HIV Advocate - On Site

The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada•Las Vegas, NV

21d•$22 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Arlene Cooper Community Health Center is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality HIV testing, STI screenings, and treatment to people in need, with compassion, dignity, and respect. Under the supervision of the Director of Clinical and HIV Services, the HIV Advocate plays a vital role in helping reduce the transmission of HIV and STIs in our community. Our program follows the Harm Reduction model, which calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who use drugs and the communities in which they live in order to assist them in reducing attendant harm. They will conduct HIV tests, STI screenings, and counseling. The HIV Advocate will ensure newly diagnosed HIV+ individuals are referred and linked to medical services. Other duties include maintaining confidentiality of participants, reviewing and completing data collection forms, compiling data for monthly reports, and helping co-workers with any other duties assigned. With a focus on the reduction of stigma, the HIV Advocate interfaces with the community to educate them on HIV/AIDS through individual and/or group sessions, Center-related programs, services, and events. The HIV Advocate provides non-medical case management and case coordination to HIV positive patients to assist them in navigating services.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or GED required. Two years of experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.
Live in and have strong community ties to Clark County, including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and unincorporated Clark County.
Proficient in Word / Excel / PowerPoint
Possess a valid driver’s license, reliable personal transportation, valid car registration, and insurance. Travel in a personal vehicle is required for this position.
The ability to verify identity and provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States, and completion of the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
Ability to pass a background check, fingerprinting, and a drug test, and have a clean driving record.
Experience with local HIV services and familiarity with issues related to substance use, homelessness, mental health, and other related co-occurring disorders.
Current information pertaining to the symptoms, modes of transmission, control, treatment, and effects of the communicable/chronic disease assigned.
Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and antibody testing, PrEP and PEP, community resources, Hepatitis C and STD knowledge, harm reduction, and syringe exchange is highly preferred
Skill in providing individualized HIV health education, HIV testing, Counseling, and Hepatitis C testing.
Ability to discuss sensitive matters in a non-judgmental manner and to respect confidentiality.
Ability to work with diverse groups in diverse settings, including in The Center as well as in the community.
Have social and cultural sensitivity with targeted populations.
Good written, verbal, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Basic knowledge and experience with computers, including Microsoft Office, Excel, and data collection required.
Ability to work flexible hours, mostly evenings/weekends. Saturdays are required.
Current information pertaining to the symptoms, modes of transmission, control, treatment, and effects of the communicable/chronic disease assigned.
CDC protocols for investigation and intervention with patients who have positive results for a communicable disease.
Modern practices and principles of medical disease counseling.
Principles and procedures of record keeping; medical documentation; business writing, including appropriate English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Methods of enforcement of and obtaining compliance with public health laws and regulations.
Universal (Standard) precautions and infection control practices.
Conduct interviews of a highly personal and sensitive nature.
Exercise initiative and tact in tracing contacts and arranging for follow-up medical treatment.
Gain the confidence of and establish rapport with varied personalities and difficult-to-reach individuals.
Empathize with patients and provide uplifting, helpful counseling.
Prepare clear and concise reports.
Work independently in the absence of supervision.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members and with those contacted in the course of work, including service representatives and the general public.
Operate a computer and use a variety of software, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
Communicate exceptionally well in person and on the telephone.
Draw blood.
Pass any and all certification training based on state and local requirements, including but not limited to adhering to HIPAA, OSHA, and bloodborne pathogens training requirements.
Provide confidentiality- capable of maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality with regard to client and organizational information.
Be client-centered- capable of working with individuals to identify needs and priorities and facilitate any positive change as the client defines for themselves.
Be motivated- capable of taking the initiative and following a project through to completion.
Be organized- capable of prioritizing needs, goals, and objectives. Capable of maintaining all required information/data for ease of access for staff and clients.
Be a problem solver- capable of thinking on the spot to resolve problem situations as they arise. Able to assess relevant information, identify a range of options, and make client-centered recommendations.

Nice To Haves

Preferred bachelor’s degree in public health, Public Administration, Social Work, Psychology, or Sociology.
Candidates with lived experience within HIV care and prevention, and or with substance use treatment or harm reduction are encouraged to apply.
Fluency in English and Spanish is highly preferred.
Certification as a Rapid HIV Test Counselor is highly preferred, or the ability to be certified within three months of employment.

Responsibilities

Conduct rapid HIV testing, rapid HCV testing, and pregnancy testing.
Identify at-risk groups to prevent, treat, and thereby reduce the incidence of communicable diseases and risk to others.
Provide counseling concerning personal behaviors and activities that contribute to disease transmission.
Act as patient advocate; counsel clients regarding medical and social services available and intervene on their behalf for access to services or resolution of conflict.
Counsel and educate patients before testing, patients receiving test results, and post-test results.
Answer disease-related questions.
Draw blood samples from individuals in the clinic.
Conduct community outreach activities to increase awareness of HIV Counseling and Testing services within the Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) community through distribution of flyers, e-mail blasts, events, and testing sites at bars, clubs, and similar establishments.
Work as part of an interdisciplinary team with the Director of Clinical and HIV Services to provide clients with client-centered care, systems navigation, referrals, and follow-ups.
Conduct outreach in a planned and coordinated manner with local prevention programs to avoid duplication of services and provide statistical data to the Director of Clinic and HIV Services.
Target populations known to be disproportionately at-risk for HIV infection, as well as establishments frequented by individuals exhibiting high-risk behaviors throughout the community.
Maintain up-to-date confidential client records, including progress notes, support group documentation, Arlene Cooper Community Health Center utilization, and all other required paperwork, and electronic submission of client data into the electronic health record.
Perform tests at off-site locations; educate the public to provide risk reduction training; give speeches and informative talks to various small groups.
Work as part of an interdisciplinary team with the Director of Clinical and HIV Services and other team members to increase awareness on what resources are available for the HIV positive community and update the resource card to distribute via safer sex kits when HIV positive individuals collect their medication.
Assist with recruitment and retention of clients, particularly those who are disconnected from care and services.
Work closely with the Director of Clinical and HIV Services to provide education/training on harm reduction, safer sex messages, and cultural sensitivity related to the HIV-positive and the LGBTQ communities with HIV/AIDS, who are not in care, to connect them to services and support groups.
Ensure the clinic environment is clean, and ensure that testing rooms and provider rooms are maintained and kept in an orderly manner.
Answer phone calls, navigate patient questions with guidance from medical providers, review and return patient voicemail and calls in a timely manner.
Complete tasks as outlined on the daily task sheet and as assigned.
Draw up medication and deliver injections to patients.
Take and record patient vital signs, medical histories, and prepare patients for medical tests and examinations.
Complete morbidity reports for reportable diseases.
Keep current with local, national, and international disease trends and outbreaks.
Cultivates new and existing relationships with Community-Based Organizations, AIDS Services Organizations, colleges and universities, clinicians and providers, hospitals, etc.
Engage in various activities to increase The Center’s capacity to promote reduction of stigma campaigns and the distribution of Safer Sex Kits through various distribution outlets.
Participate in assessment, evaluation, and development of HIV Services programming.
Attend agency meetings, supervision, and training as required.
Perform other duties as requested.