Program Specialist - Community Engagement

Program Specialist- Community Engagement

Agency Description:

San Francisco Community Health Center (formerly known as API Wellness Center) is a federally qualified health center that provides culturally competent, high quality medical care, health services, education, and outreach. We transform lives by advancing health, wellness and equality. We strengthen the well-being and lead under-served communities of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, and immigration statuses, toward justice and health. Founded in 1987 as an all-volunteer, community-based response to the AIDS crisis in communities of color, we are an anchor-organization for San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, and we also lead regional, statewide, and national programming. We believe that everyone deserves to be healthy and needs access to the highest quality health care.

About You: 

• You focus and center your work around giving a high level of service. 
• You are empathetic responding to any situation with compassion and curiosity.
• You are driven by your own internal integrity as well as that of the agency.
• You have a justice and equity mind-set. 
• You feel that everyone deserves dignity and respect. 
• You consistently pay attention to details. 
• You collaborate well in a diverse and cross-functional workplace.

Position Summary:

The Program Specialist will work as part of the Community Engagement team to: work within SFCHC’s Community Living Room program supporting guests who are accessing the drop-in for meals, support groups, medical appointments, and special events; support with development, implementation, and facilitation of support groups and health education sessions to assist clients and patients with reducing their risk for HIV, Hepatitis C, and accidental overdose; and, conduct as needed outreach and navigation support for clients to support with engagement in care and treatment; provide assessments, including onboarding, offboarding, and follow-up assessments, and linkage to the necessary resources to seamlessly move client through the REACT program; conduct both street and clinic-based assessments with special emphasis on people experiencing homelessness and people who use drugs, providing linkage to essential medical, behavioral, and social services

Essential Duties:

• Coordinate supportive programming for the Community Living Room and SFCHC’s Wellness Clinic, and work with Community Engagement team members to maintain a regular calendar of activities for guests, clients, and patients. 
• Facilitate and coordinate with other SFCHC staff and guest speakers for educational presentations and workshops, and ensure space is available/reserved for activities and cleaned after use.  
• Conduct intakes and assessments of new clients for REACT program and other SFCHC programs/services, including offboarding assessments, and post-program follow-up assessments.
• Provide high quality customer service to guests, clients, and patients accessing SFCHC programming. 
• Support guests, clients, and patients with linkage and navigation support to SFCHC programming; ensuring successful completion of relevant intake packets and assisting with navigation as they establish care. 
• Conduct street and clinic-based substance use assessments (SUA) to a diverse population of people, including people experience homelessness and people who use drugs, providing as needed linkage, navigation, and follow-up support to assist individuals with linkage to care, treatment, and essential resources. 
• Work collaboratively with direct supervisor, Community Engagement Department management and staff, and community partners to ensure high quality service delivery for agency guests, clients, and patients. 
• Work with the Program Manager for the Community Living Room to ensure supplies and materials needed for activities and events are ordered and available.  
• Create and distribute media, including but not limited to, promotional flyers for events and activities, educational presentations for the Community Engagement department and other programming within SFCHC. 
• Act as an ambassador of the organization and represent the work of the agency to the community at, including, but not limited to, street fairs, partnering organizations, and community events. 
• Complete timely documentation of assignments and any other required documentation including, but not limited to, client interaction notes, trainings, responses to emails, presentations, etc. 
• Function in a supportive role for the various programs and projects of the Community Engagement team. 
• Participate in case conferences, staff meetings, in-service trainings, and supervisions. 
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk frequently (this position requires community outreach)
• At least one year of experience providing counseling, advocacy, education and service coordination and/or outreach work to disenfranchised communities, including people living with Hep C, HIV/AIDS, Trans-identified individuals, and people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STIs, substance use, mental health, and social services.
• Knowledge of harm reduction philosophy, client-centered counseling, and motivational interviewing techniques.
• Must be adaptive, flexible, and a team player.
• Strong verbal and written proficiency in English.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings occasionally.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of persons, documents, data, and communications. 
• Up to date with vaccinations, especially latest COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot vaccine.
• Proof of TB clearance (issued within the past 12 months).
• Spanish speaking is highly preferred

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance
• Company sponsored life, and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off including paid holidays
• Company-sponsored retirement plan
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

EEOC Statement:
San Francisco Community Health Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. San Francisco Community Health Center does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability status, gender identity, HIV status, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.