Harm Reduction Specialist

What Success Looks Like In This Job

As a part of the HIV/STI Prevention and Outreach & Syringe Access Program, this position performs targeted HIV/Hepatitis C/STI screening, syringe access outreach, case management of people who inject drugs, as well as targeted individual and group level education and outreach for HIV/STI/Hepatitis C risk reduction, HIV prophylaxis treatment, and harm reduction, overdose prevention, and Naloxone use. The goal of the work is to remove structural barriers and improve access to high-quality, client-centered, culturally competent care throughout Adams County to reduce infectious disease and improve the health and wellbeing of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD). The Harm Reduction Specialist collaborates with other subject matter experts to establish standards of good practice for SAPs funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Along with the Associate Program Manager, the Harm Reduction Specialist focuses on Syringe Access Program (SAP) scope of practice to include overdose education and naloxone distribution, linkage or direct provision of physical and mental health care and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and a variety of social services. This position may be based throughout Adams County.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $25.927.hour - $29.816/hour. The full salary range for the role is $25.927/hour - $37.594/hour.

Examples of Duties for Success

Direct Services

• Participates in HIV STI Prevention and Outreach Program activities and special events, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Conducts direct harm reduction counseling, HIV/HCV/STI screening and point of care testing.
• Provides referrals to services, and connects participants to interim and extended health care, behavioral health care, recovery resources, social services, etc.
• Offers opioid overdose prevention and education and Naloxone training and distribution.
• Utilizes appropriate resources to plan and provide services that are safe, effective, and financially responsible.
• Gathers and organizes supplies for outreach activities. Reconciles inventory and checks expiration dates to ensure all materials are up to date.
• Maintains program-specific documentation. Uses organizational skills to maintain correct forms and tools necessary for documentation.
• Syringe access and disposal, including community retrieval and distribution of syringes and access to safe supplies for vein and wound care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Fosters community engagement to advance health equity. Develops and maintains interpersonal relationships with community partners, internal and external customers, and resources to create linkages to care and prevention services, including no-cost medications, emergency financial assistance, housing, and/or food.
• Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the healthcare consumer’s health or situation. Monitors health status to identify community health problems.
• Improves population health by emphasizing prevention and attending to multiple determinants of health.
• Participates in community-specific solutions to address health priorities.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.
• Maintains temperature control logs for test kits, controls and labs.
• Utilizes county-vehicle and mobile units to perform outreach services throughout Adams County.

• Provides administrative support as assigned for the Program. Handles confidential matters and collects information as requested for the use of the Program staff. Filing, typing, and answering phones in support of daily Program functions. Maintains files and records.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required.

Qualifications for Success

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating effectively with a broad range of clinical and community representatives.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire date.

More Qualifications for Success

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required.

• A minimum of 3-years related experience or a combination of comparable clinical education and/or experience/training, including lived experience.
  • Lived experience includes substance use treatment, poverty and homelessness, and/or behavioral health.
  • Up to one (1) year towards combined experience for demonstrated lived experience.

• If you would like your lived experience considered for Qualifications for Success, please respond to the prompts in the Questions section.

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare profession/related area
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification through the American Heart Association.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Adams County complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.