Sexual Health Navigator

ABOUT US

Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC) provides harm reduction-focused services to marginalized populations in Hawai’i, including people living with and/or affected by HIV, hepatitis, substance use, homelessness, and the transgender, LGBQ, and the Native Hawaiian communities. HHHRC bridges gaps and helps individuals access essential resources such as housing, health care, entitlements, and treatment. We foster health, wellness, and systemic change in Hawai’i and the Pacific through outreach, care services, advocacy, training, prevention, education, and capacity building.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Sexual Health Navigator is responsible for conducting outreach, risk-reduction counseling, and HIV/Hepatitis C/STI screening services and linkage to care services with focus on Persons Who Are at Risk (PWAR). This position also provides follow-up counseling and supported referrals for clients who are HIV positive and those who are at high-risk of infection to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV preventative services.

This is a permanent, full-time, non-exempt, salaried position with HHHRC located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Expected hours of work are generally between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend attendance required for agency events, night outreach, and weekend outreach.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

Reports to: HIV Program Director

Supervises: N/A

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

HIV, Hepatitis C, & STI Testing:

• Deliver HIV/Hepatitis C/STI Testing & Linkage (TL) and referral services in both office and outreach settings.
• Offer harm reduction counseling services to individuals who access TL services.
• Provide PrEP and/or health insurance navigation services to individuals who access TL services as identified.
• Conduct appropriate referrals.

PWAR Outreach:

• Engage with, and perform community outreach, with members of the Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander (NHAPI), Men who Sleep with Men (MSM) and transgender community at risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV/STI/HCV in, but not limited to, the following venues:
  1. Areas in which the target populations regularly congregate (e.g., bars, nightclubs, “cruising areas”).
  2. Internet and mobile applications utilized by the target populations (e.g., Craigslist, Grindr, Scruff, etc.).
  3. Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc.).
  4. Areas in which the HHHRC Medical Mobile Unit (MMU) is located.
• Facilitate existing HIV risk-reduction programs for the target populations to increase knowledge, and to reduce the risk, of HIV transmission in the target population:
  1. Utilize harm reduction techniques to deliver all services in a culturally appropriate manner in varied settings and at times that are suitable to the target population.
  2. The settings may include parks, beaches, bars, private homes, etc.

Other Responsibilities:

• Assist with the varying stages of design, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/HCV/STI interventions provided by HHHRC:
  1. Provide critical input as needed in the creative process of design to produce relevant, stimulating, thought provoking, and visually pleasing media for the target population.
  2. The media involved may include but is not limited to brochures, advertisements, public service announcements (PSAs), and other print and electronic materials.
  3. Remain current in in the latest HIV/STI/HCV information available from reputable and scientifically based sources.
  4. Stay abreast of the latest high impact HIV prevention strategies, especially those that are relevant to the reduction of risk of infection among the target population.
• Collaborate with other agencies, organizations, programs, etc. in Hawaiʻi to increase access to testing services, PrEP, and other HIV prevention services:
  1. Lead and facilitate meetings with outside agencies.
  2. Work in various stages of project implementation and delegate respective tasks to community members to ensure project completion.
  3. Participate as a member of the Hawaiʻi PrEP Planning Group.
• Maintain compliance with all organizational and contractual record-keeping and reporting requirements by funders of HHHRC’s services.
• Perform additional duties as needed and assigned. Duties are subject to change.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contribute to a safe, creative, enthusiastic, and cooperative working environment for all.
• Work as a team with other staff and support team members.
• Maintain appropriate professional and ethical standards while serving as a representative of HHHRC.
• Observe and comply with rules and regulations – such as HHHRC Code of Conduct, Drug-Free Workplace – and other administrative policies of HHHRC.
• Abide by all policies and procedures of the HHHRC Health & Safety Program and the Quality Management Program.
• Comply with HHHRC confidentiality policy, HIPAA requirements, cultural competencies, and rights to persons served, as well as CARF standards.
• Demonstrate steadfast understanding of, and commitment to, the Mission, Vision, and Values of HHHRC.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Office environment: indoors, air-conditioned.
• Outreach environments: outdoors, including sidewalk and off-road homeless encampments.
• Long hours sitting using office equipment and computers, which can cause muscle strain.
• Regular use of computers keyboards, telephone, and operating office equipment.
• Navigating uneven off-road paths, sometimes at an incline.
• Essential physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, finger dexterity, seeing, hearing, speaking, reaching above, at, and below shoulder, and frequent gripping of an object.
• Occasional physical activities: stooping, bending, squatting, twisting body, and lifting.
• Occasional lifting and carrying of supplies and equipment (up to 50 pounds) and walking long distances for outreach and community events, etc.
• Requires closed-toe shoes during working hours and comfortable and appropriate business-casual attire (walking shorts, and pertinent tee-shirt for scheduled activities/events of the day).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficient verbal and written communication in English.
• Expertise with mobile applications (apps) used by MSM and transgender communities.
• Proficient working and communicating in various social media platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively, both independently and as part of a team.
• Capability to comfortably engage the target population in multiple settings at various times.
• Capacity to maintain client confidentiality at all times.
• Demonstrated experience of being able to work with Hawaiʻi’s diverse populations.
• Willingness and ability to work non-traditional hours including evenings, nights, and weekends as necessary to reach the target population.
• Ability to work well and thrive professionally in an atmosphere of significant diversity, working with marginalized populations.
• Non-judgmental attitude and ability to respect the knowledge, actions, and feelings of others.

Education/Experience:

• High School degree/GED, or equivalent work experience.
• One (1) or more years of professional and/or personal experience with target populations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate degree, or undergraduate degree, in Social Work or related field.
• Extensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS and human sexuality as well as culturally appropriate educational and outreach strategies directed at the target population.
• Extensive knowledge of sexual health and harm reduction practices to reduce individual risk of HIV/STI transmission.
• Knowledge of principles of harm reduction.

REQUIRED WORK CARDS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid Hawaii Driver’s License and clean three-year (3-year) Driver’s Abstract.
• COVID-19 Vaccination
• TB Clearance
• Hep B Clearance and/or Vaccination
• Must pass Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services eligibility screening.

Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.