Human Services Program Specialist

Human Services Program Specialist

This is a restricted position, which is funded by the Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments grant for a period ending 2/28/2027 and the High Impact HIV Prevention and Surveillance Programs for Health Departments grant for a period ending 5/31/2027. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds. The Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) is responsible for independently identifying and contacting individuals known or suspected of being exposed to or at high risk of exposure to a sexually transmitted infections (STI) and other communicable diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and others. Duties include alerting individuals to their health risks, behavior changes needed to reduce risks to themselves or to others, resources and methods available to treat and control the disease as well as to contain further transmission of disease. Follows up on contacts to determine if they have received treatment, changed their behavior to reduce health risk, and procured other available services as necessary to ensure improved health care. Works in the Central region of Virginia, primarily in the greater Richmond metropolitan area. The employee is responsible for independently identifying and contacting persons known or suspected of transmitting or being exposed to communicable diseases such as syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, viral hepatitis (VH) and other conditions in a culturally sensitive manner. Duties include: confidentially locating and notifying persons of their positive test results, exposure and health risks; providing client-centered counseling and education; referring at risk persons for testing, clinical evaluation, treatment and other services available both on-site and in the community; collaborating with physicians and health care providers to refer and/or obtain information about patients; and interviewing infected and non-infected patients to identify partners and others (e.g., social contacts) who may be associated with the infection to prevent further transmission and adverse health outcomes. The employee manages STD/HIV/VH cases to ensure that all partners and social contacts, exposed or at risk, receive adequate clinical management (testing, evaluation, and treatment), counseling and education on strategies for behavior modification to reduce health risks, and facilitate access to other needed services. Provides technical assistance to local health department personnel and health care providers on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) STD Treatment Guidelines, disease surveillance, and epidemiological methods. As a subject matter expert, provides training and technical assistance to internal and external public health and community health partners. Assists other local health departments throughout the state during times of significant morbidity increases by helping develop and participate in outbreak response management for sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other communicable diseases of public health significance. Formulates intervention techniques, implements screening activities, performs partner counseling and referral services, and provides linkage to care and active referral services. Provides technical assistance to district/local health department personnel and to health care providers on treatment and field-related methods. Verifies treatment for STD/HIV reported cases. Documents findings and makes recommendations to enhance case finding and reporting activities. This position is located in Harrisonburg but travel throughout the region and state will be required. Overnight travel expenses will be covered by the employer. Occasional evening and weekend work are required, and a personal car is needed for fieldwork, with mileage being reimbursed. The selected candidate may request to work from an alternate health department location in the Central region, pending availability of space and approval of the hiring manager. The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

•Knowledge of and/or experience in public health practices, HIV, STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), HBV/HCV, and other communicable diseases; experience performing phlebotomy. •Knowledge and/or experience with administration, planning, service delivery, and evaluation of principles and practices that support reporting, surveillance, and quality assurance for public health initiatives •Knowledge and experience with providing training, developing and communicating information, ensuring compliance with policy and regulations, and maintaining documentation •Knowledge and/or experience with data collection, ensuring data accuracy and integrity, and making data corrections •Ability to listen, understand and empathize in a culturally sensitive manner, and use motivational skills to build rapport with clients and engagement in disease intervention services; ability to work with diverse populations in diverse settings; develop and deliver presentations •Experience identifying, analyzing, and providing recommendations for problem resolution •Experience working as part of a team, responding to inquiries in a professional and timely manner, interpreting and applying policies and procedures, and preparing correspondence •Demonstrated effective oral and written communication, organizational, time management, analytical, interpersonal, and decision-making skills

Additional Considerations

•Experience providing disease intervention or support services to people living with or exposed to an STI. •Proficiency with or fluency in Spanish or another language. •Public health experience •Frequent in-state travel required. Staff must have access to a vehicle, and will be reimbursed for work-related mileage.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service's Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions. It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment. As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Contact Information

Name: Curt Crostic

Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer