Trauma-Informed Social Worker for Harm Reduction

New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition in New Brunswick, NJ, is seeking a full-time Social Worker to strengthen care coordination across our Harm Reduction Centers. The role emphasizes trauma-informed, client-centered support, crisis response, and referrals to health, housing, and social services.

You will build partnerships with local clinics, shelters, and community organizations, delivering compassionate, non-judgmental care to people who use drugs.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care coordination & crisis response (45%)
• Conduct comprehensive intake and ongoing assessments of Middlesex HRC members' health, housing, behavioral health, infectious disease, and social service needs, as needed
• Provide lighter-touch care coordination and referral support for Statewide HRC members, connecting remote and mail-based participants to services and resources across New Jersey, as needed
• Respond to crises and provide linkage support for members across both programs, including de-escalation, safety planning, and connection to emergency and ongoing services
• Work closely with Harm Reduction Specialists to make warm handoffs and navigate participants to HIV/HCV testing and treatment, wound care, MOUD providers, mental health counseling, primary care, shelters, legal aid, social services, and benefits
• Provide follow-up and retention support, including appointment reminders, accompaniment to appointments when requested, and ongoing engagement for high-barrier participants
• Deliver on-site harm reduction counseling that reinforces safer-use education, overdose prevention strategies, and participant-defined goals
• Participate in care planning with NJHRC staff and external partners to ensure coordinated, participant-centered care plans
• Build & maintain community partnerships (20%)
• Develop and sustain a robust referral network across healthcare, housing, behavioral health, legal aid, social services, and community organizations-locally and statewide
• Establish and maintain formal and informal partnerships with FQHCs, MOUD prescribers, hospital systems, shelters, warming centers, mental health providers, legal aid organizations, and reentry programs
• Cultivate relationships with nontraditional partner

Job description

New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition in New Brunswick, NJ, is seeking a full-time Social Worker to strengthen care coordination across our Harm Reduction Centers. The role emphasizes trauma-informed, client-centered support, crisis response, and referrals to health, housing, and social services.

You will build partnerships with local clinics, shelters, and community organizations, delivering compassionate, non-judgmental care to people who use drugs.