Job | Behavioral Health Specialist (HIV, Hepatitis): Harlem United

Behavioral Health Specialist (HIV, Hepatitis)

Full Post: http://www.idealist.org/view/job/KJznM5ND3dw4/

Under the umbrella of the Recovery Support Services program, this position provides an opportunity to work with a SAMSHA funded program that offers an array of substance abuse screenings, assessments, group and individual counseling sessions, integrated testing services, case management, referrals, and care coordination. Clients will work in collaboration with staff to develop appropriate individualized recovery plans that draw on clients’ strengths, desires and needs. Harlem United will ensure that services are stage-appropriate, will continue to monitor clients’ progress and remain flexible and be able to adapt to the needs of individuals.

The primary purpose of the Targeted Capacity Expansion Program is to facilitate the development and expansion of culturally competent and effective community-based treatment systems for substance use and co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders within racial and ethnic minority communities that have highest HIV prevalence rates. The program aims to reduce the impact of behavioral health problems, reduce HIV risk and incidence, and increase access to treatment for individuals with co-occurring behavioral health, HIV, and Hepatitis conditions.

Education and Certification Requirements

Masters Degree from an accredited school of Social Work or Masters in Counseling for Mental Health with a current C.A.S.A.C. certification and/or substance abuse experience is preferred. Knowledge and experience with substance abuse treatment with city and state service agencies, as well as, local policies of NYC affecting people living with AIDS and the services that serve them. Candidate should have experience facilitating support and risk-reduction counseling groups, and a broad knowledge base about work with active injection and other drug users and other multiple-problem clients; substance abuse knowledge and knowledge of and respect for the harm reduction model and its principals are essential. Bi-lingual (English-Spanish) a plus.

Essential Job Functions

The following duties are mandatory requirements of the job:

• Perform comprehensive substance abuse assessments at one of the agency’s service sites or in a more non-traditional setting, such as at a Single Room Occupancy facility (SRO) for people at risk for HIV/AIDS, who are often struggling with substance abuse and/or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders
• Complete psychosocials and Individualized Recovery Plans (IRPs)
• Facilitate a series of groups geared to the Pre-Contemplation and Contemplation stages of the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change. The groups will promote peer support for reducing drug use, entering and completing substance abuse treatment, and managing co-occurring disorders.
• Facilitate individual-level sessions with a focus on recovery support coaching with participants with co-occurring issues such as mental illness, substance use and HIV risk behavior factors.
• Refer clients to substance use treatment, as appropriate
• Effectively screen and enroll clients into the SAMHSA’s GPRA health study (comprised of two interviews) as well as conduct follow-up field visits to ensure that those clients, many of whom may have become disengaged from services, complete a 2^nd GPRA interview 6 months later.
• Maintain a familiarity with licensed treatment programs in New York City that cover a wide variety of treatment modalities, types of drugs targeted, service intensities, specialty services, strengths and special programs geared towards particular demographic or cultural subpopulations.

The following duties are mandatory requirements of the job: Outreach

• Travel to conduct outreach services throughout the NYC boroughs, as needed, with the goals to:

1. Network with community-based agencies to build successful collaborative partnerships;
2. Conduct presentations with the goal to expand the collaborative branch of the program; and
3. Enroll potential clients into program.

• Assist in the agency’s continuum of linkage to services model, as appropriate

1. Escort clients to services, as appropriate
2. Make referrals, as appropriate
3. Connect clients to supportive services
4. Conduct follow-up engagements to ensure that clients have accessed services
5. Maintain knowledge of any changing insurance trends that may impact a client’s access to services.

Other Responsibilities

The following duties are to be performed as assigned by the supervisor:

• Attend data driven and clinical supervision, as well as departmental, divisional and staff meetings
• Ensure files are up to date and accurate
• Flexibility required, must be willing to flex schedule to work evenings and/or weekends on an as needed basis

Special Skills and Knowledge

In addition to the above-listed job responsibilities and educational requirements, the ideal candidate for this position possesses the following:

• Bilingual (Spanish and English) with proven capacity to speak and write in Spanish;
• Must enjoy working in the field and manage changing situations;
• Proven background in working with disadvantaged communities;
• Highly knowledgeable in the areas of HIV, substance use, and co-occurring disorders;
• Creative skills and have a Make-It-Work attitude; and
• Highly knowledgeable in using the technology tools to develop the scope of the program and to locate individuals, as needed.

• Familiarity with the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change/Stages of Change.

How to apply