Organizational Description: VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among people affected by HIV and hepatitis C, mass incarceration and the war on drugs. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, participatory research, 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.
Position Description: The part-time Hepatitis C Peer Navigator will provide harm reduction services, including patient navigation, for people at risk or living with hepatitis C both onsite at our office and through outreach in Brooklyn. This position will work for approximately 15 hours per week, with potential for growth.
VOCAL-NY provides onsite and peer-based syringe exchange, overdose prevention, hepatitis C and HIV education, drug treatment education and other services for active and former drug users. Services are provided in a low-threshold, nonjudgmental and culturally relevant manner.
The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of harm reduction and past experience providing low-threshold services to active drug users, a commitment to building power among low-income people who use drugs to fight for social justice, and be bilingual Spanish-English.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (but are not limited to):
- Outreach: Conduct regular outreach targeted at reaching at least 100 people at risk for or living with hepatitis C. Outreach activities will include HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C prevention education, distribution of safer sex kits, overdose prevention education, drug treatment education, and provision of referrals.
- Patient Navigation: Refer and escort, as needed, those at risk for hepatitis C to testing. Refer those who test positive to treatment & care. Escorts may also be required for these appointments.
- Hepatitis C (HCV) Testing: Preform rapid antibody and confirmatory testing for hepatitis C virus in accordance with standard operating procedures.
- Data collection: Maintain accurate documentation of program activities.
- Trainings: Attend trainings as needed to improve skills and knowledge. Attend monthly “Hep C Peer Navigation Team Meetings” organized by the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.
REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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 and listening skills.
- Excellent organizational skills, particularly data management and managing testing supplies, as well as ability to work in a sometimes chaotic environment.
- Ability to complete required documentation.
- Understanding of and commitment to basic harm reduction theory and practice.
- Willingness to attend additional in-house and external trainings.
- Previous experience providing harm reduction services via street and/or site-based outreach strongly preferred.
- Previous experience providing prevention education and safer substance use strategies and education strongly preferred.
- Phlebotomy certification preferred, but not required.
- Strong computer skills, including ability to use Excel and Word.
VOCAL-NY is an equal opportunity employer. People with a history of drug use, women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people living with HIV/AIDS are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit our website at www.vocal-ny.org.
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
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