Research Program Assistant

The Department of Health, Behavior & Society is seeking a Research Program Assistant (RPA) who will do community navigation work as a part of a large mobile intervention aimed to reduce HIV and overdose risk among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Baltimore, MD. As part of the intervention, the RPA will be part of a mobile team including a nurse and a drug checking technician. They will provide specialized support and harm reduction services to clients who visit the study’s mobile van. The program will offer services including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, drug checking, and wound care. Will provide direct support to clients starting and maintaining PrEP usage or who need referrals to external services. They will conduct needs assessments, counsel clients about PrEP, help them navigate insurance or other coverage for the medication, create personalized follow-up plans, and provide ongoing support with adherence to PrEP medications, visits, and labs. Will also provide HIV testing and counseling, make healthcare and social service referrals, distribute safer drug use supplies, and distribute naloxone and train clients and community members on its use. Other responsibilities may be required as project services evolve and/or expand. All study services will be client-centered and take a harm reduction approach. RPA will undergo extensive training regarding harm reduction, PrEP, HIV testing and counseling, trauma informed care, structural barriers for PrEP adherence, naloxone administration, and other areas as needed.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Support client initiation of PrEP through needs assessments, HIV testing, counseling, insurance navigation, and planning.
• Support client adherence to PrEP through text messaging, face-to-face meetings, and phone calls and provide logistical support as needed.
• Document interactions with clients, including barriers to PrEP initiation or adherence.
• Make referrals to medical and social support services.
• Engage in harm reduction-based street outreach, promoting the program’s services, distributing promotional items, and providing harm reduction education.
• Build rapport with community members, including people who use drugs, through outreach, and attendance at community association meetings.
• Develop referral networks and maintain relationships with service providers and pharmacies in intervention areas.
• Distribute naloxone, train community members on its use and benefits.
• Organize and track inventory of project supplies on van.
• Perform blood draws/phlebotomy.

• Communicate regularly with clinical team and senior staff to provide updates and feedback.
• Other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent.
• Some related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Prior outreach work experience.
• Experience working with diverse populations including people who use drugs.
• Some college course work.

Classified Title: Research Program Assistant
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CB
Starting Salary Range: Min $15.25 - Max $23.00 HRLY ;Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday to Friday: 8:30 am – 5 pm
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt
Location: School of Public Health
Department name: HBS-Research Projects
Personnel area: School of Public Health

Total Rewards
The referenced salary range is based on Johns Hopkins University’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate’s conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Accommodation Information

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The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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