Neighborhood Health - Alexandria, VA
posted 3 days ago
About the position
The HIV/STD Outreach Worker provides testing, linkage, and support to local high-risk low-income immigrant populations. This role involves serving as one of Neighborhood Health's Spanish-speaking outreach workers, engaging with the community to find, teach, test, link to care, and retain individuals in care who are most at-risk for HIV infection. The outreach worker will focus on reaching at-risk populations for HIV and STDs, particularly low-income and uninsured new immigrants, people of color (especially African and Latinx) in the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County. The position requires working non-traditional hours to meet potential clients in various community locations such as night clubs, faith communities, housing developments, laundromats, and hair salons/barbershops. The outreach worker will assist clients who test positive for HIV in seeking medical care and case management services, and connect those who test negative but are at risk for HIV and STDs to Neighborhood Health's Regional Early Intervention Services program for further support.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a Spanish-speaking outreach worker to engage with high-risk populations.
- Conduct outreach to low-income and uninsured new immigrants and people of color at risk for HIV.
- Work non-traditional hours to meet clients in community locations.
- Assist clients who test positive for HIV in seeking medical care and case management services.
- Connect clients who test negative for HIV to health care and other services.
- Implement regular targeted testing events with the EIS Social Services Coordinator and HIV Prevention Manager.
- Conduct CLIA-waived HIV testing at community partner sites and Neighborhood Health clinics.
- Educate community partners about HIV testing opportunities and prevention.
- Implement community education activities for targeted at-risk populations.
- Assess and refer individuals for additional health services as needed.
- Participate in team strategy sessions and event planning.
- Accurately track and document activities and interventions.
- Link clients to health insurance eligibility and enrollment specialists.
- Tally and enter data to track individuals tested.
Requirements
- Minimum high school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree preferred.
- At least one year of documented community-based experience.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Amharic) required.
- Demonstrated understanding of and experience working with diverse communities.
- Comfort with discussing sexually sensitive topics.
- Demonstrated cultural competence with diverse beliefs and norms.
- Experience providing health education, particularly knowledge of HIV/STD/Hep B and C.
- Knowledge of disease transmission and health beliefs of immigrant populations.
- Familiarity with Northern Virginia areas and valid driver's license.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with community outreach strategies.
- Knowledge of HIV prevention and treatment options.
- Familiarity with local health resources and services.
Benefits
- Flexible working hours including evenings and weekends.
- Travel reimbursement for work-related travel outside the region.
