OPS HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR I - 64956560

State of Florida • Indian River Estates, FL

2d • $23 - $25 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a professional position within the St. Lucie County Health Department utilizing established case management skills in the assessment, planning, organizing, delivering, and evaluating of services provided to non-pregnant sexually active adolescents in Teen Choices program. Responsibilities include educating sexually active adolescent males about sexual health, family planning and baby spacing, HIV/STD testing, reproductive life planning and to decrease the unintended birth rates and infection rates in this population. This position requires the employee to work autonomously in the field. Supervision is provided by the Community Health Nursing Consultant. Use of a personal vehicle may be required.

The program objectives are as follows:
1. Decrease the number of repeat pregnancies within the teen mothers who are being case managed by increasing the number of teen mothers who use birth control after they deliver their babies. 80% of this group will use birth control after they deliver. Avoidance of a repeat pregnancy will be considered successful if the teen is not pregnant within two years after her first delivery.
2. Achieve 90% of non-pregnancy within the sexually active teens who are case managed for at least 3 months.
3. Unintended pregnancy will be avoided by 90% of the sexually active teen population that participate and complete the Teen Choices one year after having completed the curriculum.
4. 90% of teenagers who are receiving one on one case management will demonstrate an increased awareness regarding vocational and educational resources by discussing career and school opportunities as measured by progress or written case plan.
Provides comprehensive case management to non-pregnant, sexually active adolescents, assisting with identified sexual health risk factors using established family support plans with appropriate referrals. Provides health and pregnancy prevention information using the Teen Choices curriculum for both sexually active and not sexually active youth in local community agencies (e.g. Project Rock, PACE, DJJ, etc.) in a group setting.
Conducts initial contacts and ongoing assessment(s) of identified adolescents, one-on-one, through client home, school and clinic settings as needed, within 5 days of referral to program. Ongoing visits are scheduled based on a leveling system. All records will meet the minimum number of encounters per level. All level 3 clients will have at least 2 services per month, including documentation of the Family Support Plan. Develop plans which include necessary services to include pregnancy & disease prevention goals and provide casework services to assist the clients in attaining social, educational and vocational goals. Develop health-related care plans and ensure that clients receive all social services required to support medical treatment.
Instructs adolescents in an ongoing manner on issues related to education, family-life skills, postponing sexual activity, family planning methods, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, parenting skills, employment skills, setting boundaries and healthy relationships, alcohol & drug use, being able to find a trusted adult to talk to, male & female sexual anatomy & physiology, reproductive life planning, preconception health, goal setting, time management & decision making skills, negotiation & refusal skills, educational resources (including high school, GED, college programs), and personal hygiene & dental care.
Perform urine Aptima tests, HIV Orasure tests and/or urine pregnancy tests in the field to established clients. Handle and label all specimens per protocol. Maintain all testing logs for lab and supervisor per protocol. Ensure all clients testing positive for an STD or HIV are referred to the appropriate provider for treatment.
Completes all case management documentation within 24-48 hours of service into HMS and utilizes the care plan. Enter EARS daily and certify them within 1 day of the end of the pay period. Enter CSR’s daily. Collect weekly stats to conduct monthly and quarterly reports. Maintain sign-in sheets for each class, as well as pre/posttests. Maintain logs to ensure appropriate follow up is done on students one year after completing the Teen Choices curriculum. Maintain Teen Choices Curriculum Data spreadsheet and Current Teen Caseloads spreadsheet (located on the secure J drive).
Participate in at least 4 health fairs per fiscal year.
Performs other related duties as assigned, including, but not limited to disaster preparedness activities.

Requirements

• Willing to work before, during and after an emergency at a special needs shelter
• Willing to work evenings & weekends for outreach events (including holiday themed events)
• Willing to present birth control & reproductive health information
• Must have a valid drivers license
• At least 1 year experience doing case management work or field work/home visits
• Ability to Communicate Effectively Verbally and In Writing
• Ability to Communicate with Culturally Diverse Patient Populations
• Ability To Solve Problems Independently
• All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Nice To Haves

• At least 1 year experience with HIV/STI’s/family planning
• Urine aptima training
• HIV 500/501 training completed
• At least 1 year providing reproductive health education
• Knowledge of family planning, STD/HIV infection, testing & treatment
• At least 1 year compiling/generating reports
• At least 1 year experience working with teens

Responsibilities

• Educating sexually active adolescent males about sexual health, family planning and baby spacing, HIV/STD testing, reproductive life planning and to decrease the unintended birth rates and infection rates in this population.
• Working autonomously in the field.
• Provides comprehensive case management to non-pregnant, sexually active adolescents, assisting with identified sexual health risk factors using established family support plans with appropriate referrals.
• Provides health and pregnancy prevention information using the Teen Choices curriculum for both sexually active and not sexually active youth in local community agencies (e.g. Project Rock, PACE, DJJ, etc.) in a group setting.
• Conducts initial contacts and ongoing assessment(s) of identified adolescents, one-on-one, through client home, school and clinic settings as needed, within 5 days of referral to program.
• Develop plans which include necessary services to include pregnancy & disease prevention goals and provide casework services to assist the clients in attaining social, educational and vocational goals.
• Develop health-related care plans and ensure that clients receive all social services required to support medical treatment.
• Instructs adolescents in an ongoing manner on issues related to education, family-life skills, postponing sexual activity, family planning methods, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, parenting skills, employment skills, setting boundaries and healthy relationships, alcohol & drug use, being able to find a trusted adult to talk to, male & female sexual anatomy & physiology, reproductive life planning, preconception health, goal setting, time management & decision making skills, negotiation & refusal skills, educational resources (including high school, GED, college programs), and personal hygiene & dental care.
• Perform urine Aptima tests, HIV Orasure tests and/or urine pregnancy tests in the field to established clients.
• Handle and label all specimens per protocol.
• Maintain all testing logs for lab and supervisor per protocol.
• Ensure all clients testing positive for an STD or HIV are referred to the appropriate provider for treatment.
• Completes all case management documentation within 24-48 hours of service into HMS and utilizes the care plan.
• Enter EARS daily and certify them within 1 day of the end of the pay period.
• Enter CSR’s daily.
• Collect weekly stats to conduct monthly and quarterly reports.
• Maintain sign-in sheets for each class, as well as pre/posttests.
• Maintain logs to ensure appropriate follow up is done on students one year after completing the Teen Choices curriculum.
• Maintain Teen Choices Curriculum Data spreadsheet and Current Teen Caseloads spreadsheet (located on the secure J drive).
• Participate in at least 4 health fairs per fiscal year.
• Performs other related duties as assigned, including, but not limited to disaster preparedness activities.

Benefits

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements. Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed