Harm Reduction Specialist

We’re looking for dedicated team members to join Orange County’s largest nonprofit developer of high- quality affordable housing and services that transform lives and strengthen communities.

Location: Stanton, CA / This position requires travel between 3 Jamboree communities. These communities are located along Hwy. 39, (aka Beach Boulevard).

Status: Full-Time, Hourly

Wage: $25-$27/hour Benefits

Primary Objective of Position: 

The primary objective of the Harm Reduction Specialist is providing clinical/therapeutic services, with focus on substance use disorders. The Harm Reduction Specialist will perform outreach and provide wraparound clinical services for all residents.  The residents are referred by the clients’ Intensive Case Manager or other assessment processes as being the most frequent users of emergency services, criminal justice, and substance abuse services.  

Major Areas of Accountability: 

• Provide clinical case management services, including rehabilitative services, brokerage, collateral, and therapy to residents utilizing an Assertive Community Treatment model.  
• Complete assessments and develop treatment plans for participants resided at the site.   
• Collaboratively work with participants to develop and work on their recovery goals.  
• Meet with prospective participants, conduct outreach, and initial intakes and assessments.  
• Act as lead on team on substance use disorder issues.  
• Utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques to explore participants' substance use/dependency, encourage reduction, provide support to clients moving towards abstinence and/or provide Relapse Prevention services. 
• Develop relationships with community agencies providing outpatient and residential drug and alcohol services and support participants in connecting to their services.  
• Perform mental status exams, as well as safety assessments that include suicide, homicide, and gravely disabled assessments with participants on an on-going basis.  
• Input data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) accurately and/or the electronic health record (EHR) in a timely manner.  
• Other duties as assigned to support the mission of the organization. 

Level of Education, Experience and Skill Set: 

• Ability to build relationships and work in collaboration with teams. 

• Resiliency and ability to problem solve. 
• CADACC I or II preferred or SUD certification plus field experience in SUD setting.  
• 2 years of experience providing substance recovery services required.   
• 2 years of field experience working with people with serious mental illness, individuals, co-occurring disorders and complex health issues and/or the chronically homeless population.  
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; proven ability to communicate with diverse audiences. 
• Oral and written fluency in Spanish and English preferred. 
• Valid California driver’s license and availability of an insured vehicle.  
• Must be able to travel between sites 75% 

Physical Demands:  

The Harm Reduction Specialist is required to talk and hear.  The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers to handle or feel.  The employee is required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb, balance, twist, lean, move from one location to another and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  Vision abilities required by this job include close and far vision.  Ability to operate a computer keyboard, and lift files and reports.  Exposure to glare from a computer.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. and travel via automobile 50%.  

Work Environment: 

Working with the homeless population whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services. Exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, unclean individuals or homes due to homelessness or mental health symptoms or poverty. Some work will be in a recreational room or common area. The noise level is usually moderate but will vary depending on the activity participating in.   

Salary : $25 - $27