Linkage to Care Specialist

AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is seeking a Linkage to Care Specialist to bridge newly diagnosed clients to medical care and services. You will be a compassionate resource, guiding individuals through the care continuum and facilitating access to testing, referrals, and support networks.

In this role, you will collaborate with testing programs, assist clients regardless of insurance status, and work with partner organizations to empower clients to take control of their health and well-being.

Qualifications

• Experience in community outreach or client service preferred.
• Ability to guide clients through care entry and referrals.
• Knowledge of HIV testing processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a friendly, helpful resource to clients newly diagnosed with HIV and not currently in care.
• Assist clients in entering medical care, accompanying them to first appointments, and making referrals to supportive services.
• Offer HIV testing to partners and friends as part of linkage to care.
• Build relationships with community agencies and partner organizations to connect clients with services.

Job description

A Linkage to Care Specialist contributes to AHF by acting as a friendly, helpful resource to clients and community partners. For clients who are newly diagnosed with HIV and/ or are not currently in care, Linkage can answer any questions regarding living with HIV and disclosure of status, facilitate entrance into medical care, accompany clients to their first few appointments, make referrals to complementary services, and offer HIV testing to partners and friends among other things.

A Linkage to Care Specialist enhances the reputation of AHF by linking individuals to care and providing compassionate and non judgemental customer service. Linkage Specialists enable AHF to be of service to the community by providing support to individuals at a critical and potentially overwhelming moment. As a part of their work with the community organizations, Linkage builds and fosters relationships with agencies that offer support services, as well as those groups whose clients would benefit from AHF services.

You will be a passionate advocate for our top initiatives.

To be successful as a Linkage to Care Specialist it is crucial to ensure that the AHF Core Values and Mission stay top of mind with all that you do. At AHF we are nimble and able to adapt in a dynamic environment to assist in providing the best experience for our clients and workplace for our employees.

AHF has a collaborative organizational structure where staff are accountable to multiple leaders.

The Linkage to Care Specalist will work as a part of a close-knit team to play an important role in the continuum of HIV care by bridging testing with medical care and other services. Working closely with testing programs, Linkage is available immediately after a reactive result to guide the client through next steps. In connection with the healthcare centers, Linkage helps clients prepare for, and get oriented to their engagement in care, regardless of insurance status. The ultimate goal of AHF’s Linkage to Care Program is to assist clients through their HIV diagnosis and empower them to be proactive in taking care of themselves and protecting others.