CH8 - Prevention Navigator

Position Summary

The Prevention Navigator will work within the Care Coordination and Community Health Department and closely with the Clinical Services Manager and Chief Health Officer as the lead navigator for the designated program to ensure the expansion of the engagement, navigation and adherence to counseling program services for racial and ethnic minority populations at high-risk for HIV infection and substance use disorders (SUDs).  The Prevention Navigator will heavily focus on community involvement, outreach, and provide health education in communities in which services are difficult to obtain. The Prevention Navigator will ensure that participating patients receive relevant HIV/STD-related education and services, sexual health information, and appropriate care and wellness referrals. These services will be geared towards persons most at-risk for HIV, including but not limited to men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), as well as those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and Intersex persons (LGBTQI ) who are not in stable housing and/or reside in communities with high rates of HIV, Viral Hepatitis (including Hep A, B, and C), and/or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Qualifications

• Knowledge of:
  • Health disparities, especially spectrum of HIV and STD disease.
  • Harm reduction theory; risk reduction theory; behavior modification theory; human sexuality; substance use and abuse; motivational interviewing techniques.
  • Health and social concerns of diverse populations of gay and non-gay identified MSM;
  • Principles of social marketing; and venues where the target population congregates, including the internet.
  • Successful strategies in outreaching to hard-to-reach populations
  • Data management.
• Ability to:
  • Work independently.
  • Work effectively with diverse staff and community stakeholders who may hold a wide range of opinions on gay and non-gay identified MSM.
  • Organize stakeholders and engage community building and establish linkages between stakeholders.
  • Identify goals and objectives with respect to harm reduction.
  • Meet frequent, sometimes conflicting deadlines in a rapidly changing environment.
  • Respond with sensitivity to social inequities and diverse ethnic groups; maintain confidentiality.
• Bilingual – Spanish/English desirable.
• Must have a clear CA DMV driving record and have a valid driver’s license.

Work Experience

• Experience in outreach, community organizing and in conducting educational trainings.
• Experience working in HIV/STD prevention or other community health programs
• Experience working in HIV prevention and health education/health promotion and program development.
• Experience in a nonprofit environment preferred

Education

AA degree in human services related field OR two years’ experience in HIV programming OR certification as a HIV/HCV Testing and Counselor from California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS or other community health programs. Bachelor’s degree in human services related field preferred.

A current CPR Certification is required for this position

A current CPR Certification is required for this position

Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Writing, Critical Thinking, Negotiation, Judgment / Decision Making; Management of Personnel Resources; Complex Problem Solving; Management of Financial Resources

Examples of Duties

• Extensive Outreach in the community which may include adult venues for the screening and risk assessments for substance use, HIV, and Viral Hepatitis, including pre- and post-test counseling, education, and service navigation.

• Provide activities that address behavioral health disparities and the social determinants of health (SDOH) and refer

or provide supportive services to address SDOH and childhood adverse experiences to prevent the onset of mental health (MH)/SUD and reduce risk for HIV/viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections.

• Assist in and ensure the training of patient-facing staff.
• Maintain records and prepare reports as required.
• Assist in the implementation of PrEP services and appointment scheduling while also ensuring that at-risk clients from all programs (health education/prevention, outreach, primary care, and oral healthcare) receive PrEP education and referrals.
• The Navigator will have a caseload of clients considering, or taking, PrEP; as such, the Navigator will conduct client-centered PrEP education and adherence counseling services with a focus on patient acquisition, engagement and retention.
• Provide patients and clients with basic introductory education regarding PrEP.
  • Recruit high-risk patients and clients into PrEP education.
  • Participation in outreach activities including Pride, health fairs, and other local activities.
  • Assist patients and clients in scheduling primary care visits to further discuss PrEP and other health care concerns with a medical provider.
  • Conduct follow-up to offer adherence counseling and assistance in scheduling appointments for patients receiving PrEP.
  • Maintain, acquire, and fulfill required documentation for patient assistance programs (PAP).
  • Ensure proper collection, storage, and transmission of data used in reporting, research, and program evaluation.
• Provide education about Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and other effective biomedical and prevention interventions; refer eligible, interested clients to primary care medical services to further discuss PEP and other preventive care with a provider.
• Assist in and ensure the training of patient-facing staff in basics of PrEP;
  • Ensure accurate knowledge of and referral to PrEP counseling and services from staff at all PTH clinical care sites.
• Design, implement, and distribute advertising and educational campaigns for PrEP.
• Coordinate collaborative relationships related to PrEP implementation and service delivery.
• Attend meetings and trainings which are required by funders.
• Review and maintain up-to-date and accurate knowledge of emerging scientific research regarding biomedical HIV prevention strategies, including PrEP, PEP and related interventions.
• Provide pre/post test client-centered counseling.
• Conduct HIV/STD risk assessments
• Provide HIV/STD risk reduction and prevention coaching/counseling
• Provide rapid HIV testing
• Develop a set of focused strategies, designed to improve the linkage (and ongoing engagement) to HIV primary medical care of recently diagnosed HIV infected persons; individuals of known HIV status who have never sought medical care and HIV-infected persons who have dropped out of care and are no longer seeking HIV medical care and treatment
• Provide linked referrals to Partner Counseling and Referral Services
• Work closely with the Care Coordination and Community Health Department to provide appropriate prevention and treatment referrals and linkages.
• Attend HIV/STD/hepatitis prevention counseling trainings offered locally and/or through the CDPH/OA to ensure that he/she is up-to-date and familiar with the most recent prevention counseling guidelines.
• Provide referrals and linkages to substance use treatment and other mental health support programs.
• Assist in the preparation of reports as requested.
• Maintain HIV/STD testing records to ensure that all documentation required by funders and agency Quality Management Plan is on file.
• Maintain highest level of client confidentiality; follow HIPAA regulations.
• Attend departmental meetings and trainings.

OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED TO MEET BUSINESS NEEDS.

Additional Responsibilities

• Training and professional development of staff.

Travel Requirements

Frequently will travel to other sites to attend meetings or trainings, occasionally overnight for training.

Tools & Technology

Tools: Calculators or accessories; Photocopiers; Scanners; Faxing equipment; Computers and Keyboards; Telephones

Technology: Microsoft Office programs; Electronic Mail – Microsoft Outlook; Internet

Knowledge

Administration and Management; Economics and Accounting; Law and Government; Customer and Personal Service, English Language; Sales and Marketing; Mathematics; Personnel and Human Resources

Abilities

Oral Comprehension; Oral Expression; Written Comprehension; Written Expression; Problem Sensitivity; Deductive Reasoning; Inductive Reasoning; Near Vision; Speech Clarity; Speech Recognition

Work Activities

Communicating with Supervisors and peers; Getting Information; Interacting With Computers; Performing Administrative Activities; Making Decisions and Solving Problems; Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work; Communicating with Persons Outside Organization; Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships; Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People; Documenting/Recording Information; Developing Objectives and Strategies; Developing and Building Teams; Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others; Analyzing Data or Information

Work Styles

Integrity; Dependability; Attention to Detail; Cooperation; Independence; Initiative; Self Control; Adaptability/Flexibility; Stress Tolerance; Leadership; Persistence; Achievement/Effort

Work Context

Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of the job, with or without accommodation. Prospective employees must complete a pre-employment medical exam (Occupational Group IV) which will measure the ability to:

• See well enough to read fine print and view a computer screen; speak and hear well enough to understand, respond, and communicate clearly in person and on the telephone; independent body mobility sufficient to stand, sit, walk, lift or move, stoop, and bend to access the work environment and a standard office environment; manual dexterity and sufficient use of hands, arms and shoulders to repetitively operate a keyboard and to write; and the ability to sit or walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Occasionally may be required to lift/move or assist in lifting/moving up to 50lbs.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made for some of these physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle to transport self to alternate work sites.

Work Environment: Generally, a typical office environment, but may include outdoor or adult themed venues for community outreach.