HIV/Early Intervention Outreach Worker (Spanish)

Neighborhood Health•Alexandria, VA

9h•$22 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

The HIV/STD Outreach Worker provides testing, linkage, and support to local high-risk, low-income immigrant populations. This role involves community outreach to find, educate, test, link to care, and retain individuals at high risk for HIV infection. The position requires working non-traditional hours in various community locations to reach at-risk populations, including new immigrants, people of color (particularly African and Latinx) in Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax, who may be unaware of their HIV status or have fallen out of care. The worker will assist clients who test positive for HIV in seeking medical care and case management through the Neighborhood Health Ryan White program, and connect HIV-negative, at-risk individuals or those who tested positive for STDs to the Regional Early Intervention Services program.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or GED required.
Demonstrated understanding of and experience working comfortably with diverse communities.
At least one-year documented community-based experience.
Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Amharic) required.
Comfort with discussing sexually sensitive topics.
Demonstrated cultural competence with diverse beliefs and norms.
Experience providing health education.
Knowledge of disease transmission.
Demonstrated success with community outreach strategies.
Knowledge about the health beliefs of immigrant populations.
Demonstrated verbal and written skills that are adaptable to diverse audiences.
Familiarity with Northern Virginia areas.
Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree preferred.
Knowledge of HIV/STD/Hep B and C is a plus.
Comfort with and knowledge of spreadsheets is a plus.

Responsibilities

Implement regular targeted testing events with the EIS team.
Conduct CLIA-waived HIV testing at community partner sites and Neighborhood Health clinics.
Report and document all waived testing results in the electronic medical record and/or testing database.
Collaborate with local agencies (health departments, churches, community centers, homeless shelters, detention centers, CBOs, businesses) to educate and raise awareness of HIV testing, prevention, and the importance of linkage to care for targeted populations.
Implement one-on-one, group, and community education activities for targeted at-risk populations in association with Neighborhood Health’s Regional EIS team.
Assess and refer individuals who receive testing and those in need of additional health and/or HIV-related services, such as STD treatment and HIV treatment linkage.
Participate in team strategy sessions, event planning, and materials development.
Accurately track and document activities and interventions, reporting to the Program Manager in a timely fashion.
Link clients to NH eligibility and enrollment specialists if they are eligible for health insurance.
Tally and enter data to track individuals tested.
Collaborate with current and new community partners to identify opportunities for reaching at-risk populations needing testing or linkage/re-engagement.
Educate community partners about the importance of identifying at-risk populations to avoid new infections and gain buy-in.
Work with community agencies to identify, locate, and create supportive relationships with Latinx and African immigrant populations at high risk.
Target significant hubs and meet-up sites for focus populations (clubs, faith communities, laundromats, hair salons/barbershops, housing developments).
Identify potential clients who may benefit from testing and prevention services.
Work with local venues attracting youth and young adults to identify and target members.
Reach into immigrant communities to educate and gain trust regarding HIV risk behaviors.
Utilize Neighborhood Health-developed traditional messaging and social media campaigns.
Conduct social media and in-person campaign marketing to engage populations in conversations about regular testing.
Create and implement engaging curriculum on HIV prevention and related topics (STIs, Hep C, U=U) for populations of focus.
Outreach and engage individuals within populations of focus in conversations about combination HIV prevention, risk/harm reduction, PrEP, and HIV topics.
Perform outreach, screening, and assessment of populations of focus to ensure appropriate testing modalities and locations.
Perform testing activities during non-traditional hours (evenings & weekends), including late-night club outreach.
Accompany clients to the nearest NH or other testing location if a community partner tester is not available.
Fast track Neighborhood Health financial eligibility determination for entry into medical care for HIV-negative clients with positive Hep C/STI tests or who are high-risk.
Conduct intake and assessment on clients who are candidates for medical care, including Hep C/STI treatment and PrEP/nPEP, or those needing a medical home.
Link clients to NH enrollment specialists if eligible for health insurance.
Link HIV-negative clients with EIS Social Worker for needed non-medical services.
Facilitate first medical appointment within 7 days of diagnosis for STI/Hep C treatment, and/or for PrEP prescription (or nPEP within 2 days).
Facilitate access to transportation for medical appointments and attend appointments with patients if applicable.
Conduct phone and in-person follow-up with high-risk HIV-negative clients and maintain supportive relationships.
Link HIV-positive clients to the Neighborhood Health Ryan White program within one business day.
Follow high-risk patients receiving medical care to ensure engagement in care and adherence.
Work with non-compliant patients to encourage return to care.
Identify patient barriers to care and help clients troubleshoot and overcome them.
Link clients to EIS Social Worker for assistance as needed.
Collaborate with other EIS providers in the region to share strategies and best practices.
Enter data in CAREWare (program database) & eClinicalWorks (EHR).
Track client-level interactions for documentation purposes.
Document, code, and enter data for program reporting, analysis, and quality improvement.
Submit all necessary documentation and data reports in a timely fashion.