Outreach Worker (Health, Behavior and Society)

The Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 16,531 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Health Behavior & Society seeks an Outreach Worker to join a community‑level HIV risk-reduction program in Baltimore. The role centers on mobile unit outreach and the SPARC Center, delivering harm‑reduction services and education to female sex workers and other community members.

You will distribute Naloxone, safer drug-use supplies, condoms, and hygiene items, and help connect people to resources.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Holder may substitute education per JHU equivalency formula.

Responsibilities

• Promote SPARC Center services and events.
• Distribute Naloxone and train others on its use.
• Distribute safer drug-use and safer sex supplies; provide harm-reduction education.
• Distribute promotional items and build rapport with neighborhood associations.
• Develop rapport with sex workers and local business owners.
• Occasionally assist in the Drop-In Center and support trainings.

Skills

Outreach experience

Community engagement

Harm-reduction education

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

The Department of Health Behavior & Society is seeking an Outreach Worker to work as part of a large community-level intervention aimed at reducing HIV risk and increasing community cohesion among female sex workers in Baltimore, MD. The intervention is largely centered around providing services on a mobile unit and at a full-service drop‑in center. The Outreach Worker will be asked to conduct community outreach in groups of two or more to provide harm‑reduction services as part of the SPARC Center, which has been operating in Pig Town since the summer of 2017. In addition to providing safer injection equipment, education, overdose response training, HIV/STI testing, and harm‑reduction education, the worker will distribute drug‑use equipment, condoms, resource lists, hygiene items, clothes, snacks, and seasonal items. Prior to any community engagement, Outreach Workers will be trained to administer and distribute Naloxone and medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose of opioids (i.e., heroin, oxycontin, fentanyl), as well as trained in syringe service provision.

• Outreach activities take place in Pigtown, Mount Clare, Carrollton Ridge, Curtis Bay, and Brooklyn.
• Schedule: 4–18 hours per week. Tuesdays 11–4; Thursdays 11–4 and other outreach shifts as desired/available.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Promote the SPARC Center services and events (clinic hours, classes, support groups, etc.).
• Distribute Naloxone, train community members on its use and benefits.
• Distribute safer drug‑use supplies and safer sex supplies while providing harm‑reduction education.
• Distribute promotional items, including condoms, hand sanitizer, lip balm, wipes, etc.; attend community meetings to promote services and develop rapport with neighborhood associations.
• Build rapport with community members, including sex workers and local business owners.
• Occasionally work in the Drop‑In Center assisting with general tasks as needed.
• Potential to facilitate peer groups and trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with diverse populations, including the sex‑worker population.
• Prior interview and fieldwork experience.
• Prior experience with outreach work.