Information & Referral Specialist

Community Health Action of Staten Island • New York, NY

1d • $37,000 - $40,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Information and Referral (I&R) Specialist assists with CHASI's Community Food Pantry operations and conducts outreach to substance users to engage persons in services, provides a wide range of linkage & navigation services, provides individual education to reduce health-related harm from injection and other drug use, conducts sterile syringe exchange, trains on opioid overdose reversal, and delivers HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) counseling and testing. The I&R Specialist primarily works at the community access center to reach long-term and newer substance users, to partner with them as they set their own goals for improving their health and well-being, and to help them navigate service systems to achieve those goals.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience working with substance using persons and diverse populations strongly preferred.
• Conversant with harm reduction practices, philosophy, and interventions.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team with demonstrated ability to contribute positively to a team-based work environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of office computer applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong oral and written communications skills; ability to manage communications tactfully and professionally with a high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Driver's license and clean driving record preferred.
• Must have flexible schedule and be able to work weekends.

Responsibilities

• Conduct group presentations to engage and inform substance users about harm reduction interventions.
• Conduct harm reduction-oriented individual and group education encounters with substance users to reduce the transmission of blood-borne diseases, other infections, and drug overdose.
• Enroll individuals in State-authorized syringe exchange program and provide exchanges that promote the consistent use of sterile syringes and safe collection of used syringes and provide safer injection counseling.
• Distribute Naloxone kits to reverse opioid overdose and provide group and individual training on their correct use of Naloxone.
• Conduct HIV and HCV counseling, testing, partner notification and linkage services, in accordance with standards set by NYS Department of Health/AIDS Institute and CHASI.
• Deliver community-based education and risk reduction education and materials to targeted populations and the community.
• Provide information, referral, navigation, and coordination assistance that links individuals to health and human services responsive to their individually expressed needs and interests.
• Collaborate with harm reduction and community access staff on the identification of service provision, trends in local drug use, and service providers that are substance user friendly.
• Support the food pantry staff and volunteers during operations when needed.
• Complete accurate documentation service provision using hard copy tools and electronic data systems.
• Track inventory of harm reduction program supplies.
• Complete internal and external training to maintain knowledge and skills related to harm reduction, culturally competent service delivery, and other job-relevant topics.
• Actively participate in staff meetings and other agency activities.
• Encourage a sense of commitment, camaraderie, and accountability among team members by modeling these qualities.
• Screen incoming phone calls and provide administrative support on a periodic basis.
• Provide services on the Mobile Health Unit as assigned.
• Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• generous paid time off (4 weeks of vacation plus paid holidays, personal, and sick time)
• medical, dental, vision
• supplemental benefits including employer provided basic life insurance and employee assistance programs
• tuition reimbursement and fitness reimbursement after 1 year of employment
• a retirement plan that includes employer matching

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED