Community Health PrEP Navigator

Description

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Community Health PrEP Program Manager, the Community Health PrEP Navigator provides case management style PrEP and PEP Navigation services to individuals at high risk for HIV infection. The PrEP Navigator assists clients by doing basic PrEP and PEP education, assisting clients to obtain PrEP and PEP, helping clients make and keep medical appointments, reviewing clients benefits, helping clients enroll in financial support programs, making appropriate referrals for support services and doing periodic check in to track the progress of a client’s PrEP journey.  As part of their duties as PrEP Navigators, the PrEP Navigator may also provide HIV and HCV testing for those clients seeking PrEP navigation services.

Job Status: Full time or Part time, Hourly, Non-exempt

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provide PrEP and PEP education.
• Provide PrEP and PEP navigation services.
• Track client PrEP and PEP progress.
• Provide detailed benefit review and analysis.
• Help clients access PrEP and PEP financial support.
• Assist clients to make and keep medical appointments.
• Support client PrEP and PEP medication adherence.
• Help clients understand HIV risk and reduce risk of exposure.
• Provide HIV, HCV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) education and testing services to individuals in DAP’s Sexual wellness clinic, and community settings reaching individuals at high-risk for HIV infection; Complete an assessment of behavioral risk and utilize prevention strategies for specific infectious and chronic illnesses at time of individual visit.
• For anyone testing positive for an infectious disease, provides education and linkage to care.
• Provides education to DAP Health staff as appropriate and as assigned, on topics regarding health conditions impacting our service area and strategies to engage members of targeted and impacted populations in care.
• Communicates information consistent with agency standards.
• Completes other related assignments to help meet the goals and objectives of the department.
• Establishes positive community relations.
• Reaches out to local schools, community centers and other entities to expand our education and outreach services.
• Remains well-informed of how to access community resources to help guide clients through these systems.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of work.
• Keeps Electronic Health Record up to date as needed (ARIES, Epic, LEO, other databases).
• As necessary, maintains all paper charts in order and completes documentation within required time frames.
• Monthly reporting of progress.
• Perform duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication in English.
• Ideal candidate will have interest in and competence in cultural differences, HIV/AIDS, minority health, sexual practices, and a demonstrated competence in working with the substance abuse community, African-American, Latino/a, LGBT communities, health care workers, youth and/or seniors preferred.
• Bilingual/Spanish preferred.

Education and Experience:

• Knowledge of HIV disease, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) (Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis) and HCV, to include diagnosis, prevention, risk-reduction strategies.
• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross accredited BLS certification.
• California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS HIV testing and finger stick certification required before providing CLIA Waived testing. Certification is preferred upon being hired, but employee must obtain certification within 12 months if not. Failure to secure a certification would be grounds for termination.
• Partner Services Training certificate is preferred upon hiring, but must be obtained with 12 months. Failure to secure a certification would be grounds for termination.
• Valid CA Driver’s License with a clean driving record and, access to a reliable vehicle and up-to-date auto insurance.
• Previous professional or volunteer experience working in HIV/STI/HCV prevention or care and/or delivering sexual health education or other behavior.
• Understanding of how related chronic and infectious diseases are transmitted and prevented as well as familiarity with Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP).
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience in medical or health-related fields; social work, counseling, nursing, public health or other health education preferred
• Stages of Change and behavioral risk reduction preferred.
• Previous experience with Motivational Interviewing preferred.

Working Condition and Physical Demands

• Ability to lift 24 pounds.
• Operates in an office setting at times and requires frequent times of sitting, standing, repetitive motion and talking.
• Direct patient contact under normal circumstances is required.
• Involves contact with patients or patient specimens. Exposure to blood, body fluids, non-intact skin or tissue specimens required.
• Access to patient protected health information required.
• Requires a flexible schedule including working some evenings and weekends. Services may be provided either onsite in the Orange Clinic at DAP Health or throughout the Coachella Valley. Community settings may include health fairs, religious institutions, substance abuse treatment facilities, homeless organizations, high schools and colleges, businesses or partner health and social services organizations.

Salary : $24 - $25