Your job in the department is to . . . 
Provide harm reduction services to individuals with substance use disorders and to reduce the risk of accidental death by overdose or acquiring HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C/B, and other infections. Engage individuals who may not be ready to stop substance use by offering strategies to reduce health risks and assist in developing a plan for community services and referrals. 
 
Your job also involves . . .
Working closely with populations that are typically underserved and stigmatized, including: people with complex trauma history, who use illicit substances (i.e. injection drugs), experiencing mental health challenges, experiencing houselessness, who engage in high-risk sexual behavior, and those who have sporadic engagement in medical care.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Syringe exchange services, crisis management, and referrals  Deliver syringe exchange and overdose (OD) prevention services following program guidelines, protocols, and procedures. Administer STI rapid testing for HIV, HepC, & Syphilis. Provide counseling on disease process, including risk reduction and transmission education Provide direct, warm hand off, to Public Health RN, LPN or Primary Care for confirmatory testing and treatment of any positive STI test. Work with individuals in crisis, their families and support systems to address and de-escalate the current crisis. Help identify additional services and support to meet the needs of the individual in crisis and actively connect the individual directly to services and supports whenever possible. Provide referrals to needed services based on assessed behavior change readiness including referrals to health care, drug and alcohol treatment and support, counseling/mental health services, domestic violence help and basic needs providers. Engage clients in tailored health promotion counseling. Collect, contain, transport and unload biohazardous waste, recycling and trash following program guidelines and procedures.

Outreach and Engagement Represent Lincoln County Health and Human Services Department regarding Public Health and Harm Reduction services to schools, organizations and other agencies as required. Provide Syringe Exchange & Harm Reduction training and education to community partners when requested or as needed. Deliver naloxone administration training to community partners & community-based organizations. Document and distribute naloxone per Oregon law.  Attend community events to engage individuals around harm reduction and overdose prevention. Provide specialized services as needed. Work collaboratively with other team members to develop educational materials for a wide variety of audiences.

Documentation: Administer client screening for enrollment into BHRN. Complete documentation of BHRN assessment, services provided, referrals, and sexually transmitted infection testing.

Other Functions: · Track supply inventory. Order and receive supply deliveries.  Participate in team & regional meetings, trainings, and activities to further the health of the community.  Interact and convene with community partners and resources as necessary to assure population needs are met.  Assist in providing training to new employees. Attend team meetings, participates in quality improvement projects and attends trainings as needed.

Syringe Services/Harm Reduction Coordinator 1:

Minimum Education LevelHigh School Diploma / GED
 
Minimum Experience LevelOne year 
Specifics: Experience in public health or behavioral health field.
 
Substitution Note:One year experience working with diverse populations providing community outreach services.
Syringe Services/Harm Reduction Coordinator 2:
Minimum Education Level Bachelors 
Specifics: Public Health Behavioral Science
 
Minimum Experience LevelNone
 
Substitution Note:Experience can be used in lieu of minimum education requirement. Will accept an Associates with 2 years of experience in public health or behavioral health field or a high school diploma/GED and 5 years of experience in public health or behavioral health field.
Certifications
 Certification(s) required.
Already possess or ability to obtain a Community Health Worker license within 1 year.
 
Driver’s LicenseOregon Driver's License required.
Specifics: Must obtain within 30 days of hire.
 
Desirable Qualifications: Bilingual in Spanish. 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND/OR ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

• Substance abuse issues.
• Behavioral health issues and their connection to physical health.
• Health issues, conditions and cultural practices of communities served.
• De-escalation techniques.
• Motivational interviewing techniques.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of community services in Lincoln County and how to access them.
• HIV, Hep C & other STIs.
• Privacy, Confidentiality, and ethics in healthcare.

Skill or ability to:

• Work with minimal supervision.
• Use innovative thinking beyond standard protocols to meet people with high acuity needs such as emergency shelter, transportation, protective services, behavioral health needs and other coordination with other care providers. 
• Create innovative and dynamic ways to mitigate adverse outcomes and meet the needs of the clients who are in crisis. 
• Communicate with individuals who have a wide range of physical and behavioral health problems and may involve exposure to potentially dangerous situations. 
• Utilize data collected through syringe exchange & harm reduction activities to inform outreach expansion efforts in the county.
• Effectively communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders and community partners to reduce stigma around harm reduction and increased participation in harm reduction activities.
• Create a wide range of public communication materials that share resources about syringe exchange for diverse audiences with differing degrees of understanding.
• Convey information, ideas, and facts both orally and in writing to supervisors, colleagues, and individuals, inside and outside the county, using language and a format the audience will best understand.
• Utilize computers and other technology to communicate in written and verbal forms (e.g., word processing, texts, emails, spreadsheets, department-specific software).
• Effectively relate well with others, including supervisors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the county. Exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and working to maintain constructive working relationships.
• Take personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Show up to work on time, and follows instructions, policies, and procedures. Meet productivity standards, deadlines, and work schedules.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Job Conditions: Primarily located in non-office setting (e.g., extensive travel, physical labor outdoors) and work extended hours to include weekends and cover events and outreach as needed. 

Work Location: Lincoln County

Travel: Tasks require extensive travel and/or regular use of county vehicle(s)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
 
The physical demands are typical of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
Physical capability to handle high mobility demands and complex personal interactions.
 

• Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (21-50 pounds). While not common, may have to assist clients to the ground from syncope post vaccination, finger prick or blood draw. 
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Some tasks require oral communications ability. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds.
• Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

 
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Lincoln County is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and essential functions expected of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.