Community Health Specialist

Project Silk

Job Classification:

Non-Exempt $18/hour Shift 12:00pm - 8:00pm

Position Overview

The Community Health Specialist provides direct care and supportive services in a respectful manner to members of the LGBTQIA youth of color community. They build working relationships, solve problems, and supports participants as they learn to navigate the health care system as well as self-care and life skills.

The Community Health Specialist is expected to work with and communicate directly with other staff members supportively and cooperatively, complete required documentation, manage crisis situations, and attend required training programs.

The Community Health Specialist conducts HIV/STI testing, provides guidance, and promotes ongoing care according to test status. They will also coordinate one or more processes or procedures such as billing, data collection and reporting, inventory, or specialized outreach

They work a non-traditional schedule both in and out of the agency, serving the community with education, counseling, testing, and programmatic outreach.

Mission

CHS empowers individuals and families to live in stable housing, connect to community resources, build relationships, and access quality food.

Values

Advocacy, Equity, Quality, Respect, Relevance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a professional and therapeutic relationship with participants.
• Maintain and model appropriate personal boundaries.
• Provide supportive services, guidance, and education to participants regarding their needs, interests, and goals. 
• Provide HIV/STI testing and counseling services in accordance with program requirements.
• Assisting with options throughout treatment process by serving as an active liaison between clients and care providers
• Complete billing and data entry of information into the agency database and any funder-specific site for reporting purposes in a timely basis.
• Understand and be responsible for performing all duties in accordance with the agency and program policies and procedures. Identify appropriate procedures for various situations.
• Attend necessary training and professional development sessions to enhance agency-wide knowledge. Attend a minimum of 15 hours per calendar year of training.
• Participates in and assists with outreach efforts to establish and maintain positive relationships with the community and populations at high risk of infection, which would include distributing informational materials, condoms and lube, speaking in public, and offering testing and counseling in outreach settings
• Maintain updated client records with data, plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information
• Maintains paperwork and reports test results to appropriate person and/or agency and ships biological testing samples to appropriate labs
• Complete all job duties in accordance with the mission and values of CHS.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional customer service communication.
• Cultural competence, being able to work effectively with all backgrounds.
• Experience and ability to de-escalate mental and behavioral health crisis situations
• Strong organizational, phone and computer skills.
• A working knowledge of the social service system through life or job-related experience.
• Strong understanding of HIV/STI virology
• A strong understanding of PrEP and PEP protocols
• Safety protocols associated with blood borne pathogens and in handling testing agents including blood, urine, and saliva
• Motivational interviewing techniques
• Harm reduction ideology and standards
• A willingness to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong ability to navigate the Internet to familiarize and access various resources.
• Ability to work and travel independently.

High school degree or equivalent plus two years’ work experience, or combination of work, education and life experiences approved by the agency and funder. 

Pre-employment physical and TB screening with results stating a person is free from communicable disease, at hire and every two years thereafter. Act 34 Criminal, Act 33 Child Abuse, and FBI Criminal clearances. A valid PA driver’s license is preferred, have driving record acceptable to agency’s insurance review. Having a valid PA identification is required.

Position Physical Demands:

The Community Health Specialist will be called upon to engage in physical activity related to general office work, including the capacity to lift to 15lbs and stand or sit for extended periods. Also, the ability to walk up and down steps and physical activity related to cooking, cleaning, and general household maintenance.

*This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. It is not an employment contract. Our company reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.