Peer Navigator - Patchogue, NY

Economic Opportunity Council•East Patchogue, NY

About The Position

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide culturally competent client support and advocacy, conduct community outreach to identify, engage and re-engage clients into care/services and to market program services. Provide additional support services as needed, assist in coaching elements and assist in monitoring client’s progress. DETAILED RESPONSIBILITES: ¨ Conduct a wide range of community outreach to market program services, identify and engage target population in services; ¨ Educate clients on the health benefits of medical care engagement, retention, HIV medication adherence and viral suppression; ¨ Encourage clients to engage or re-engage in HIV medical care by addressing barriers preventing them achieving optimal health outcomes; ¨ Assist clients in developing skills needed to ensure treatment adherence and viral suppression; ¨ Address treatment adherence needs and coach clients in adherence skills; ¨ Teach and help clients to navigate the care system and how to access needed services through Ryan White Program; ¨ Provide referrals and accompaniment to appointments to ensure linkage to medical care and treatment; ¨ Enhance engagement in care by assisting clients with appointment reminders; ¨ Collaborate with medical service providers/staff to maximize linkage to care and retention in care; ¨ Network with community agencies and organizations in order to establish referral linkages; ¨ Participant in EOC’s Consumer Advisory Board Meetings; ¨ Participate in in-service trainings and on-site workshops as required for professional growth and development. Attend external trainings and workshops at direction of management; ¨ Participate in minimum of 1-hour biweekly supervision and 1- hour of group supervision per month; ¨ Attend programs, departmental agency meetings, and perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor and/or required by agency policies and procedures; ¨ Provide data entry support when needed; ¨ Maintains strict confidentiality of all client related information; ¨ Other responsibilities as directed by supervisor

Requirements

Comfortable disclosing HIV status
HIV + medication and appointment adherent role model
Knowledge of community resources and referrals for HIV/STD/HVC testing and screenings, PrEP and Pep, mental health, care coordination, and additional appropriate client-centered referrals
Ability to work as part of a team with co-workers and with other colleagues as necessary
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong interpersonal and organizational skills
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration statues, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment
Familiar with Word, Excel, and Power Point and experience with data management systems
Ability to follow directions and communicate well (orally and in writing)
Must be Peer Certified in the HIV track or achieve Peer Certification within 6 months of hire
A Valid Driver's License or NY State ID
PPD (TB test required with proof of results; no more than 1 year old)

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/ Spanish) a plus
Strong written, oral communication, public speaking a plus.

Responsibilities

Conduct a wide range of community outreach to market program services, identify and engage target population in services
Educate clients on the health benefits of medical care engagement, retention, HIV medication adherence and viral suppression
Encourage clients to engage or re-engage in HIV medical care by addressing barriers preventing them achieving optimal health outcomes
Assist clients in developing skills needed to ensure treatment adherence and viral suppression
Address treatment adherence needs and coach clients in adherence skills
Teach and help clients to navigate the care system and how to access needed services through Ryan White Program
Provide referrals and accompaniment to appointments to ensure linkage to medical care and treatment
Enhance engagement in care by assisting clients with appointment reminders
Collaborate with medical service providers/staff to maximize linkage to care and retention in care
Network with community agencies and organizations in order to establish referral linkages
Participant in EOC’s Consumer Advisory Board Meetings
Participate in in-service trainings and on-site workshops as required for professional growth and development. Attend external trainings and workshops at direction of management
Participate in minimum of 1-hour biweekly supervision and 1- hour of group supervision per month
Attend programs, departmental agency meetings, and perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor and/or required by agency policies and procedures
Provide data entry support when needed
Maintains strict confidentiality of all client related information
Other responsibilities as directed by supervisor