Community Health Educator - Harm Reduction - Bilingual (Spanish) Preferred

Responsibilities:

Provides a full range of HIV prevention education services to those who are at risk for HIV, including but not limited to:

• Supports organization’s mission by striving for excellence in all aspects of their job with a focus on positive interpersonal relationship with co-workers;
• Builds effective, working relationships with clients, team members, and resource providers to improve coordination of patient care and reduce barriers;
• Provides Individual Level Interventions as necessary and required;
• Ensure that all HIV Prevention Intervention sessions are held discretely in places and at times that are accessible to all group members and that the groups are relevant to the specific intervention and as homogenous as possible where appropriate.
• Conduct community-based outreach;
• Provide sterile injection and safer sex equipment to PWID;
• Provide education and information on safe injection practices, safer sex, and safe syringe disposal; on HIV, Hepatitis C, STDs, and other bloodborne diseases;
• Encourage HIV testing and screening for Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, and STIs;
• Provide sexual risk reduction counseling regarding HIV and STIs;
• Provide education on overdose prevention and assist the participants in creating an individualized overdose prevention plan;
• Provide education on usage of Naloxone to reverse an overdose;
• Provide fentanyl test strips and education on usage of fentanyl test strips used to determine the makeup and safety of drugs;
• Conduct brief assessments to determine medical, social service, and drug treatment needs;
• Conduct quarterly community education sessions through community outreach and social events, which will result in an increase in the understanding and knowledge among community members of the risks of injection drug use and its associated consequences, as well as the basic tenants of harm reduction;
• Conduct internal support group sessions with participants;
• Document all encounters with or for the client in the client file as detailed in the agency policies and procedures;
• Accurately input service and referral details into agency database;
• Facilitate service referrals for needed services and follow up in a timely manner;
• Respond to emergency situations as they arise;
• Generate monthly reports for agency as required;
• Work flexible work schedules including weekends and nights based on programmatic need;
• Attend all program meetings as required; and
• Assumes additional responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements:

Travel:

During the first 3-6 months all new hires will be required to complete federal, state, and agency training. This may result is colleagues traveling daily to additional sites. Travel beyond the colleague’s standard commute will be reimbursed monthly. Additional training may be needed beyond the first 6 months of employment. Training is a condition of employment with SJAA.

Colleagues may also need to travel to attend SJAA meetings and/or functions such as our annual fundraiser.

Education/Experience:

Community Health Educator will have a minimum of an associate or baccalaureate degree in human services from an accredited college or university.

Individuals without related academic degrees, relevant work experience conducted under the supervision of a human service professional can be substituted. Community Health Worker must have a valid New Jersey Driver’s License auto insurance and registered vehicle. Community Health Educator will possess strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of cultural and lifestyle diversity issues, a working knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues, local healthcare entities, social service agencies and public entitlement programs.

Benefits:

South Jersey AIDS Alliance provides employer paid medical and dental benefits for all of our full time employees.

In addition to 2 weeks vacation time, 12 days sick time and 2 personal days, SJAA offers a paid winter break for all employees from Dec 25th - Jan 1st.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $19.25 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19