Organization Overview: VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among people affected by HIV/AIDS, homelessness, mass incarceration and the war on drugs. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, direct services, policy advocacy and direct action with the belief that true social change must come from the bottom up and be lead by those most directly impacted. VOCAL-NY provides onsite and peer-based syringe exchange, overdose prevention, hepatitis C testing and linkage, health education and other services for people who use drugs. Services are provided in a low-threshold, nonjudgmental and culturally relevant manner.
Position: The Care Coordinator will work on a new 5 year project funded by the New York State Department of Health. The VOCAL+SINAI Cures Project will employ core principles of harm reduction and combine the expertise of VOCAL-NY and Mount Sinai Hospital. VOCAL+SINAI Cures will implement a peer-driven, community outreach model in Brooklyn to screen, link to care, and cure people who inject drugs (PWID) of hepatitis C (HCV), as well as treat opioid use disorder, at VOCAL-NY through low-threshold onsite and telemedicine care, health promotion, and care coordination. The Care Coordinator is responsible for providing intake, assessment, referrals, and ongoing care coordination for participants of VOCAL-NY. To build support for harm reduction in Brooklyn, the Care Coordinator will also be responsible for connecting with local service providers to strengthen partnerships and bi-directional referrals to ensure a full menu of services are available to the Brooklyn community of people who use drugs (PWUDs).
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (but are not limited to):
- Establishes vital patient data according to specified patient treatment. May include performing electrocardiograms, recording patient height, weight and vital signs, draws blood, test urine dip stick and the like.
- Assists physicians conducting telemedicine visits with patient.
- Registers patients by recording medical and insurance information.
- Lead all efforts related to improving access both onsite and offsite services for participants of VOCAL-NY through ongoing assessment and development of wellness plans; this includes but is not limited to intake, assessment, referrals, in-person advocacy, maintenance of records, and ongoing coordination as part of a services team.
- Conduct intakes and assessments for participants who are eligible for care coordination services, including reviewing the role of the care coordinator, scope of services available onsite, initial wellness plans and goals, and long-term goals using a participant-centered approach.
- Provide health education that is relevant to the participant, including HIV and hepatitis C prevention education, safer injection and safer drug use practices, overdose prevention, money management, communication skills, and other topics.
- Provide referrals to services that are not available onsite, including but not limited to housing placement, drug treatment, medical, mental health, employment readiness, re-entry, support groups, HIV and/or hepatitis C treatment programs, and other services upon request.
- Provide audit-worthy records of all participant care coordination encounters, including both paper-based and electronic records, in a manner that promotes clarity and communication of participant needs and service plans.
- Works in tandem with the Data Associate to ensure timely and accurate data entry for services provided on-site.
- Support office-based syringe exchange, health services & drop-in center activities. Syringe exchange services include conducting program intake, individual risk assessment sessions, supportive counseling, safer injection education, safer sex education, safer disposal education and resources, know-your-rights, services overview, internal and external referrals, and ongoing onsite support for people who use drugs. Drop-in center activities may include supporting team members in scheduled group sessions, monitoring the space for safety, preparation and close down procedures, and impromptu educational sessions.
- Attend trainings as needed to improve skills and knowledge.
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:
- Understanding of and commitment to basic harm reduction theory and practice
- A bachelor’s degree
- A minimum of three (3) years of experience providing care coordination services to people who use drugs (PWUDs)
- Experience providing prevention education and safer drug use strategies and education strongly preferred
- Experienced phlebotomist
- Experience as medical office assistant a plus
- Familiarity with service providers and/or connection with people who use drugs in Brooklyn a plus
- Completion of NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute training for SEP workers and volunteers (if not already completed, must complete within first 90 days)
- Excellent oral communication, writing, and listening skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to complete required documentation
- Willingness to attend additional in-house and external trainings
- Proficient in applications including Outlook, Google, Microsoft Office
- Experience with AIRS, electronic health records (EHR), eSHARE, state-based reporting a plus.
More information here.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and résumé to jobs@vocal-ny.org. In the subject line, please put “Care Coordinator [Your Name]”. No phone calls please.
The position will remain open until filled.
Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted
Last Updated on July 31, 2019 by HepFree NYC
