(Education Specialist) Peer Linkage Specialist

The Prevention Division (HIV/STI/HCV program) seeks to reduce the incidence of HIV and STI, as well as contributing to reduction in overdose fatalities. Fatal and non-fatal overdoses have reached unprecedented levels over the last two years. The Robert Clewis Center (RCC) Syringe Services Program provides clean syringes, smoking supplies, drug checking and other harm reduction services and is co-located with the Pathways Buprenorphine Clinic and adjacent to the Evergreen Treatment Services mobile methadone van (MMV).

The Education Specialist (Peer Linkage Specialist (PLS)) will work with RCC Education Specialists and Social Workers to identify clients who use opioids and may be interested in treatment. The Education Specialist (Peer Linkage Specialist PLS) will educate clients about local treatment options, answer questions, assess client preferences and make warm handoffs to Pathways and the MMV. They will also provide referrals to other important social and health services. They will triage clients to the RCC Social Worker for more in depth services as needed. The PLS will also back up the RCC Education Specialists by working shifts at RCC1, RCC2, SCORE and NORE.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 9 -6; some evenings and Saturdays

Work Location

Robert Clewis Center, 2124 Fourth Avenue

• Provide Harm Reduction services for needle exchange customers 
• Provide information and service referrals to outreach contacts, peer educators and needle exchange customers 
• Conduct street and van-based outreach to engage persons who use drugs in targeted communities, 
• Distribute accurate and culturally and linguistically appropriate education materials and information targeted to persons who persons who use drugs.. 
• Train and provide on-going coaching and support for needle exchange customers on how to administer Naloxone.

Ideal Candidates:

• Experience in an urban social service setting or related experience with persons who drug use in a harm reduction setting. 
• Demonstrated current knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STDs, hepatitis and other blood-borne infections, particularly in relation to drug use; street life; slang vocabularies; drug use practices; harm reduction concepts and principles; local drug treatment; health care; and criminal justice systems and resources. 
• Fluency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, and Excel)
• Valid Washington State Driver's License and the ability to drive a ½ ton county van to locations in and outside King County. 
• Ability to lift 30-pound boxes over one's head.

Desired Candidates:

• Demonstrated excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information in a culturally appropriate, consistently respectful, and non-judgmental manner to a wide variety of audiences including people who may be drug impaired, mentally ill and/or angry. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community 
• Experience resolving conflicts and defusing aggressive and/or violent clients 
• Demonstrated skill in delivering harm reduction interventions to people who use drugs. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, with supervisor, co-workers, health care providers, and the public. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently following established protocols and policies and work effectively as a member of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out assignments and responsibilities reliably in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

Anyone who meets the minimum qualifications

Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR ( if applicable).
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Union Membership

Protec 17

Contact

For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens at Alowens@kingcounty.gov

Salary : $33 - $41