Prevention Specialist

Department: Prevention
Reports To: Prevention Manager
Location: Based in Roseburg but may travel to other areas or counties
Position Type: 1.0 FTE, 40 Hours/Week, Non-Exempt
Work Type: In Person, Not Hybrid/Remote Eligible
Salary Range: $21.50 - $22.79/Per Hour
Salary Note: Bilingual candidates are eligible for an additional $1.50 Bilingual Differential. This Bilingual Differential is not included in the salary range above.
Benefits Available: Read more at http://hivalliance.org/employment/benefits
Agency Overview: Read more at https://hivalliance.org/engage/careers-at-hivalliance/
External Applicants: Apply directly through our website, via the Agency Overview link. All applicants must submit a complete job application, supplemental questions, and a resume via the job portal to be considered.
Internal Applicants: Apply via email, following the emailed application instructions

Position Summary: The Prevention Specialist will conduct outreach and prevention services for populations at greatest risk for HIV, including gay/bi men and people who inject drugs. They will work closely with the Prevention Manager in the management and supervision of prevention services. This position provides direct services to people at risk for HIV in a variety of settings. This position is also responsible for HIV, hepatitis C, and syphilis testing, counseling and referral services, and PrEP coordination. They will work directly with populations that are at high-risk for acquiring HIV to assist them in accessing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, and will ensure that anyone who tests positive is directly connected to care.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensuring that prevention services are a safe and welcoming environment
• Conducting outreach in high-risk communities to increase engagement in prevention services, including:
• Creates engaging advertising & conducts direct outreach to MSM & LGBTQIA community on social media, dating apps (Grindr, Scruff, Adam for Adam, etc.), flyers, brochures, newspaper advertisements, and community partner content.
• Collaborates with local LGBTQIA organizations to put together education service events
• Develops and maintains a weekly schedule for posting on The Alliance Health Hub page. Posts will include information about PrEP, STI testing & navigation to testing at the local FQHC for tests we do not provide.
• Research other community partner groups (both on and offline) with similar services and populations to make connections with.
• Provide syringe exchange, testing, harm reduction, and PrEP Navigation at office and mobile syringe exchange sites
• Collect, maintain, and manage relevant data related to services
• Provide HIV/HCV testing and counseling services to at-risk populations
• Assist in tracking, maintaining, and managing supplies related to syringe exchange services
• Coordinate the safe disposal of used syringes, including transporting used syringes
• Provide and document referrals to local medical providers, PrEP Assistance programs, agency HIV Case Management and Peer programs, substance abuse treatment, mental health, and other community services
• Assist clients in accessing insurance programs, including but not limited to Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), Medicare, and private insurance plans through referrals to Peer support services.
• Provide Naloxone training and kit distribution
• Ensure that all policies and procedures are followed during prevention services
• Attend workshops and trainings that are relevant to job responsibilities and which will encourage professional development and program growth
• Participate in agency collaborative processes, meetings, and committees
• Train and supervise volunteers providing prevention services
• Maintain up-to-date HIV and PrEP knowledge and provide HIV and PrEP education to high-risk populations, professionals, and community members, in a variety of settings
• Develop and strengthen relationships with service providers in our service areas
• Ability to work well with others, handle stress appropriately, and have reliable attendance
• Ability to use personal cell phone to run agency phone system software, MFA, etc.
Other tasks as assigned, including training/cross-training other staff as needed

Required Qualifications:

• 1 year of relevant experience with patient/client interaction or working with similar populations and services
• 1 year of outreach experience
• Ability to safely drive the agency vehicles
• Ability to pass agency criminal background check
• Ability to work evenings or weekends as needed and to work outdoors regularly
• Comfortable discussing sex, drug use, and HIV/AIDS
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain bridges between HIV Alliance and its clients, other non-profit agencies, governmental entities, and key community stakeholders
• Ability to represent the agency and syringe exchange to community members, law enforcement, and others who have questions about syringe exchange in an informative and non-confrontational manner
• Ability to make sound decisions during off-site syringe exchanges
• Ability to de-escalate situations in the field and office-based settings independently
• Knowledge of the unique issues affecting high-risk communities and willingness to learn about culturally relevant interventions for gay and bisexual men, people who inject drugs, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
• TB test (covered by agency)
• Valid Oregon driver’s license, or valid out-of-state driver’s license with the ability to get an Oregon driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency in Oregon, and a driving record sufficient to be covered by agency auto insurance policy.
• Comfortable handling safer injection and safer sex supplies
Familiarity with using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Professional Competencies:

• Interpersonal Communication & Conflict Management (proactively communicates effectively, listens carefully to others, exhibits acceptable standards of conduct, deals effectively with others in difficult situations, works to reduce tension & conflict)
• Organizational Awareness (takes time to learn about agency culture, policies, and procedures; recognizes and balances the interest and impact of one’s department with those of other departments, programs, and the agency as a whole)
• Embraces Change (actively identifies problems and opportunities for change, implements solutions where appropriate, maintains effectiveness & adjusts well when experiencing changes in work tasks, environment, processes, and requirements)
• Living the Agency Vision & Values (demonstrates an understanding of agency vision and values, keeping the vision and values at the forefront of decision making)
• Client & Customer Focused (keeps client and customer needs as a primary focus; develops and sustains productive relationships with clients, customers, & partners)
Valuing Diversity (appreciates and leverages the capabilities, insights, & ideas of all individuals; works effectively with individuals of diverse style, ability, & motivation)

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Repetitively use hands, including grasping, twisting/turning of wrists, and finger dexterity to perform various necessary clerical duties, such as typing and writing.
• Frequently use arms, such as pushing & pulling to open/close drawers, cabinets, etc.
• Sit and/or stand for extended periods of time at an assigned station
• Bend, stand, & reach to be able to transport clients and to lift and carry up to 25 pounds
• Ability to safely operate a vehicle at all times of day and during weather events
• Use continuous clarity of vision at 20 inches or less for the processing of paperwork

The physical demands described above are representative 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 of the job.

Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment:

The duties of this job require individuals to be able to work in non-traditional and community-based settings. Additionally, the duties of this job include travel to other locations necessary to complete essential job functions, including the ability to transport oneself to job-related events and locations. This role requires regular, reliable attendance, including:

• Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends. More specifically, you must be able to work before 7 am, after 7 pm, and on weekends
• Ability to work 5 days per week for a minimum of 40 hours per week (Full-Time)
• Ability to work in loud, crowded, busy, or escalated environments
• Ability to drive at night and during various weather conditions safely