Overdose Prevention Educator

Community Health Action of Staten Island; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) seeks an Overdose Prevention Educator to join the Harm Reduction Services team. The Educator will provide overdose prevention education, naloxone training and distribution, harm reduction counseling, HIV/HCV testing, and linkage to supportive services through site-based, community-based, car-based, and partner-based models.

The role focuses on reaching individuals at elevated overdose risk and requires collaboration with program leadership,

Responsibilities

• Deliver overdose prevention education and naloxone administration training to participants, staff, peers, family members, community members, establishments, and partner organizations.
• Schedule and facilitate train-the-trainer sessions to increase CHASI’s internal capacity for naloxone education and distribution.
• Provide education on overdose risk reduction, signs of overdose, rescue breathing, naloxone use, and related risks.
• Provide individualized harm reduction education on safer substance use, safer injection practices, HIV/HCV/STI prevention, and safer disposal of supplies.
• Distribute naloxone, safer use supplies, syringes, fentanyl/xylazine test strips, condoms, and other harm reduction supplies per protocols.
• Conduct car-based and community-based outreach, education, counseling, and service linkage to harm reduction services.

Job description

Description

Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) drives dramatic improvements in the health of New Yorkers by feeding people who are hungry, healing families broken apart by violence, and bridging the gaps between people and the compassionate health care they deserve. CHASI serves the most vulnerable individuals, families, and communities with critical services and programs. CHASI provides outreach, education, prevention, and direct support services for populations most affected by health disparities – the poor and working poor, low income people with chronic illnesses, persons with criminal justice involvement, substance users, domestic violence survivors, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Overdose Prevention Educator is a member of CHASI’s Harm Reduction Services team and supports individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance use through a harm reduction, trauma-informed, and participant-centered approach. The Educator is responsible for providing overdose prevention education, naloxone training and distribution, harm reduction counseling, community outreach, HIV/HCV testing and referral, and linkage to supportive services. This position helps expand access to lifesaving education and supplies through site-based, community-based, car-based, and partner-based service delivery models, with a focus on reaching individuals at elevated risk of overdose and their personal and community networks.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver overdose prevention education and naloxone administration training to participants, staff, peers, family members, community members, commercial establishments, and partner organizations.
• Schedule and facilitate train-the-trainer sessions to increase CHASI’s internal capacity to provide naloxone education and distribution on demand.
• Provide education on overdose risk reduction, signs of overdose, overdose response, rescue breathing, naloxone use, fentanyl and xylazine-related risks, and post-overdose support.
• Provide individualized harm reduction education and counseling on safer substance use, safer injection practices, stimulant use risk reduction, wound care awareness, HIV/HCV/STI prevention, safer sex practices, and safer disposal of syringes and other supplies.
• Support participants in developing personalized overdose prevention and safety plans that reflect their goals, needs, risks, and readiness for services.
• Distribute naloxone, safer use supplies, syringe exchange supplies, fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips when available, sharps containers, condoms, and other harm reduction and prevention supplies in accordance with program protocols.
• Conduct car-based and community-based service delivery, including outreach, education, harm reduction counseling, naloxone training, supply distribution, service linkage, and navigation support.
• Engage individuals in high-risk areas, shelters, encampments, commercial establishments, community events, and other settings where people who use drugs and their networks may be reached.
• Collaborate with the Harm Reduction Program Director and Vice President of Behavioral Health on periodic updates to program policies, procedures, training materials, naloxone distribution practices, quality assurance processes, and service delivery workflows.
• Continue and strengthen partnerships with Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness and other community partners to provide overdose risk education, naloxone access, and harm reduction information to staff, patrons, and community members.
• Perform HIV/HCV testing, provide prevention education, and connect participants to confirmatory testing, treatment, PrEP/PEP, medical care, behavioral health services, medication for opioid use disorder, recovery supports, housing, benefits, and other supportive services as appropriate.
• Utilize peer volunteers and community ambassadors, as appropriate, to support outreach, education, naloxone distribution, syringe exchange supply distribution, and connection to harm reduction services.
• Maintain current knowledge of emerging drug trends, overdose patterns, harm reduction best practices, local service resources, and public health guidance relevant to people who use drugs.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation, tracking, and submission of naloxone distribution, fentanyl outreach, supply distribution, HIV/HCV testing, referrals, trainings, educational encounters, outreach activities, and other required data for internal performance management, regulatory compliance, and external reporting.
• Identify participant needs, service gaps, outreach trends, and barriers to care, and communicate observations to program leadership to support quality improvement and responsive service delivery.
• Attend regular and mandatory team meetings, department meetings, trainings, supervision, and funder- or contractor-facilitated provider meetings as required.
• Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s mission, vision, core values, policies, and commitment to equity, dignity, and nonjudgmental care.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

CHASI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and supporting a diverse staff. People of color, LGBTQ, women, and people with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.

Requirements

Location: 56 Bay Street, Staten Island NY 10301

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Rate:$41,600.00 - $48,000.00 annually, commensurate with qualifications; excellent comprehensive benefits package including generous paid time off benefits (4 weeks of vacation plus paid holidays, personal, sick time), medical, dental, and vision plan options, employer provided basic life insurance and employee assistance programs, tuition reimbursement and fitness reimbursement after 1 year of employment, a retirement plan that includes employer matching, and more!