Overdose Prevention Educator

Community Health Action of Staten•Staten Island, NY

About The Position

The Overdose Prevention Educator is a member of CHASI’s Harm Reduction Services team and supports individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance use through a harm reduction, trauma-informed, and participant-centered approach. The role provides overdose prevention education, naloxone training and distribution, harm reduction counseling, community outreach, HIV/HCV testing and referral, and linkage to supportive services. Services are delivered through site-based, community-based, car-based, and partner-based models, with a focus on reaching people at elevated risk of overdose and their personal and community networks. Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) provides outreach, education, prevention, and direct support services for populations most affected by health disparities. Its services support vulnerable individuals, families, and communities, including people with low incomes, chronic illnesses, criminal justice involvement, substance use, experiences of domestic violence, and members of communities of color and the LGBTQ community. The position is based at 56 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301. It is full-time and non-exempt, with an annual pay range of $41,600 to $48,000, commensurate with qualifications. CHASI offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Responsibilities

Deliver overdose prevention education and naloxone administration training to participants, staff, peers, family members, community members, commercial establishments, and partner organizations.
Schedule and facilitate train-the-trainer sessions to increase CHASI’s internal capacity to provide naloxone education and distribution on demand.
Educate people about overdose risk reduction, signs of overdose, overdose response, rescue breathing, naloxone use, fentanyl- and xylazine-related risks, and post-overdose support.
Provide individualized harm reduction education and counseling on safer substance use, safer injection practices, stimulant-use risk reduction, wound-care awareness, HIV/HCV/STI prevention, safer sex, and safe disposal of syringes and other supplies.
Support participants in developing personalized overdose prevention and safety plans that reflect their goals, needs, risks, and readiness for services.
Distribute naloxone, safer-use supplies, syringe-exchange supplies, fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips when available, sharps containers, condoms, and other harm reduction and prevention supplies according to program protocols.
Conduct car-based and community-based services, including outreach, education, counseling, naloxone training, supply distribution, service linkage, and navigation support.
Engage individuals in high-risk areas, shelters, encampments, commercial establishments, community events, and other settings where people who use drugs and their networks may be reached.
Collaborate with the Harm Reduction Program Director and Vice President of Behavioral Health on updates to program policies, procedures, training materials, naloxone distribution practices, quality assurance processes, and service-delivery workflows.
Continue and strengthen partnerships with Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness and other community partners to provide overdose-risk education, naloxone access, and harm reduction information.
Perform HIV/HCV testing, provide prevention education, and connect participants to confirmatory testing, treatment, PrEP/PEP, medical care, behavioral health services, medication for opioid use disorder, recovery supports, housing, benefits, and other supportive services as appropriate.
Use peer volunteers and community ambassadors, as appropriate, to support outreach, education, naloxone and syringe-exchange supply distribution, and connection to harm reduction services.
Maintain current knowledge of emerging drug trends, overdose patterns, harm reduction best practices, local service resources, and relevant public health guidance.
Complete timely and accurate documentation, tracking, and submission of required data for naloxone distribution, fentanyl outreach, supply distribution, HIV/HCV testing, referrals, trainings, educational encounters, outreach, and other activities.
Identify participant needs, service gaps, outreach trends, and barriers to care, and communicate observations to program leadership to support quality improvement and responsive service delivery.
Attend regular and mandatory team and department meetings, trainings, supervision, and funder- or contractor-facilitated provider meetings as required.
Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s mission, vision, core values, policies, and commitment to equity, dignity, and nonjudgmental care.
Perform other duties as assigned.