Health Education Risk Reduction Educator/Outreach/ Retention In Care

Tips: Provide a summary of the role, what success in the position looks like, and how this role fits into the organization overall.Health Education/Risk Reduction is the provision of education and risk reduction counseling to customers living with HIV. It includes 1) sharing information with customers about medical and psychosocial support services, 2) educating customers on HIV transmission and secondary prevention, and 3) counseling them to improve their health status and reduce the risk of transmission to others.Topics covered may include: • Education on risk reduction strategies to reduce transmission, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), nonoccupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) for customers’ partners, and treatment as prevention (TasP) • Education on health care coverage options (e.g., qualified health plans through the Marketplace, Medicaid coverage, Medicare coverage) • Health literacy • Treatment adherence educationOutreach services include the provision of services for the following activities: • Identification of people who do not know their HIV status but are currently not in care and/or: • Linkage or re-engagement of People Living with HIV (PLWH) who know their status into HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS (RWHAP) services ; • Provision of information about health care coverage options; • Services that may include community and public awareness activities (e.g. posters, flyers, billboards, social media, TV or radio announcements that meet the requirement above and include explicit and clear linked to information about available HRSA RWHAP servicesPrimary Responsibilities: The following are the primary roles and responsibilities of the Community Health Workers: Counseling to help clients living with HIV improve their health status and reduction of risk to others Education on health care coverage options (e.g., qualified health plans through the Marketplace, Medicaid coverage, Medicare coverage) Education on risk reduction strategies to reduce transmissions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) for clients' partners and treatment as prevention Health literacy Information about medical and psychosocial support services Treatment adherence education and reengagement of people who know their status but who are out of care into Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services Identify individuals who know they are HIV-positive but are not sufficiently engaged in HIV medical care by receiving referrals, missed appointments, and conducting outreach at various community organizations and venues. Work to build the trust and confidence of clients; Provide accurate information to clients about living with HIV, preventing further transmission, the benefits and challenges of HIV care and treatment, and available services and resources and how to access them. The ability to work with all ethnicities, genders, transgender, religions, sexualities, and disabilities Work closely with the Non-Medical Case Manager to ensure clients are in care, support services, and mental health services offered by the Ryan White Program. Provide personalized assistance to clients to help them enroll or re-engage in medical care. Support clients in collaboration with community partners throughout the early part of their career so they participate fully, become educated, and can advocate for themselves. Help clients to develop confidence about their participation in HIV treatment. Work with community partners to assist clients in identifying services to address other aspects of their life that affect their health, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, domestic violence services, housing programs, financial programs, and education and employment services. Work with Community Partners to set up HERR (Health Education Risk Reduction) groups in multiple locations to reach all ethnicities and racial groups. i.e., Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, African Americans, and Caucasians Submit clear and accurate electronic data collection forms for all work performed. Comply with all program protocols, including those regarding confidentiality of client information. Complete employee orientation and all mandatory program training to guarantee appropriate competency in program requirements. Participate in all staff and program meetings, site visits with funders, required outreach and network events, conference calls, webinars, and mandatory training. Keep supervisor informed of all problems, challenges, and conflicts related to the job; and Work with the community to reduce stigma regarding HIV/AIDS You will be expected to contact agencies in the community to engage more people living with HIV to attend support groups. This will take tenacity and willingness to recruit and maintain HIV Positive individuals in the HERR Sessions. We have Goals to meet for our grants, and your role will be crucial in meeting our grant requirements. Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director. Retention In Care and Outreach Services  The Outreach Services (Retention-in-Care) category has as its principal purpose identifying PLWH who either do not know their HIV status, or who know their status but are not currently in care. As such, Outreach Services provides the following activities: ·     Identification of people who do not know their HIV status and/or ·     Linkage or re-engagement of PLWH who know their status into HRSA RWHAP services, including the provision of information about health care coverage options.  Outreach Services are often provided to people who do not know their HIV status, some activities within this service category will likely reach people who are HIV negative. When these activities identify someone living with HIV, eligible clients should be linked to HRSA RWHAP services. Outreach Services must use data to target populations and places that have a high probability of reaching PLWH who:  ·         have never been tested and are undiagnosed, ·         have been tested, and diagnosed as HIV positive, but have not received their test        results or                                     ·         have been tested, know their HIV positive status, but are not in medical care; ·         be conducted at times and in places where there is a high probability that PLWH        will be identified and delivered in coordination with local and state HIV                                    Prevention outreach programs to avoid duplication of effort.      Outreach Services may be provided through community and public awareness activities (e.g.,        posters, flyers, billboards, social media, TV, or radio announcements) that meet the requirements above and include explicit and clear links to and information about available HRSA RWHAP services. Ultimately, HIV-negative people may receive Outreach Services and should be referred to risk reduction activities. When these activities identify someone living with HIV, eligible clients should be linked to HRSA RWHAP services.  Outreach Services provided to an individual or in small group settings cannot be delivered anonymously, as some information is needed to facilitate any necessary follow-up and care. Qualifications Education Required: If no experience, the minimum educational experience shall be a B.A. or B.S. degree in any of the following disciplines: psychology, social work counseling, sociology, community health, and public health or an associate degree with three years in a related field. If qualified individuals do not have relevant and current experience working with individuals living with HIV, they must receive HIV-specific training within six months of hire. Commitment: Passion for the mission of linkage and retention-in-care services, including a solid commitment to working to improve the health and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Knowledge: Desirable for the applicant has demonstrated knowledge of HIV/AIDS services, along with an interest and ability to expand knowledge through training. Ability to assess clients for needs related to treatment education, risk reduction, and prevention.Experience: Experience with HIV care and treatment issues is desirable. Experience desirable with problems that put people at risk for poorer health is beneficial, such as homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Desired but not mandatory. Skills: Strong communication skills are essential. Demonstrated ability to conduct sensitive, empathetic interviews and conversations that highly respect the dignity and diversity of clients. Ability to engage staff and clients in a supportive and empowering way. Ability to help manage conflict. Ability to maintain client records and information accurately, timely, and confidentially. Intermediate computer skills required. Personal Qualities: Personal qualities including energy, intelligence, diplomacy, sound practical judgment, the ability to work independently during periods of less supervision.