Peer Health Navigator

Chicago House•Chicago, IL

13d

About The Position

Chicago House empowers persons living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS to lead healthy and dignified lives, through housing and compassionate, client-centered support services. Chicago House recognizes that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ individuals, and/or People with Disabilities are systemically limited in their practice, opportunity, and exposure to develop learned expertise. Chicago House values both learned expertise and lived experience. We take a holistic review of applicants, and we strongly encourage marginalized individuals to apply.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Lived experience with life challenges from housing instability or homelessness, living with HIV, and/or living with other chronic physical or behavioral health needs.
6+ months of previous experience preferred in providing support for vulnerable populations, especially individuals experiencing housing instability or homelessness.
Willingness to disclose life challenges when clinically relevant to support clients.
Working knowledge of and experience practicing harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
Ability to work both independently as well as part of a team.
Ability to endure periods of heavy workload stress.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively.

Nice To Haves

Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) licensure preferred.
Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist clients with health, income, housing, and other applicable goals.
Collaborate as part of a team approach with a client's assigned Health & Housing Case Manager to promote client engagement in care.
Use and discuss lived experiences, when applicable, when providing services to promote client retention in services.
Respectfully interact with clients, colleagues, and community partners.
Work cooperatively as part of a dynamic team.
Learn and use database systems.
Share lived experience as part of engagement, support client participation in services through peer support while relying on relationship-building, selective self-disclosure, motivational interviewing, and aStrengths-based approach.
Utilize a team approach with assigned Health & Housing Case Manager (CM) to engage with and meet clients in the communities where they live and/or work.
Routinely navigate with clients and assigned CM's on assessing clients' progress toward meeting goals identified on individual service plans related to health, income, housing, case management, and other applicable goals.
Assist clients in accessing healthcare resources, especially via navigating complex systems, to include scheduling appointments, accompanying clients to appointments, reviewing test results, monitoring medication refills, connecting to healthcare portals, and other relevant activities.
Assess clients' evolving needs, and provide appropriate referrals as applicable for additional support services that either the agency provides or are community-based.
Coordinate individual client services with associated housing staff to promote client engagement in care - particularly with individuals who may be experiencing complex barriers to engagement.
Support clients whose circumstances may benefit from crisis intervention and/or de-escalation through the lens of peer support.
Maintain client charts according to funder and agency policies.
Complete data entry into applicable databases.
Attend selected trainings identified and assigned as part of providing peer support.
Attend weekly supervision, internal trainings, and staff meetings.
Other duties as assigned.