Overdose Prevention Specialist

Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center•Honolulu, HI

About The Position

Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC) provides harm reduction-focused services to marginalized populations in Hawai’i, including people living with and/or affected by HIV, hepatitis, substance use, homelessness, and the transgender, LGBQ, and the Native Hawaiian communities. HHHRC bridges gaps and helps individuals access essential resources such as housing, health care, entitlements, and treatment. We foster health, wellness, and systemic change in Hawai’i and the Pacific through outreach, care services, advocacy, training, prevention, education, and capacity building. The Overdose Prevention Specialist is responsible for managing all overdose-specific training and education for internal employees and external partners. This role is responsible for maintaining a strong HHHRC presence as a leader in overdose prevention in Hawai’i and ensuring consistent communication with potential vendors, partners, or facilities which may be used to further spread the message of overdose prevention. This is a permanent, full-time, exempt, salaried position with HHHRC located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Expected hours of work are generally between 8:30am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend attendance for required events. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Requirements

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, etc.).
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Strong time-management skills and punctuality.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, and outside contacts from a wide variety of ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Strong crisis intervention and de-escalation skills.
Capacity to deal with difficult interactions with care, compassion, and assertiveness.
Non-judgmental attitude and ability to respect the knowledge, actions, and feelings of others.
Demonstrated ability to work productively, both independently and as part of a team.
Ability to work well and thrive professionally in an atmosphere of significant diversity, working with marginalized populations.
High School diploma/GED, or equivalent work experience.
One or more years of training and/or educating experience.
A firm grasp, either through education or lived experience, of overdose prevention.
One year of relevant administrative experience and/or demonstrated experience relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
Valid Hawaii Driver’s License and clean three-year (3-year) Driver’s Abstract.
COVID-19 Vaccination
TB Clearance
Hep B Clearance and/or Vaccination
Must pass Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services eligibility screening.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (or comparable degree).
Relevant life experience and/or experience in street-based outreach and harm reduction.
Training in substance use, harm reduction, and dual diagnosis.
Extensive knowledge of the greater Honolulu area.

Responsibilities

Conduct syringe exchange services and harm reduction outreach in the community and connect participants to services. Discuss issues about general health of people who use intravenous and non-intravenous drugs, their partners, and families.
Provide overdose prevention education and naloxone training to program participants.
Deliver HIV/AIDS, STD, and viral hepatitis prevention and treatment education.
Provide outreach to specific areas indicated by law enforcement and the Department of Health which have a high number of documented cases of overdose.
Provide education on safer sex and substance use practices.
Share basic information concerning legal issues and challenges related to drug use.
Complete all documentation for services rendered withing assigned benchmarks.
Aid with the oversight of surveys, studies, and services to OD / SEP participants by approved partner agencies.
Seek opportunities for and conduct at least 50 trainings and presentations each year on harm reduction, syringe exchange, overdose prevention, naloxone administration, and other program related topics at meetings, trainings, and conferences, and as requested by outside agencies.
Participate in the Department of Health’s monthly provider meetings.
Respond immediately to connections indicating a recent overdose and offer on-the-spot training and education in addition to potentially linking them to SUD treatment.
Network with local businesses, entities and potential partners to provide overdose education and awareness.
Attend the Hawaii Opioid Initiatives’ Workgroup 1 (Access to Treatment) and Workgroup 4 (Prevention and Public Education) meetings.
Represent the agency at coalition and other community meetings.
Increase the visibility of HHHRC and harm reduction through networking and collaborations.