Community Health Specialist 1

Title:  Community Health Specialist I 

Division:  Clinical Services

Department:  Community Prevention Services-MOCHA Center

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Manager, MOCHA Center

Direct Reports: None

Purpose: In alignment with a multi-disciplinary health team, provide culturally relevant sexual health services, testing and health education to diverse populations, especially those at increased risk of health disparities. 

Key Job Responsibility Areas 

1. Programming
2. Service Delivery
3. Testing
4. Administrative
5. Community Networking
6. Miscellaneous

Detail of Key Job Responsibility Areas 

1. Programming
   1. Schedule, plan, and present culturally-competent educational and risk reduction programming and HIV/STI/HCV prevention and treatment education to individuals and groups of clients/patients, staff, volunteers, and community members
      1. Plan and execute community events that incorporate the arts, leverage community collaborations, and convey sexual health messaging
   2. Ensure PrEP/PEP and HIV, HCV, and STI prevention are integrated into programming and outreach programs
   3. Assist with the development and implementation of new and established culturally-competent programs/education and outreach sites with the purpose of increasing community awareness regarding prevention services at The MOCHA Center, 170 Science Parkway and Trillium Health
      1. Create and implement curriculum to train youth peers to develop self-empowerment, leadership and sexual health knowledge
      2. Assist with the guidance of youth peer program which focuses on increasing attendance at events and increasing access and linkage to appropriate prevention and sexual health services 
   4. Distribute current and appropriate educational and service materials at outreach events, one-on-one meetings, and programming
   5. Demonstrate developing knowledge of HIV, priority populations, and other health-related issues
   6. Learn and implement Evidence-Based Interventions or other structured programming
   7. Serve as an ambassador of all services of Trillium Health and The MOCHA Center during community based outreach, education, and testing

1. Service Delivery
   1. Participate in physical and/or digital outreach and link contacts to appropriate care and/or services and increase community awareness regarding HIV prevention services and Sexual Health programming at 170 Science Parkway, The MOCHA Center and Trillium Health
   2. Operate assigned vehicles, including outreach mobile unit, as needed
   3. Identify patients appropriate for PrEP/PEP
   4. Assess clients for barriers, link clients to appropriate services, and develop plans to reduce any barriers to care
   5. Provide PrEP/PEP linkage to care services
   6. Facilitate linkage to additional services needed (internal or external) as indicated by screening or assessment (including, but not limited to Ryan White C programing and services, primary care, psychosocial ,and other supportive services)
   7. Provide Ryan White Early Intervention Services (EIS) to individuals at risk of HIV who do not know their status including counseling, high risk targeted HIV testing, referral and linkage to HIV treatment, additional STI testing and/or PrEP 
   8. Conduct outreach and engagement in the Finger Lakes region with the principal purpose of identify PLWH and/or re-connecting with PLWH who have been lost to care 

1. Testing
   1. Responsible for providing HIV/HCV and STI screening and testing services, as per protocol, for walk-in clients, patients, special events, community testing events and at-home testing clients
   2. Discuss strategies for risk reduction and assist client in creating a practical risk reduction strategy that is client-centered 
   3. Connect clients to services and care including but not limited to Post- and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis 
   4. Works to initiate Rapid Start ART for newly diagnosed HIV individuals
   5. Provide condoms and other risk reduction supplies to clients
   6.  Demonstrate developing knowledge of HIV/HCV/STIs, factors affecting people who use drugs,   health disparities, and other health-related issues relevant to the mission and vision of Trillium Health
   7. Document testing services provided as required by funders

1. Administrative 
   1. Compile and report program and service data in electronic database(s) and/or electronic medical record
   2. Participate in training and continuing education initiatives to build understanding of evolving treatment and service delivery issues
   3. Navigate Microsoft Office products and other electronic platforms for communication and documentation
   4. Work with the interdisciplinary health care team  to facilitate care and keep patients and clients engaged
   5. Actively participate in quality improvement initiatives
   6. Demonstrate positive communication and teamwork within all areas and departments

1.  Community Networking
   1. Represent agency at community events
   2. Participate and provide Trillium Health representation on relevant coalitions, committees, networks, etc.

1. Miscellaneous
   1. Requires the ability and commitment to respect and support inclusiveness and diversity including but not limited to individuals of different backgrounds, cultures, races, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, experiences, opinions, etc.
   2. Maintain a compassionate, positive, and respectful attitude towards people who use drugs
   3. Requires individual demonstration of commitment to the One Trillium behaviors and business impacts and modeling them in the organization.
   4. Responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all patient, client, employee, protected, and proprietary information.
   5. Employees are accountable for meeting the performance standards of their departments and must participate as requested in compliance audits, process improvement, and quality improvement plans. 
   6. Other specific duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Have at least one of the following educational requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent and four years of experience in Health Education, Health and Human Services, or a related field
• Associate’s degree in Health Education, Health and Human Services, or related field and 2 years of related experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Health Education, Health and Human Services, or related field 

Bilingual in Spanish and/or ASL desired.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.  Occasionally the employee must stoop, bend and lift or move up to 25 lbs.  Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.  

In support of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this job description lists only those respo