Harm Reduction Specialist

Job Title: Harm Reduction Outreach Specialist

Job Summary:

The Harm Reduction Outreach Specialist provides mobile outreach services in the South Bronx providing health education, risk reduction information and safe injection equipment and other supplies to people who use drugs. Conduct Harm Reduction Services and Syringe exchange program enrollments, including review of substance use history, current drug use practices, medical waste disposal practices, and providing low-threshold counseling and education to participants within the agency and on the mobile unit

Primary Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to operate a motor-vehicle (vans).
• Conduct Harm Reduction Services (HRS) and syringe services program enrollment and distribution at sanctioned locations.
• Collection of syringe litter waste in the South Bronx.
• Serve as agency liaison at community forums, events, and planning bodies as appropriate and where assigned.
• Data collection is required.
• Conduct Opioid Overdose Reversal Training.
• Ability to explain, describe, and discuss safer injection practices, other safe drug using strategies, and safer sex options.
• Provision of and documentation of prevention education, counseling, referrals, safer drug using education, and strategies.
• Street level outreach for program recruitment and retention, including distribution of health education and risk reduction information.
• Act as a point person for Buprenorphine referrals and information.
• Ability to train to conduct rapid HIV and Hepatitis C on the mobile unit.
• Responsible for ensuring medical waste is handled properly, packed, and stored in a designated area.
• Preparation, packing, and inventory of syringes and related program supplies.
• Provision of and documentation of prevention education, counseling, referrals, safer drug using education, and strategies.
• Ability to distribute high-risk prevention supplies, including female & male condoms, safer smoking kits, and provision of sterile syringes.
• Assist in monitoring the inventory, stocking and ordering of harm reduction supplies.
• Plan agency outreach strategies, times, locations and activities.

Qualifications/Criteria:

• A valid NYS driver’s license is required with a minimum of 3 years of driving experience.
• Working knowledge of harm reduction theory and practice.
• Experience with providing harm reduction services to active drug users, the homeless and sex workers.
• Significant work or personal life experience in the areas of substance use, sex work, and HIV and HCV prevention desired. Skills in the areas of safer injection and safer drug use techniques and overdose prevention, HIV and HCV prevention and treatment desired. Experience in the Bronx and East Harlem preferred.
• Proven experience as a team leader.
• Must participate in required training, webinars, and other training requirements.
• Knowledge of infectious disease transmission and prevention practices for injectors (HIV, Hepatitis C, Opiate Over Dose Prevention and Response) health education, outreach strategies, harm reduction theory, and practice.
• Good communication skills oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Physically able to climb stairs, move and lift boxes and supply packs weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Working knowledge of AIRS, eShare.
• Demonstrated commitment to advocacy and activism, particularly in the crises of COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, homelessness and drug policy.
• Must be willing to work outdoors at our street sites (sometimes in inclement weather) and conduct intensive outreach.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred.

Education:

• High School Graduate or GED.

BOOM!HEALTH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals who have personal experience with drug use, PLWHA, women, members of the LGBTQ community, and the formerly incarcerated are strongly encouraged to apply.