HIV Early Intervention Outreach Worker

Neighborhood Health - Alexandria, VA

- Entry Level

Alexandria, VA

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, going into the community to find, teach, test, link to care, and retain in care the populations most at-risk for HIV infection. The outreach worker will reach at-risk populations for HIV and STDs, such as low-income and uninsured new immigrants, people of color (particularly African and Latinx) in the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County who are at-risk for HIV, who may have HIV without knowing it, or who have fallen out of care. The position requires working non-traditional hours to meet potential clients in various locations such as night clubs, faith communities, housing developments, laundromats, and hair salons/barbershops. The outreach worker will help clients who test positive for HIV to seek medical care treatment and case management services through the Neighborhood Health Ryan White program if desired, and connect those who test negative for HIV but are at risk for HIV and STDs to Neighborhood Health's status neutral Regional Early Intervention Services program for linkages to health care and other services.

Responsibilities

• Implement regular targeted testing events with the EIS Social Services Coordinator and the HIV Prevention Manager.
• Conduct CLIA-waived HIV testing using established procedures at community partner sites and Neighborhood Health clinics.
• Report and document all waived testing results in electronic medical record and/or testing database.
• Work with local agencies to educate and heighten awareness of HIV testing opportunities and HIV prevention.
• Implement one-on-one, group, and community education activities for targeted at-risk populations.
• Assess and refer individuals who receive testing and those in need of additional health and/or HIV-related services.
• Participate in team strategy sessions, event planning, and materials development.
• Accurately track and document activities and interventions and report to the Program Manager.
• Link clients to NH eligibility and enrollment specialist if client eligible for health insurance.
• Tally and enter data to track individuals tested.
• Work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

Requirements

• Minimum high school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience working comfortably with diverse communities.
• At least one-year documented community-based experience.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Amharic) required.
• Comfort with discussing sexually sensitive topics.
• Demonstrated cultural competence with diverse beliefs and norms.
• Experience providing health education (knowledge of HIV/STD/Hep B and C a plus).
• Knowledge of disease transmission.
• Demonstrated success with community outreach strategies.
• Knowledge about the health beliefs of immigrant populations.
• Familiarity with Northern Virginia areas, and valid driver's license.

Benefits

• Work-related travel outside of the region is reimbursed at the government rate per mile.