Harm Reduction Health Educator – Evening/Weekend, Bronx

Argus Community, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

BOOM!Health seeks a Health Educator to deliver street-based and office-based harm reduction services across multiple contracts in the Bronx, including drop-in center support. The role emphasizes engaging individuals at high risk, promoting self-advocacy, and linking participants to essential services.

The position involves educating on risk-reduction practices, assisting with planning, facilitating groups, and supporting clients through navigation of BOOM!Health programs.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in harm reduction, syringe exchange, and/or social justice as it relates to people who use drugs.
• Personal experience navigating supportive services for active drug users preferred.
• Work or lived experience in substance use, HIV, and HCV prevention strongly desired.
• Knowledge of Bronx and East Harlem IDU/substance use communities and related service providers preferred.
• Strong organizational skills, self-motivation, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability and willingness to be hands-on, address issues as they arise, and contribute to problem solving.
• Commitment to harm reduction principles and to working with low-income individuals who use drugs, engage in sex work, and/or belong to other marginalized communities.
• Dedication to advancing equal rights and social justice through advocacy, community engagement, and civic participation.
• Willingness and ability to work outdoors at street-based sites approximately 20% of the time; schedule may vary.

Responsibilities

• Represent the agency to all individuals seeking services at storefront offices and mobile sites.
• Efficiently assess participant needs and link them with the appropriate staff or services.
• Recruit potential participants through street outreach, low-threshold risk-reduction education, networking, and targeted marketing.
• Provide substance use and sexual risk assessments in alignment with harm reduction principles, and discuss individualized risk-reduction strategies, including safer injection, safer sex, overdose prevention, HIV/HCV, buprenorphine, and other topics relevant to people who use drugs.
• Collaboratively identify participant needs, assist in goal setting, develop action plans, and connect participants to services that support those goals.
• Provide concrete case management services, including referrals for public assistance, food/shelter, medical care, transportation, mental health, and substance use services.
• Provide HIV and Hepatitis C counseling, testing, and linkage to care upon participant request.
• Serve as an advocate, translator, and educator to help participants effectively navigate community services; escort participants as needed.
• Monitor and coordinate participant progress through BOOM!Health programs and external providers; develop ongoing action plans, track outcomes, and ensure adequate support.
• Facilitate participant-centered interventions, workshops, and groups, including crisis management, risk reduction, treatment readiness, overdose prevention, HIV health and medication management, and other educational or support groups.
• Monitor the drop-in center and other work areas to ensure participant satisfaction; answer phones, take messages, distribute transportation reimbursements, replenish supplies, and provide clerical support as needed.
• Proactively stay informed about emerging developments in harm reduction and collaborate with colleagues to share best practices.
• Work with program management to build and maintain positive relationships with community agencies; gather and track participant feedback to ensure referrals align with BOOM!Health’s mission and quality standards.
• Maintain an updated resource directory for referrals, including clear information on access and eligibility.
• Collect, compile, and submit all data required for program evaluation and grant reporting
• Maintain accurate and detailed participant records.
• Assist with street-site/mobile office setup and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

harm reduction

syringe exchange

social justice

team player

organizational skills

interpersonal skills

communication skills

hands-on

problem solving

outdoor work

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

BOOM!Health seeks a Health Educator to deliver street-based and office-based harm reduction services across multiple contracts in the Bronx, including drop-in center support. The role emphasizes engaging individuals at high risk, promoting self-advocacy, and linking participants to essential services.

The position involves educating on risk-reduction practices, assisting with planning, facilitating groups, and supporting clients through navigation of BOOM!Health programs.