What are the responsibilities and job description for the Disease Intervention Specialist position at Hennepin County?
Hennepin County Public Health's Red Door Clinic is seeking an HIV Care Re-engagement, Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS). This position works under delegation authority from the Minnesota Department of Health using state protected HIV surveillance data to identify and locate individuals living with HIV who are not currently engaging in care and works with those individuals to re-engage in care. This position is part of the larger DIS group at the clinic and works closely with the team to link newly diagnosed and out of care individuals living with HIV to care and supportive services.
The Public Health Clinic (PHC) is a respected leader in providing sexual health services, comprehensive testing & treatment for tuberculosis, and refugee health exams and is also home to the Red Door Clinic, Minnesota’s largest HIV and sexually transmitted infection clinic. The Red Door Clinic has been providing culturally sensitive and sexually affirming services for the last 50 years. The mission of PHC is to reduce health disparities, increase access, and promote health across communities with specialized services that value evidence-based, client-centered care to create empowered and healthy communities. This position will be based within the Red Door Clinic.
Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program.
Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed at the Public Health Clinic located at 525 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415, in the community and remote as job duties require. Currently, the clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This position will have a flexible schedule with occasional nights and weekends to accommodate evening and weekend outreach events and respond to positive test results that may require an immediate response. No overnight or holiday shifts are required. While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.
About this position type:
This is a fulltime, benefit-earning position.
This position is internally classified as a Community Health Specialist.
Click here to view the job classification specification.
In this position, you will:
- Provide individual, client-centered education to patients who have tested positive for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and/or MPOX to ensure the individual understands the nature of the infection(s), routes of transmission, and the importance of sexual/needle sharing partners receiving testing/treatment.
- Assess the client's relevant symptoms of infection, testing history, and exposure information to accurately establish a timeline of infection.
- Elicit partner information and confidentially contact sex and needle sharing partners to inform of exposure, facilitate testing/linkage to treatment, provide education and referral to other services.
- Serve as a liaison for individuals to coordinate and collaborate with other prevention programs and services within the Public Health Clinic & the community to comprehensively address their ongoing health and service needs.
- Work independently to research and communicate with infectious disease clinic nurses and social workers to verify care status and formulate a tailored, effective approach to client engagement and locate and connect through cold calling and other methods with individuals living with HIV who are not currently enrolled in HIV primary care.
- Collect, track, and report program data and service delivery outcomes in multiple systems and databases to meet clinic's, programs, and Minnesota Department of Health’s needs and program requirements.
- Write reports and program related materials and establish, monitor, and report on quality improvement plans and maintain eligibility documentation for program participants and overall compliance with grant funding requirements.
- Work with a diverse, interdisciplinary team to deliver sexual health services, develop team goals, performance outcomes, and effective referral coordination.
Need to have:
- One of the following:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in public health, nursing, behavioral/social science, or an approved related field.
- Four years or more of experience performing community health assessment activities.
- A valid driver's license, daily access to reliable transportation to attend meetings, visit community sites, and conduct field visits throughout Hennepin County.
- Lift and carry up to 25 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Completed Disease Intervention Training-Passport to Partner Services.
- Experience:
- Providing direct client service and/or health education to clients living with or at risk of HIV/STDs, such as HIV testing, health education, counseling, outreach, and referral services to the LGBTQ community.
- Interviewing individuals and assessing their sexual risk and need for services.
- Assisting with writing, managing, and monitoring grants.
- Utilizing systems such as EPIC, CAREWare, and the Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System (MEDSS).
- Knowledge of:
- Equitable and culturally appropriate care for a wide range of diverse populations, including communities of color, LGBTQ communities, non-English speaking populations, people with substance use disorders, and behavioral health challenges.
- Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and community resources for clients who are living with HIV.
- HIV/STD knowledge around prevention and harm reduction techniques/practices including syringe exchange, PrEP, Naloxone and Medication Assisted Treatment programs.
- Ability to:
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, community agencies, infectious disease clinic nurses and social workers, and diverse populations that may present with social vulnerabilities and have a history of experiencing barriers to health care such as mental health, opioid addiction, poverty, unstable housing, etc.
- Remain non-judgmental in working with clients from all sectors of the community, exercise independent judgment and initiative in performing assigned duties, and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Provide a supportive space that allows clients to begin to process their diagnosis and/or need for treatment.
Candidates with fluency in another language in addition to English are encouraged to apply. Bilingual candidates who pass a language assessment may qualify for additional bilingual pay and duties.
About the department:
Hennepin County Public Health’s vision is for all people who live, work and play in Hennepin County to experience optimal health grounded in health and racial equity. Our department works to improve the health of all county residents by addressing the social and environmental factors that impact their health and offering programs and services that help them to be healthy. We promote physical and mental health, prevent illness and injury associated with communicable diseases and environmental conditions, and reduce chronic diseases.
About Hennepin County:
Our employees receive a combination of competitive benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at The Bridge(login as Guest).
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the reduction of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
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This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.
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This position will have access to systems or other documentation that contains HIPAA data.
Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience. Final candidates may be required to complete a drug test that may include testing for cannabis and/or a criminal background check.
If you have any questions, please contact:
If you have any questions, please contact:
Katie Bakke
Katie.Bakke@Hennepin.usSalary : $55,346 - $83,683
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