Community Health Worker - Street Outreach

Brooklyn Community Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Brooklyn Community Services is seeking a Community Health Worker for street outreach to serve unhoused individuals at high risk for HIV, Hep C and overdoses. The role uses our Shower Bus and Mobile Outreach Van to deliver education, testing, counseling, and referrals in Brooklyn.

The position requires strong English skills, documentation ability, and comfort working in community settings with vulnerable populations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• HIV/Hep C testing and counseling certification preferred.
• Valid NYS driver’s license.
• Excellent English written and verbal skills; Spanish is a plus.
• Excellent documentation skills.
• Ability to engage high-risk populations and build alliances.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, entitlements, substance use, and unhoused communities.
• Experience with AIDS Institute database (AIRS) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outreach services to clients living on the streets at high risk for HIV, Hep C and drug use.
• Provide education, counseling, testing, linkages, resources, and referrals for HIV/Hep C and substance use overdose prevention.
• Distribute high-risk prevention supplies including condoms, safer hygiene kits, first aid, overdose prevention kits, fentanyl test strips, and sterile syringes.
• Enter client data into AIRS, Apricot, and other funder mandated databases.
• Drive and maintain Shower Bus and Outreach Mobile Van operations.
• Manage a caseload of unhoused clients with multiple health needs.
• Design and implement service plans, provide follow-ups and referrals.
• Maintain case records and planning for discharge/transfer.
• Escort clients to appointments and facilitate groups/workshops.
• Participate in meetings and complete required training hours.
• Follow safety and confidentiality guidelines; respond to emergencies.

Skills

English proficiency

Documentation skills

Basic computer literacy

Spanish (preferred)

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

HIV/Hep C testing certification preferred

Tools

AIRS

Apricot

Job description

Position: Community Health Worker - Street Outreach

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Location: 132 32nd Street, Brooklyn NY 11232

Full time 35 hours per week Monday-Friday with occasional late days and weekends

Salary Range: $45,000 - $50,000

Program Summary

This program serves people who are primarily unhoused and living on the street, and engaged in behaviors that place them at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. These behaviors include unsafe sex practices and intravenous drug usage; The goal of the program is to provide them with basic needs, services, linkages and referrals, including HIV and HepC screening and testing, safer sex information, substance use services, medical resources, and other information.

Position Summary

The Community Health Worker will work in a robust outreach program that offers education, testing, counseling, basic needs, resources, and referrals in communities where people are unhoused and that are at high risk for HIV, Hep. C and drug overdoses. These services are delivered with the use of our Shower Bus and Mobile Outreach Van.

Responsibilities

• Provides program services delivery to clients that are living on the streets and that are at risk for HIV, Hep. C, drug overdoses in compliance with funders and regulatory requirements; best practices; BCS policies and Core Values; Serve as a role model to all stakeholders and clients served.
• Provide education, counseling, testing, linkages, resources, and other information on HIV, Hep. C and substance abuse overdose prevention.
• Ability to distribute high-risk prevention supplies, including female & male condoms, safer hygiene kits, first aid, opioid overdose prevention, fentanyl testing strip kits, and provision of sterile syringes.
• Enter client information into BCS and funder mandated databases (AIRS System, Apricot, etc )
• Drive and maintain the Shower Buse and Outreach Mobile Van
• Manage caseload of clients who are unhoused and high risk HIV Negative unknown with multiple psychiatric and health needs.
• Design and implement service plans for clients; provide follow-up referrals, needs assessments, advocacy, emergency interventions
• Maintenance of case records, discharge and transfer planning
• Escort clients to various appointments when needed
• Facilitate groups and workshops, including training peer advocates and volunteers
• Participate in Team and departmental meetings
• Completing required number of annual training hours.
• Follow Funder’s and our organization’s protocols for safety and confidentiality guidelines.
• Prepared to respond appropriately to emergency situations that may be encountered in the field in accordance with training received including overdoses
• Preparation, packing, and inventory of kits and program supplies.
• Plan attend and help facilitate community events
• Provide services to walk in clients as needed
• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Certification to perform HIV and Hepatitis C testing and counseling preferred
• Valid NYS Driver’s license,
• Must have excellent English written and verbal skills, additional languages preferred (Spanish)
• Excellent documentation skills
• Facility to motivate others toward achieving goals
• Ability to develop alliances with high-risk and difficult-to-engage individuals and groups
• Knowledge of community resources and counseling practices with high-risk populations
• Outstanding collaborative skills
• Navigation, intervention or counseling experience preferred
• Basic computer literacy
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, entitlements, substance abuse, and unhoused communities preferred.
• Knowledge and experience working with AIDS Institute database (AIRS) a plus

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities