Prevention Counselor

TITLE:  Prevention Counselor-FAYS

REPORTS TO:  Program Coordinator

LOCATION:  THRIVE Drop in Space

FLSA STATUS:  Non-Exempt

DEPARTMENT:  Grants-Business Operations

POSITION STATUS:  Full Time

The AIDS Institute FAYS Program is a grant funded initiative to provide low threshold and medical services to young persons aged 13-29 years old who are high risk for HIV/STI/STD infections and are in need of comprehensive medical services. The program provides testing and screenings; assessment for PrEP and PEP, referrals to behavioral health, substance use and supportive social services through our mobile primary care van and the THRIVE/Iris House Drop In Spaces.

The Prevention Counselor works under the director of the Program Coordinator and is responsible for overall health education activity of the program including, individual and group activities to teach program participants about behaviors that promote wellness and make appropriate health decisions.  The Health Educator will use various strategies and methods to facilitate health promotion and disease prevention in order to meet the needs and increase knowledge of diverse populations including but not limited to YMSM, Transgender Women, Sex Workers, those impacted by trauma and/experience violence.

Essential Functions:

• Implement and manage health education strategies, interventions and programs in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders


• Help develop, identify, implement and improve patient education material and other tools that encourage healthy decisions


• Develop and maintain health education libraries to provide resources for staff and community agencies.


• Provide educational materials to community members


• Travel to service locations as assigned


• Work with Brightpoint Health Quality Management Department to collect data to measure efficacy of health education interventions

Client Services

• Assess patient and client needs for health education, including change readiness


• Conduct health education to program participants, their families or others who provide support to the individual


• Develop and present health education and promotion programs, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.


• Disseminate health education materials/information such as social media messages, brochures and visual aids, to address youth health concerns including smoking cessation, sexual health, substance use, mental illness, domestic violence and trauma


• Plan programs to address special population health issues/concerns such as young women, LBGT youth, sex workers and homeless youth


• Document activities and record information for clients including individual and group interventions and community presentations  


• Provides HIV testing and STI/STD screening as needed

The above is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of the job.  It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all the job functions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferred, in Health Education, Community Health or Health Promotion with two years’ experience providing health education interventions to youth at risk. Associate Degree with 4 years’ experience. Master’s Degree in Public Health or Community Health can be substituted for experience.


• Good knowledge of:  public health education principles and practices to include needs assessment, information dissemination and community organization relating to common health problems; basic disease etiologies and preventive strategies


• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills