Human Services Program Specialist

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Richmond, VA

3d•$52,500 - $57,500•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a restricted position, which is funded by the Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments grant for a period ending 2/28/2027 and the High Impact HIV Prevention and Surveillance Programs for Health Departments grant for a period ending 5/31/2027. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds. The Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) is responsible for independently identifying and contacting individuals known or suspected of being exposed to or at high risk of exposure to a sexually transmitted infections (STI) and other communicable diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and others. Duties include alerting individuals to their health risks, behavior changes needed to reduce risks to themselves or to others, resources and methods available to treat and control the disease as well as to contain further transmission of disease. Follows up on contacts to determine if they have received treatment, changed their behavior to reduce health risk, and procured other available services as necessary to ensure improved health care. Works in the Central region of Virginia, primarily in the greater Richmond metropolitan area. The employee is responsible for independently identifying and contacting persons known or suspected of transmitting or being exposed to communicable diseases such as syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, viral hepatitis (VH) and other conditions in a culturally sensitive manner. Duties include: 1) Confidentially locating and notifying persons of their positive test results, exposure and health risks; 2) Providing client-centered counseling and education; 3) Referring at risk persons for testing, clinical evaluation, treatment and other services available both on-site and in the community; 4) Collaborating with physicians and health care providers to refer and/or obtain information about patients; and 5) Interviewing infected and non-infected patients to identify partners and others (e.g., social contacts) who may be associated with the infection to prevent further transmission and adverse health outcomes. The employee manages STD/HIV/VH cases to ensure that all partners and social contacts, exposed or at risk, receive adequate clinical management (testing, evaluation, and treatment), counseling and education on strategies for behavior modification to reduce health risks, and facilitate access to other needed services. Provides technical assistance to local health department personnel and health care providers on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STD Treatment Guidelines, disease surveillance, and epidemiological methods. As a subject matter expert, provides training and technical assistance to internal and external public health and community health partners. Assists other local health departments throughout the state during times of significant morbidity increases by helping develop and participate in outbreak response management for sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other communicable diseases of public health significance. Formulates intervention techniques, implements screening activities, performs partner counseling and referral services, and provides linkage to care and active referral services. Provides technical assistance to district/local health department personnel and to health care providers on treatment and field-related methods. Verifies treatment for STD/HIV reported cases. Documents findings and makes recommendations to enhance case finding and reporting activities. This position is located in Harrisonburg but travel throughout the region and state will be required. Overnight travel expenses will be covered by the employer. Occasional evening and weekend work are required, and a personal car is needed for fieldwork, with mileage being reimbursed The selected candidate may request to work from an alternate health department location in the Central region, pending availability of space and approval of the hiring manager.

Requirements

Knowledge of and/or experience in public health practices, HIV, STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), HBV/HCV, and other communicable diseases; experience performing phlebotomy.
Knowledge and/or experience with administration, planning, service delivery, and evaluation of principles and practices that support reporting, surveillance, and quality assurance for public health initiatives
Knowledge and experience with providing training, developing and communicating information, ensuring compliance with policy and regulations, and maintaining documentation
Knowledge and/or experience with data collection, ensuring data accuracy and integrity, and making data corrections
Ability to listen, understand and empathize in a culturally sensitive manner, and use motivational skills to build rapport with clients and engagement in disease intervention services; ability to work with diverse populations in diverse settings; develop and deliver presentations
Experience identifying, analyzing, and providing recommendations for problem resolution
Experience working as part of a team, responding to inquiries in a professional and timely manner, interpreting and applying policies and procedures, and preparing correspondence
Demonstrated effective oral and written communication, organizational, time management, analytical, interpersonal, and decision-making skills
Must have access to a personal car for fieldwork.
Must be able to travel throughout the region and state.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing disease intervention or support services to people living with or exposed to an STI.
Proficiency with or fluency in Spanish or another language.
Public health experience

Responsibilities

Independently identifying and contacting individuals known or suspected of being exposed to or at high risk of exposure to a sexually transmitted infections (STI) and other communicable diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and others.
Alerting individuals to their health risks, behavior changes needed to reduce risks to themselves or to others, resources and methods available to treat and control the disease as well as to contain further transmission of disease.
Following up on contacts to determine if they have received treatment, changed their behavior to reduce health risk, and procured other available services as necessary to ensure improved health care.
Confidentiality locating and notifying persons of their positive test results, exposure and health risks.
Providing client-centered counseling and education.
Referring at risk persons for testing, clinical evaluation, treatment and other services available both on-site and in the community.
Collaborating with physicians and health care providers to refer and/or obtain information about patients.
Interviewing infected and non-infected patients to identify partners and others (e.g., social contacts) who may be associated with the infection to prevent further transmission and adverse health outcomes.
Managing STD/HIV/VH cases to ensure that all partners and social contacts, exposed or at risk, receive adequate clinical management (testing, evaluation, and treatment), counseling and education on strategies for behavior modification to reduce health risks, and facilitate access to other needed services.
Providing technical assistance to local health department personnel and health care providers on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STD Treatment Guidelines, disease surveillance, and epidemiological methods.
Providing training and technical assistance to internal and external public health and community health partners.
Assisting other local health departments throughout the state during times of significant morbidity increases by helping develop and participate in outbreak response management for sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other communicable diseases of public health significance.
Formulating intervention techniques, implementing screening activities, performing partner counseling and referral services, and providing linkage to care and active referral services.
Verifying treatment for STD/HIV reported cases.
Documenting findings and making recommendations to enhance case finding and reporting activities.