrate sensitivity addressing the needs of underserved community members from diverse communities
Understanding of harm reduction approach, practice, and philosophies
Comfortable providing quality and compassionate care for the populations served by the program (i.e. people who use drugs, people who inject drugs, people who engage in sex work, people without stable housing, low or no-income, LGBTQ+)

Nice To Haves

undergraduate degree preferred

Responsibilities

Become well versed in Syringe Exchange activities and participate in outreach and stationary site shifts
Work with existing field staff to identify potential candidates for linkage into supportive and health services
Through outreach activities, identify clients who are interested and would benefit from linkage to supportive and health services.
Assess client needs, with obtained information refer and link to outside service providers as appropriate
Educate clients on services of interest and need, treatment courses, risks and health outcomes of certain behaviors
Engage with clients to establish and maintain a working relationship
Assess client for health insurance and identification documentation
Develop and maintain positive collaboration with partnered providers to provide ongoing support for the client and continuity of care
In collaboration with the client, assess and develop an Individual Service plan addressing client risks and interventions
Provide additional referrals/resources/ guidance as needed (i.e. substance use treatment, shelters, mental health or medical care)
Attend treatment planning meetings with partnered providers for the purpose of care coordination
Report out on program and participant achievements and challenges to supervisor and partnered providers
Provide support to clients with medication initiation and ongoing support with the focus on treatment retention
Advocate to providers about caring for patients experiencing homelessness (i.e. week-long medication prescriptions to minimize impact of loss or theft)
Distribute safe drug use supplies and overdose prevention kits when necessary
Assess and identify ongoing barriers to services and support client with overcoming these barriers including stolen/lost medications, scheduling appointments, lack of phone access, etc.
Assess for side effects of medication and report to provider for alterations
Develop and maintain client files and other necessary reporting for assigned caseload according to contract requirements
Enter notes and eligible data into client files within 24-48 hours of client contact
Participate in work flow of office operations and field work preparations
Attend all staff meetings, program meetings and trainings as required
Other duties as assigned