Center for Prevention Services
Harm Reduction Resource and Linkage Specialist - BILINGUAL
Center for Prevention Services, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, 28245
Harm Reduction Resource and Linkage Specialist - BILINGUAL
Job Title:
Resource and Linkage Specialist
Reports to : Division Director
Department : Queen City Harm Reduction
MISSION
Center for Prevention Services and Queen City Harm Reduction promote health and resilience through evidence-based harm reduction and prevention strategies. We are dedicated to addressing stigma and the harms associated with drug use, justice involvement, homelessness, sex work, mental health, and other intersecting conditions through the physical practice of harm reduction and syringe access, as well as local and statewide education and advocacy efforts.
JOB SUMMARY
This position will provide high quality, low threshold Peer Support Services (PSS) to Queen City Harm Reduction program members enrolled in the syringe service program (SSP) and who engage in a variety of programming QCHR offers. Specifically, this role is responsible to navigating available resources that support the unique and complex need of program participants and will provide warm hand-offs to healthcare and social support services. Using a person-first approach, the PSS will be a liaison between the outreach staff, testing team, and housing first units to best support linkage to essential support services and appointments for program members. Candidates must understand the basics of Harm Reduction and its compassionate and culturally competent philosophy that is sensitive to the challenges people who use drugs experience. This job employs a flexible approach to assist people in their transition from adverse and often unsheltered environments to various housing, social, and healthcare supports.
This position will engage with healthcare and carceral institutions, case managers, coordinated entry systems, treatment providers, and outreach specialists to develop and implement innovative, evidence-based strategies that address the unique needs of people who use drugs who are experiencing homelessness, justice-involvement, sex work, and/or unstable housing conditions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Training in Critical Time Intervention for rapid rehousing (unless candidate is already CTI certified)
Support linkage navigation and warm hand offs for program members;
Aid SSP outreach and housing first staff with voluntary intakes processes;
Support the administrative needs of all unit supervisors; This includes but is not limited to data input, navigating community resources and coordinated reentry systems, and organizing case management documents.
Empower and educate participants on SSP policy, primary health, sexual health and prevention, job training and/or employment opportunities, nutrition and other tertiary supports that help maintain overall wellbeing.
Create resources guides and flyers that support program members and staff with locations for referrals and education.
Search for available housing inventory within catchment area.
Support survey dissemination to effectively capture the experience of program participants.
Support recruitment and coordination for housing first participants who are exiting the CTI program.
Support community-based trainings on harm reduction, drug user cultural competency, tenant rights, and housing for people who use drugs;
Assist participants in establishing benefits, linkage to primary care and other healthcare needs, locating employment and/or educational opportunities, obtaining basic needs such as clothing and food, and building the skills and mindset needed to successfully navigate healthcare and social service systems;
Attend staff meetings, case conferences, team meetings, and training courses as required or assigned;
Attend outreach events and health fairs. This requires weekend availability at least 3 times per year.
Other duties may be assigned or may be modified as business needs dictate.
Responsibility to Team:
Actively support assigned team/department by participating in and supporting all team/departmental initiatives, proactively communicating with supervision, meeting assigned goals and objectives, and committing to embracing process improvement initiatives.
Responsibility to Organization:
Actively support Center for Prevention Services and Queen City Harm Reduction by consistently meeting agency mission as well as the philosophy and strategies of Harm Reduction and Environmental Prevention; modeling positive interactions with program members, staff, and community; keeping informed of internal (e.g., policies and procedures) and external (e.g., legal or political matters) which may affect business.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education & Experience Required
3-5 years of experience in harm reduction, prevention, and recovery-oriented spaces.
Comfortable working with diverse and vulnerable populations, including formerly incarcerated individuals, undocumented individuals, LGBTQIA+ populations, communities of color, and those experiencing homelessness, substance misuse, and/or severe mental illness;
Working knowledge of, and experience engaging and assisting individuals with chronic/complex medical conditions such as HIV, HCV, serious mental illness, and substance use disorder, to access/navigate health care as well as other needed services;
Experience with the Following Highly Preferred
Knowledge of Medicaid, Housing First and Harm-Reduction strategies, Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered and Trauma Informed Care, Crisis Intervention & Prevention strategies;
Proactive thinker that is good at developing “out-of-the-box” creative solutions that directly and positively impact vulnerable populations needing healthcare and social services.
Knowledge of and/or experience with North Carolina-based coordinated reentry/housing services
Cultural competence of people who use drugs and utilize syringe service programs;
Licensure/Certification:
Valid NC Driver’s License and car necessary for travel to meet with participants and attend different clinic sites and community events;
North Carolina certified Peer Support Specialist is preferred, however training can be provided as well.
Bachelor's in related health field is highly preferred
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Bilingual English/Spanish (read, write, speak) is required.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have a strong knowledge of MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word, and Internet software.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee establishes and maintains effective work relationships with co-workers and customers, maintains regular attendance, understands and carries out a variety of oral and written instructions, has knowledge of proper English usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary, has the ability to learn office principles, practices, and methods, understands filing systems, including numerical, alphabetical, and chronological, learns a variety of procedures, policies, and services of the assigned work unit or program, performs assigned duties with efficiency and accuracy and maintains confidentiality. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Salary range: 45-50k
All full-time positions come with a generous benefit package.
Please submit a CV and resume, along with any other questions to: qchr@preventionservices.org
QCHR is a program of Center for Prevention Services (CPS). CPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, from the LGBTQI community, and individuals who have lived experience with drug use, sex work, HIV, HCV, and incarceration are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are comfortable, please include information about your lived experience in the cover letter.
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Resource and Linkage Specialist
Reports to : Division Director
Department : Queen City Harm Reduction
MISSION
Center for Prevention Services and Queen City Harm Reduction promote health and resilience through evidence-based harm reduction and prevention strategies. We are dedicated to addressing stigma and the harms associated with drug use, justice involvement, homelessness, sex work, mental health, and other intersecting conditions through the physical practice of harm reduction and syringe access, as well as local and statewide education and advocacy efforts.
JOB SUMMARY
This position will provide high quality, low threshold Peer Support Services (PSS) to Queen City Harm Reduction program members enrolled in the syringe service program (SSP) and who engage in a variety of programming QCHR offers. Specifically, this role is responsible to navigating available resources that support the unique and complex need of program participants and will provide warm hand-offs to healthcare and social support services. Using a person-first approach, the PSS will be a liaison between the outreach staff, testing team, and housing first units to best support linkage to essential support services and appointments for program members. Candidates must understand the basics of Harm Reduction and its compassionate and culturally competent philosophy that is sensitive to the challenges people who use drugs experience. This job employs a flexible approach to assist people in their transition from adverse and often unsheltered environments to various housing, social, and healthcare supports.
This position will engage with healthcare and carceral institutions, case managers, coordinated entry systems, treatment providers, and outreach specialists to develop and implement innovative, evidence-based strategies that address the unique needs of people who use drugs who are experiencing homelessness, justice-involvement, sex work, and/or unstable housing conditions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Training in Critical Time Intervention for rapid rehousing (unless candidate is already CTI certified)
Support linkage navigation and warm hand offs for program members;
Aid SSP outreach and housing first staff with voluntary intakes processes;
Support the administrative needs of all unit supervisors; This includes but is not limited to data input, navigating community resources and coordinated reentry systems, and organizing case management documents.
Empower and educate participants on SSP policy, primary health, sexual health and prevention, job training and/or employment opportunities, nutrition and other tertiary supports that help maintain overall wellbeing.
Create resources guides and flyers that support program members and staff with locations for referrals and education.
Search for available housing inventory within catchment area.
Support survey dissemination to effectively capture the experience of program participants.
Support recruitment and coordination for housing first participants who are exiting the CTI program.
Support community-based trainings on harm reduction, drug user cultural competency, tenant rights, and housing for people who use drugs;
Assist participants in establishing benefits, linkage to primary care and other healthcare needs, locating employment and/or educational opportunities, obtaining basic needs such as clothing and food, and building the skills and mindset needed to successfully navigate healthcare and social service systems;
Attend staff meetings, case conferences, team meetings, and training courses as required or assigned;
Attend outreach events and health fairs. This requires weekend availability at least 3 times per year.
Other duties may be assigned or may be modified as business needs dictate.
Responsibility to Team:
Actively support assigned team/department by participating in and supporting all team/departmental initiatives, proactively communicating with supervision, meeting assigned goals and objectives, and committing to embracing process improvement initiatives.
Responsibility to Organization:
Actively support Center for Prevention Services and Queen City Harm Reduction by consistently meeting agency mission as well as the philosophy and strategies of Harm Reduction and Environmental Prevention; modeling positive interactions with program members, staff, and community; keeping informed of internal (e.g., policies and procedures) and external (e.g., legal or political matters) which may affect business.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education & Experience Required
3-5 years of experience in harm reduction, prevention, and recovery-oriented spaces.
Comfortable working with diverse and vulnerable populations, including formerly incarcerated individuals, undocumented individuals, LGBTQIA+ populations, communities of color, and those experiencing homelessness, substance misuse, and/or severe mental illness;
Working knowledge of, and experience engaging and assisting individuals with chronic/complex medical conditions such as HIV, HCV, serious mental illness, and substance use disorder, to access/navigate health care as well as other needed services;
Experience with the Following Highly Preferred
Knowledge of Medicaid, Housing First and Harm-Reduction strategies, Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered and Trauma Informed Care, Crisis Intervention & Prevention strategies;
Proactive thinker that is good at developing “out-of-the-box” creative solutions that directly and positively impact vulnerable populations needing healthcare and social services.
Knowledge of and/or experience with North Carolina-based coordinated reentry/housing services
Cultural competence of people who use drugs and utilize syringe service programs;
Licensure/Certification:
Valid NC Driver’s License and car necessary for travel to meet with participants and attend different clinic sites and community events;
North Carolina certified Peer Support Specialist is preferred, however training can be provided as well.
Bachelor's in related health field is highly preferred
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Bilingual English/Spanish (read, write, speak) is required.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have a strong knowledge of MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word, and Internet software.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee establishes and maintains effective work relationships with co-workers and customers, maintains regular attendance, understands and carries out a variety of oral and written instructions, has knowledge of proper English usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary, has the ability to learn office principles, practices, and methods, understands filing systems, including numerical, alphabetical, and chronological, learns a variety of procedures, policies, and services of the assigned work unit or program, performs assigned duties with efficiency and accuracy and maintains confidentiality. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Salary range: 45-50k
All full-time positions come with a generous benefit package.
Please submit a CV and resume, along with any other questions to: qchr@preventionservices.org
QCHR is a program of Center for Prevention Services (CPS). CPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, from the LGBTQI community, and individuals who have lived experience with drug use, sex work, HIV, HCV, and incarceration are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are comfortable, please include information about your lived experience in the cover letter.
#J-18808-Ljbffr