Peer Navigator - Hrm Grant/Health Promoter

Overview:

This position is primarily responsible for conducting targeted outreach, case finding and case management as well as co-facilitating specific individual and group level health education for the NYCDOH - Public Health Solution Harm Reduction Services program.

• Conduct engagement activities that include face-to-face with high-risk persons in their own neighborhoods or venues where they typically congregate to provide awareness and linkage to treatment and harm reduction services.
• Identify individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for the Harm Reduction or PrEP/PEP programs. The case finding includes conducting event-based outreach in venues – such as piers, parks, drop-in centers, and other locations – where target population is known to reside or congregate.
• Provide assistance with setting up initial appointment and assistance with following-up with their appointments. This will be accomplished when upon scheduling an appointment with the Harm Reduction program, a client is given appointment details (preferably in writing) specifying the appointment date, time, and clinician/Patient Navigator contact information. 
• Make phone calls to remind clients and/or families of upcoming appointments.
• Accompany clients to their HIV primary care and supportive service appointments, as agreed upon by the client such as appointments with internal and external providers in order to ensure appropriate accommodation for specific needs and other limitations. Accompaniment can also include assistance in entering and leaving the facility for clients with limitations in independent access; appointments for clients who have difficulty adhering to appointments; and who may need to be re-engaged in care;  and provision of emotional support before and during a visit (if agreed upon by client).
• Provide assistance directly to and/or on behalf of the client to facilitate access to services including primary medical care, social services, housing, entitlements and benefits. This may include assisting with any necessary paperwork, compiling eligibility documentation required by other service providers, and other tasks required to connect the client to needed services.
• Conduct outreach for client re-engagement when the client misses an appointment with the harm reduction program or an external provider (e.g. medical, social service), or fails to adhere to any part of the harm reduction treatment plan.
• Conduct one or more of the following planned activities in an effort to re-engage the client: home visit, phone call or text messages, email or letter follow-up.
• Conduct individual, group and family overdose prevention education and training, including risk reduction, assessment, response, and reversal, dispensing naloxone (Narcan).
• Conduct Biomedical Counseling with client’s partners to provide them with information and referrals for PEP and PrEP as a way of helping sero-discordant couples reduce their risk for acquisition of HIV.
• Will attend required, necessary trainings, in-services and conduct other Case Management duties as assigned.
• Perform other duties as required by Program Director.

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required.

Experience:

• Minimum one (1) year documented experience conducting Peer harm reduction services or in lieu of working experience, direct lived experience of successfully accessing harm reduction and/or HIV services.
• Updated Knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and harm reduction information.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Bilingual preferred.
• Computer Literacy required.
• Good communication and writing skills.
• Good organization skills and the ability to work independently as well as with a team.

Physical Requirements:

• Involves standing, walking, sitting, talking, hearing and bending.
• Involves transporting patients, material, or equipment, or lifting, moving, or carrying heavy (over 30 lbs.) materials for intermittent periods throughout the day.
• Work may require evening, night, holiday, or weekend assignments on occasion.
• Occupational risks include cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals, injuries from falls, or back injury sustained with assisting in moving/lifting/positioning patients, equipment or materials.
• OSHA Category II – no high-risk procedures, no procedures to obtain or process body fluids / minimum anticipated exposure. Work does not involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissue, but may require performing unplanned exposure tasks.
• Position may require the use of safety equipment, such as HEPA mask, for infection prevention.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions without compromising patient care.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of Interfaith Medical Center.

IMC is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of Interfaith Medical Center.

IMC is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.