Harm Reduction Health Educator

The Health Educator educates about Harm Reduction, care, and prevention services for at-risk populations throughout Arapahoe County's Public Health service area. This hands-on position is driven to make a difference in people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and syringe-dependent/drug addicted communities by meeting clients where they are to conduct disease and harm-reduction testing and providing support without bias.
NOTE:
The Health Educator salary range is $25.20 to 37.81 per hour.
The Senior Health Educator salary range is $28.33 to $42.33 per hour.Health Educator

• Meets patients in the field, directly interface with specific communities and people experiencing homelessness, drug use, and mental health challenges, listen and understand needs, educates clients to reduce harms of drug use, Hep C and HIV.
• Provide clients linkages to care and prevention services, including no-cost medications, emergency financial assistance, housing, and/or food.
• Proficiently serve as program educator internal and external customers. Provides training and presentations to community groups and individuals.
• Screens, tests, and provides counseling, education, outreach, and Harm Reduction/opioid overdose prevention for specific disease and illness related clients.
• Uses empathy to relate to population and their specific demographics and situations. Maintains client confidentiality.
• Proficiently addresses and remediates client personal harm by providing programs that address syringe use.
• Educates clients on proper syringe use and needle return programs.
• Maintains an accurate accounting of all outreach activities performed.
• Participates in HIV STI Prevention and Outreach Program outreach activities and client special events, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Distributes condoms and other safe sex/use materials and maintains distribution logs.
• Provides administrative support as assigned for the Program. Handles confidential matters and collects information as requested for the use of the Program staff. Filing, typing, and answering phones in support of daily Program functions. Maintains files and records.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases.
• Maintains temperature control logs for test kits, controls and labs.

Senior Health Educator - in addition to the duties of the Health Educator, the Sr. Health Educator will:

• Monitor inventory and order supplies.
• Develop and lead training of Arapahoe County staff and community agencies.
• Create agendas and lead team meetings.
• Review data entry and performs quality assurance audits.
• Serve as a program liaison to individuals, related agencies and providers, and community groups, seeking HIV/STI/Hepatitis C Prevention services, which requires thorough knowledge of program services, policies and procedures, and applicable laws.
• Conduct necessary research to respond to inquiries.
• Help manage the program website, social media, and newsletter activities.
• Assist Supervisor in creating and updating training plans and help with new staff orientation.

Emergency Preparedness and Response:

• Responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents, and events. Employee participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness and response, as required. Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee and initiates corrective actions and responses pursuant to Federal, State, and Local laws, statutes, and regulations.
• Skills, Abilities and Competencies:
• Proficiency in basic medical equipment, field testing equipment human samples, personal protective equipment, and computer skills.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to provide scientifically supported, data-driven, educational, persuasive presentations and documents for internal and external audiences.
• Ability to utilize appropriate methods for interacting sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyle preferences.
• Ability to maintain productivity standards and practice effective time management and prioritization of tasks, as well as manage resources (time, materials, staff) in a cost-effective manner.
• Ability to see, hear and respect diverse perspectives in work groups and collaborative efforts.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):
Accountability
Accessibility
Inclusivity
IntegrityEducation and Experience:
Health Educator

• Bachelor's degree in public health, nursing, social work, or a related field
• 0-2 years of public health experience and/or experience working with underserved communities.
• Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job will be considered.

Senior Health Educator

• Bachelor's degree in public health, nursing, social work, or a related field
• 2+ years of public health experience and/or experience working with underserved communities.
• Current phlebotomy certification
• Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job will be considered.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish.

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
• This position requires reliable transportation to travel to locations throughout the Metro Denver area on an as-needed basis.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is primarily conducted in community settings and outdoor elements, with travel to other locations or outside agencies to provide program services or attend meetings. Continuously works closely with co-workers and clients.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Spends 60% of the time sitting and 40% of the time either upright or walking.
• Frequently lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 50 lbs.
• Frequently climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Below, please list any special physical demands associated with this position. For instance, exposure to hazardous environments, blood borne pathogens, extreme heat/cold, use of power equipment or machinery, wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment).
Must demonstrate proficiency in using basic medical equipment, field testing equipment, human samples, and PPE.
Definitions:
Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.
Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (i.e. uploading or attaching documents to your online application), call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627. Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt uploading (attaching) it.Employment Type: Full-time