Program Specialist II - Clinical Programs (HIV, HCV, STI & SUD)

Position Summary:

The Clinical Program Specialist II (HIV, HCV, STI, & SUD) serves as an experienced direct care, navigation, harm reduction, and outreach lead within Roots’ Clinical Programs department. Representing Roots Community Health Center, this role blends clinical program support, patient outreach, care coordination, and health education focused on high-priority infectious diseases and behavioral health conditions, including HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

As a Level II specialist, the incumbent manages larger patient panels, provides non-judgmental navigation across the full continuum of care, and leads field-based outreach initiatives targeted at eliminating health disparities in underserved, low-income, and unsheltered communities.

Essential Functions:

Direct Care Coordination & Patient Navigation

• Serve as a direct liaison between patients and Roots' Clinical Programs, facilitating seamless recruitment, enrollment, intake, and longitudinal care retention for HIV, HCV, STI, and SUD programs.
• Manage and track large client panel lists, using prioritization skills to schedule and confirm program initiation, clinical linkage, specialist referrals, and routine follow-up visits.
• Conduct patient intakes and comprehensive assessments (both in-person and via phone), connecting patients to Patient Services for public benefit enrollment (e.g., Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS) and social support needs.
• Assist patients in understanding disease management concepts and treatment protocols for HIV (PrEP/PEP and ART adherence), HCV curative therapies, STI screening/treatment, and SUD support (including Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) linkage).
• Partner closely with internal navigation teams, medical providers, behavioral health specialists, and clinic staff to ensure an uninterrupted continuum of care and share patient progress updates.

Outreach, Harm Reduction, & Community Engagement

• Conduct targeted phone outreach and clinic "in-reach" to existing patients to build awareness and engagement in HIV, HCV, STI, and SUD screening and treatment services.
• Lead field and street-based outreach to engage hard-to-reach populations, including individuals living in encampments, shelters, or temporary housing, distributing harm reduction education and supplies as appropriate.
• Represent Roots as an instrumental lead during weekend and evening community outreach events, managing on-site logistics, confidential health screenings, and harm-reduction education.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with local Emergency Departments, syringe service programs, Community-Based Organizations, and substance use recovery providers to streamline external patient referrals.

Documentation, Data & Program Support

• Maintain up-to-date, highly accurate records of all patient encounters, referrals, testing results, and outreach activities across Electronic Health Record systems and specialized tracking databases.
• Ensure strict adherence to HIPAA compliance and patient privacy standards across all interactions and data entries.
• Assist program leadership in tracking program and contract deliverables tied to HIV, HCV, STI, and SUD grant funding streams, identifying operational bottlenecks or data collection gaps.
• Meet regularly with Program Coordinators and Managers for panel reviews, workflow planning, and program strategy development.

Education & Certification Requirements

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required. Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, or a related field preferred.
• Certification: Completion of an accredited Community Health Worker certification program (or willingness to complete within 6 months of hire). Certified HIV/HCV Counselor or Harm Reduction Specialist certification preferred.
• Lived Experience: Lived experience within or a strong connection to the communities served by Roots Community Health.

Preferred Qualifications & Work Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience in community health, harm reduction, social services, patient navigation, or public health programs (preferably within a non-profit organization or community clinic).
• Experience working directly with high-priority clinical conditions and populations, including HIV/STIs, Hepatitis C, substance use, harm reduction frameworks, and Medications for Addiction Treatment.
• Demonstrated background in conducting field/street outreach and collaborating with multidisciplinary clinical teams.

Core Competencies

• Non-Judgmental Advocacy: Ability to discuss stigmatized health topics (HIV, STIs, harm reduction, substance use, sex work) empathetically and without bias or stigma.
• Cross-Cultural Competency: Strong ability to connect respectfully with diverse populations, including low-income individuals, unsheltered communities, people who use drugs (PWUD), LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience navigating Electronic Medical Record systems, client tracking spreadsheets, and G-Suite/Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Organizational Skills: Excellent time management skills with the ability to balance client case management, panel prioritization, and event planning.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends for outreach activities.
• Driver’s License: Valid California Driver’s License with a safe driving record (or ability to obtain).

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Frequent standing, walking, stair climbing, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Gross and fine manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment and keyboards.
• Ability to work both indoors within a clinic environment and outdoors during street-based outreach or community events.