Community Support Services - Harm Reduction Specialist

Established in 1980, the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Inc. (GLFHC) is a multi-site, mission-driven, non-profit organization employing over 700 staff whose primary focus is providing the highest quality patient care to a culturally diverse population throughout the Merrimack Valley. Nationally recognized as a leader in community medicine (family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, and geriatrics), GLFHC has clinical sites in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill and is the sponsoring organization for the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency program.

GLFHC is currently seeking a bilingual Community Support Services Harm Reduction Specialist to join our HIV and Infectious Disease Prevention Team. The Harm Reduction Specialist will provide an array of onsite and community (mobile) based harm reduction and screening services including but not limited to street and venue based outreach, prevention, counseling, integrated screening and linkage services to groups identified at highest risk for HIV/AIDS, STI’s, Viral Hepatitis and latent tuberculosis as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Services (BIDLS). The Harm Reduction Specialist will be phlebotomy trained or receive training in the first 18 months of employment in order to provide confidential screening services for HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Latent Tuberculosis. This position will recruit, screen and link individuals who test positive with HIV, HCV, STI’s, and/or TB results and/or at high risk for HIV, HCV, STI, or TB to appropriate levels of care, treatment, and supportive services through short term care coordination and navigation.  The Harm Reduction Specialist will also provide overdose education and prevention, Narcan enrollment and Syringe Services (distribution of sterile injection equipment and syringe pick-up). Some evenings and weekends required.

• Assesses clients’ risk factors including sexual and substance use behaviors.


• Conducts HIV/STI/viral Hepatitis counseling and screening sessions both in individual and group settings in an appropriate cultural and linguistic manner. This includes pre and post-test counseling and health education regarding HIV/STI/HCV infections, transmission, testing, treatment and prevention.


• Assists in the preparation and giving of test results and documents test result delivery.


• Assists and educate clients in the development of a risk reduction plan and distributes all appropriate harm reduction materials such as condoms, bleach kits and syringes, safe disposal containers and harm reduction materials both onsite and community based.


• Collects specimens via venous blood draw and /or urine specimen for HIV/STI/HCV and coordinates transport to the State Laboratory for processing. Conduct mobile phlebotomy during venue based outreach.


• Provide low threshold interventions to active substance users and drug users (IDUs) and coordinates detoxification services.


• Follows established GLFHC and MDPH protocols including but not limited to safe handling, storing and disposal of syringes.


• Collects from clients used injecting and smoking equipment from clients and in the community and safely and appropriately disposes of them.


• Completes daily, weekly or monthly paperwork. Assists Supervisor and Coordinator with gathering, counting and writing data needed for submission of reports to funders on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis (or as needed).

Qualifications

Skills and Abilities

• Certified phlebotomist or willing to become trained within 18 months of employment


• Certified Application Counselor or willing to become trained within the first 6 months of employment


• Valid Massachusetts Driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.


• Takes initiative, strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, ability to follow-through; excellent communications abilities; able to work under pressure, meet inflexible deadlines, and set priorities


• Demonstrated computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word)


• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize assigned duties


• Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and well-written documentation


• This position requires evening and weekend hours.

Education

• Associates Degree in Human Services field or two years of relevant work experience.

Experience

• Experience working with priority population as mentioned above strongly preferred.


• Strong knowledge of substance use, HIV, STI’s, and HCV and its transmission and prevention and community resources


• Bilingual/bicultural (English/Spanish) preferred.

GLFHC offers a great working environment, comprehensive benefit package, growth opportunities and tuition reimbursement.