LGBTQ+ Health Specialist

LGBTQ+ Health Specialist

The LGBTQ+ Health Specialist is responsible for the coordination of educational and peer support programs for the Boston Living Center and the delivery of service activities that support ongoing engagement and retention in services. The LGBTQ+ Health Specialist provides substance misuse and HIV prevention services to racial and ethnic minority males at risk for HIV/AIDS through a person driven, harm reduction model. The LGBTQ+ Health Specialist will prioritize their focus on a population of males who have sex with other males (MSM) including transgender individuals, as well as those identifying as LGBTQ+, who are at risk of substance misuse and infectious disease acquisition. The LGBTQ+ Health Specialist reports to the Milieu Engagement Manager for supervision and support.

The Boston Living Center is a non-residential community center/resource program in Boston's Back Bay for individuals living with chronic health conditions (e.g. HIV/AIDS), substance use disorder, those experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and/or those at risk of experiencing street based trauma.

Essential Functions:

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs, Inc.'s Standards of Excellence & Philosophy Care always including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality and working from a strength based.
• Support clients in housing navigation and resources to barrier remediation.
• Assist members in connecting to services through individual and group level support and referrals
• Provide PrEP education and support clients with accessing PrEP from partner health centers.
• Facilitate verbal and written harm reduction counseling related to safer injection practice, wound care, overdose prevention, sexual health, vein and abscess care, and prevention of infectious disease transmission to clients.
• Provide syringe services, naloxone, and harm reduction supplies for individuals at risk for overdose or infectious disease transmission.
• Facilitate groups and workshops on issues relevant to health navigation needs, social support and other issues that is relevant to members needs/risk
• Facilitate VOICES/VOCE Intervention for MSM members
• Actively follow up with members that have engaged in updates and peer support through milieu support and follow-up phone calls and wellness checks
• Coordinate and Complete outreach and recruitment activities for the identified populations of focus
• Participate in the intake process and orientation of new members
• Encourage clients to become active in their own healthcare.
• Engage in relationship building, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing and conflict de-escalation as needed in the milieu space.
• Comply with agency protocols for data collection and record management, including but not limited to sign in sheets, reminder calls for appointments, individual progress notes, milieu support notes, group notes and individual action plans in the electronic health record within 24 hours of service.
• Coordinate recruitment and retention into peer support and education programming
• Collaborate and coordinate with outside partner agencies to bring guest presenters for workshops, on the job preparedness and maintaining employment, computer literacy and other topics.
• Remain in good standing with agency and funder required training
• Attend weekly supervision, monthly staff meetings, and periodic professional development training and workshops as requested by the supervisor.
• Participate and support the agency in program events, State House rallies, fundraising and advocacy events, rallies, walks and any additional functions.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Phlebotomy and specimen collection training/certification or a willingness to be trained.
• Working knowledge of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, STIs, and sex work as well as health-related social issues faced by persons who use drugs.
• Competency working with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including an ability to have open and affirming conversations about sex and substance use risk.
• Ability to work in an environment that involves potentially hazardous materials (blood borne pathogens, discarded syringes, etc.) and situations that require safety precautions and/or the use of protective equipment.
• Prior experience in a milieu or drop-in environment serving homeless and/or people who use drugs required.
• Proficient computer skills.
• Must be CPR certified (may be obtained upon hire)
• Completed TB screening (may be obtained upon hire)
• Three work related professional references; at least 2 from manager or supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two years of experience working in harm reduction, community health, or human services.
• Conversational Spanish.
• Previous experience in nonviolent crisis intervention, de-escalation, and milieu management.

Position Type: Full Time (40 hours) Monday - Friday 7:30am-3:30pm. On-site.

Rate: $26.00/hr

Victory Programs values a diverse workforce, as we collectively seek to create welcoming, inclusive and accessible environments for our employees and the people we serve. We strive to sustain healthy, functioning communities that respect and celebrate different experiences, identities, cultures and ideas.

Victory Programs has helped individuals and families in crisis for over 45 years. Thousands turn to us yearly for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support. Most struggle with homelessness, substance use and mental health, and many live with HIV/AIDS. Our team of more than 300 staff across over 30+ programs work with people to develop and execute creative, safe solutions to the very real challenges our clients face.

Our benefit program includes a 75% health and 25% dental employer premium contribution, 100% employer paid disability and life insurance. Victory Programs offers a generous paid time off package to all employees including vacation, sick, and personal time as well as holidays. Upon hire, all staff are entitled to up to: 4 personal days, 160 sick hours, 10 holidays and 3 1/2 weeks of vacation. These figures adjust based on full time or part time status and allocated vacation time increases with length of employment.