GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The Bilingual HIV Prevention Specialist I is responsible for providing HIV prevention services and education to people living with HIV and people at a high risk of acquiring and/or transmitting HIV. The Prevention Specialist specializes in ensuring HIV-negative persons who wish to access Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) obtain linkage to care, and supports clients to use PrEP properly and consistently. This person is also responsible for assisting in HIV/hepatitis C (HCV) testing, Syringe Services, Overdose Prevention, and Outreach and Education. This position reports directly to the Prevention Services Manager.
BENEFITS: Our commitment to caring for our community extends to our staff, with our benefits package intentionally designed to support both work and life. All employees receive 4 paid floating holidays and generous PTO accruals. Employees who work 32 hours per week (considered full-time, Tuesday-Friday) are eligible for a dental plan and choice of health care plans (some paid 100% by agency, some less). Professional development and career growth opportunities are available and encouraged.
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION: Face to Face is a community-based organization located in Santa Rosa, founded in 1983 as a community response to the AIDS crisis. The agency has adapted to the many changes brought about by the disease and the communities affected by it, developing innovative and effective programs to best serve our clients and the public at large, which are often replicated elsewhere. Our mission is to end HIV in Sonoma County, while supporting the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS. We advance our mission with programs and services in three areas: Prevention, Testing, and Care Services. Face to Face remains committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as these values have always been at the core of our mission. The continued success of Face to Face depends on the trust of its community and clients and on the dedication to preserving that trust.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct evidence-based HIV prevention, substance use disorder, opioid use disorder, and overdose prevention education sessions with HIV-positive individuals and individuals at high risk for HIV infection, including (in-person and online) individual sessions, workshops, trainings, outreach events, and social marketing activities for ongoing recruitment.
- Conduct street-based outreach to underserved communities (of people who use drugs, experience homelessness, people who engage in sex work, and are affected by social determinants of health); Develop relationships with the community to gain access to HIV-positive individuals and individuals at risk for HIV infection, including community clinics; Prepare, set up, and dismantle program sites: tents, tables, and other program materials. Ensure the completeness of storefront, mobile sites, and outreach venues. Stock mobile unit.
- Provide training and education around overdose prevention and response. Prepare overdose prevention and response kits. Distribute Naloxone and Fentanyl Test strips. Collect data around peer-to-peer distribution, secondary distribution, and incidences of overdose and overdose reversals. Contribute to the development of drug testing infrastructure and programming. Train other program personnel or volunteers in Principles of Harm Reduction and techniques for approaching the target groups and participants.
- Following principles of Harm Reduction, provide one-on-one or group educational risk reduction, assessment, planning, and support for safer use practices around drug use management, preventing the spread of COVID-19, HIV, viral Hepatitis, STI's, M-Pox, and overdose prevention and response.
- Adheres to professional boundaries and standards. Understands and follows basic ethics, values, and principles of case management regulatory practices. Adheres to all laws and requirements regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, child protective services, and contractual agreements.
- Link newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals to care services, including case management and doctor appointments, as well as helping with access to health insurance.
- Develop relationships with the community to gain access to HIV-positive individuals and individuals at risk for HIV infection, including community clinics.
- Maintains accurate data on all client interactions and coordinates logs with the Prevention Director. Assists in collecting client satisfaction surveys and other quality data as requested.
- Provides accurate referrals to patients who have mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness issues.
- Participates in staff training sessions and other meetings as required by the agency and/or the funding sources.
- Provides the supervisor with the information needed for end-of-month reporting and/or participates in program evaluation as requested. Prepare draft progress and final reports for programs and activities.
- Participates in agency developmental activities as requested.
- Other duties as assigned.
PUBLIC CONTACT: Regular contact with volunteers, clients, prevention education group and event participants, local HIV/AIDS service providers, the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services, the general public, and staff and volunteers of Face to Face. The Prevention Specialist will have contact with individuals of many different socio-economic levels and situations, including people with active substance use issues, county officials, and community leaders. This person must be able to address individuals appropriately and with dignity, respect, and cultural sensitivity.
CONFIDENTIAL DATA: Extensive. Must be able to recognize and maintain confidential information and consistently meet HIPAA standards. Annual training provided. AMOUNT OF
TRAVEL: Community events, mobile services and outreach are a part of the job. Some travel to sites for educational and networking purposes. Valid driver’s license, ownership of a reliable automobile, and proof of current insurance are required.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The Prevention Specialist's time is spent in both a general office setting (2-story office with stairs, no elevator) and off-site settings of widely varied types, including some remote work flexibility. The percentage of time in each environment varies from week to week. Most offices in the building are shared; the office can be noisy and chaotic. COVID-19 safety precautions are in place with modifications made as needed. Face to Face works to prevent the spread of HIV in many ways, including sex positive programming. Open and honest discussions about a wide range of sexual and substance use behavior and harm reduction with others are part of our work and our work environment. Applicants should be comfortable in such an environment and able to set boundaries for themselves.
EDUCATION/TRAINING REQUIRED: People with lived experience encouraged to apply. Associate or bachelor's degree in Public Health, Communication, Education, or Social Sciences preferred.
EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: Experience in HIV/AIDS prevention and education, harm reduction practices, and community outreach highly preferred. People with lived experience are highly encouraged to apply. Effective communication skills in English, both written and oral, are required. Written and oral Spanish required. Experience interacting and working with all kinds of people in a wide range of situations is essential. Experience and skills in team building, organization, contract compliance, and materials development highly preferred. Previous involvement in county-wide prevention planning efforts desired. As a social services agency, we expect our staff to behave in a non-judgmental way toward those who hold differing viewpoints, lifestyles, and socio-economic and ethnic statuses from their own. Knowledge of different health insurance is a plus. The ability to provide information and support to clients through shared experiences, encouragement, modeling behavior, and various interviewing techniques to reinforce healthy behaviors is essential. Ability to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings and desire to help build trust and communication. Cultural humility and a sense of humor are musts.
EQUIPMENT KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: PC computer literate, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams). Database management. Typing, phone, copier, voicemail, shredder, and fax use.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF JOB: Must be able to sit at a desk or computer workstation for extended periods of time. Must be able to do phone work. Must be able to copy documents. Must be able to lift and move paperwork, files, and educational materials up to 20 pounds. Must be able to attend off-site meetings.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to perform the physical demands of the job. Basic office and equipment safety knowledge and practice. Must follow legal and safe driving procedures while driving during work. Must be knowledgeable of Universal Precautions and always use them during work situations. Must be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and committed to following all safety practices and policies related to COVID-19, including wearing masks.
Pay: $28.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid jury duty
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
