Community Health Specialist 2

Job Description

Job Description

Department: Community Engagement Center (MOCHA)
Position Type: Full-Time
FLSA:  Non-Exempt

Job Summary: 

Working as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, the Community Health Specialist II provides harm reduction, sexual health, outreach, testing, and service navigation services to individuals experiencing health disparities throughout the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions. This position delivers client-centered services grounded in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and health equity principles, with a focus on those at increased risk for infection with HIV/HCV/STI and other priority populations.

The Community Health Specialist II engages individuals through outreach, formal sexual health education, testing, evidenced-based intervention programming, and linkage to care, helping clients improve health outcomes and access needed resources and services.

Duties/Responsibilities:  

Outreach & Community Engagement

• Conduct community-based outreach throughout Monroe County and the Finger Lakes region.
• Build trusting relationships with individuals, community partners, and service providers.
• Operate agency vehicles, including mobile outreach units, in accordance with organizational policies.
• Represent Trillium Health at community events, outreach activities, coalitions, and public education initiatives.
• Distribute educational materials and prevention resources during outreach and engagement activities.
• Promote awareness of Trillium Health services and facilitate access to care and support services.
• Identify service gaps and contribute to outreach and engagement strategies that address community needs.

Testing, Prevention & Health Education

• Complete required training and competency requirements for HIV, HCV, and STI testing services.
• Provide HIV, HCV, and STI screening and testing onsite and in community, event, and mobile settings.
• Deliver culturally responsive health education related to HIV, HCV, STIs, substance use, and other relevant emerging public health concerns.
• Integrate overdose prevention, harm reduction, and HIV prevention strategies, including PrEP and PEP education, into outreach and service delivery activities.
• Assist clients in developing individualized risk-reduction plans.
• Facilitate access to prevention services, treatment, and care, including PrEP, PEP, HCV treatment and Rapid Start ART when appropriate.
• Support development and implementation of educational programming and outreach initiatives.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource regarding Trillium Health programs and services.

Care Navigation & Linkage to Services

• Conduct screenings to identify social determinants of health, barriers to care, and unmet client needs.
• Develop and coordinate client-centered service plans.
• Provide referrals and active linkage to internal and external services, including: 
  • Primary care
  • Specialty Care (HIV and HCV treatment, Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD))
  • Behavioral health services
  • Other supportive services as needed
• Support individuals who are newly diagnosed with HIV and/or HCV, out of care, or at increased risk for adverse health outcomes.
• Assist clients in navigating healthcare systems, insurance enrollment, and community resources.
• Maintain ongoing communication with clients to support engagement in care and successful service connections.

Administrative & Quality Improvement Responsibilities

• Collect, maintain, and report program data in accordance with organizational, funder, and regulatory requirements.
• Document services accurately, completely, and within required timeframes utilizing electronic systems, including electronic medical record (EMR) and AIDS Institute Reporting System (AIRS).
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, training, and professional development activities.
• Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams and community partners.
• Contribute to quality improvement, compliance, and program evaluation efforts.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to all organizational policies, procedures, and data security requirements.
• Support onboarding, training, and mentoring activities as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Sexual Health Education and Program Implementation

• Develop, adapt, review, and update sexual health education curricula and training materials to ensure alignment with current public health guidance, evidence-based practices, and the needs of priority populations.
• Facilitate sexual health education programs for diverse populations, utilizing interactive and trauma-informed approaches that support participant engagement and behavior change.
• Deliver individual and group educational interventions focused on HIV, HCV, STI prevention, testing, treatment, harm reduction, and linkage to care.
• Provide education and training assistance to community partners, educators, healthcare providers, and peer educators on sexual health and disease prevention topics.
• Foster inclusive learning environments that promote informed decision-making, reduce stigma, and support health equity.
• Support health equity initiatives by addressing social determinants of health, reducing barriers to care, and promoting access to prevention resources and services.
• Maintain professional boundaries and uphold principles of confidentiality, dignity, and self-determination.

Miscellaneous

• Requires the ability and commitment to respect and support patients, other employees and visitors with various lived experiences.
• Requires individual demonstration of commitment to the mission, vision, One Trillium values, behaviors and modeling them in the organization.
• Responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all patient, client, employee, protected and proprietary information.
• Employees are accountable for meeting the performance standards of their departments and must participate as requested in compliance audits and quality improvement plans.
• Required to participate in continuous improvement of job responsibilities and organizational or work processes to advance the organization or department. 
• Other specific duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:  

Candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of experience in sexual health services, health education, public health, human services, or a related field;
• Associate degree and two (2) years of related experience; or
• Bachelor's degree in Health Education, Public Health, Human Services, or a related field and experience working with underserved populations

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the service area.
• Bilingual in Spanish and/or American Sign Language (ASL) strongly preferred. 
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction theory, motivational interviewing, and health equity principles.
• Experience working in community-based social services and/or outreach.
• Experience in facilitation of public health or sexual health/HIV prevention curricula.
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, reach, communicate, and use hands to perform job-related tasks. Occasional bending, stooping, and lifting or moving up to 25 pounds may be required. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this job description identifies the essential functions and requirements of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties that may be assigned.