HIV Peer Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview

The HIV Peer Counselor is a community-facing member of the Springfield Urban League's Health Initiatives team responsible for engaging, educating, and supporting individuals who are disproportionately impacted by HIV, with a primary emphasis on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) men who have sex with men (MSM) throughout Central Illinois. The HIV Peer Counselor uses peer-based, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and stigma-free approaches to build trusted relationships with community members and increase access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and supportive services. The position participates in community outreach, the Springfield Urban League's NightReach Program, regional outreach activities, educational programming, HIV testing initiatives, and linkage-to-care efforts. The HIV Peer Counselor works collaboratively with Health Initiatives leadership, HIV program staff, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other partners to reduce barriers to care, increase HIV awareness, promote health equity, and improve health outcomes among populations at increased risk for or impacted by HIV.

Key Responsibilities

Community Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement

• Identify, recruit, and engage BIPOC MSM and other priority populations who may benefit from HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and supportive services.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with community members using culturally responsive, nonjudgmental, and stigma-free engagement strategies.
• Conduct targeted outreach in locations and settings frequented by priority populations.
• Participate in community events, health fairs, outreach initiatives, educational programs, and other Health Initiatives activities.
• Assist with identifying emerging community needs, service gaps, barriers to care, and opportunities for expanded HIV prevention activities.
• Support strategies designed to reach individuals who may not regularly access traditional healthcare or social service systems.

NightReach Program

• Actively participate in the Springfield Urban League's NightReach Program.
• Conduct evening and nighttime outreach in identified high-priority areas and community settings throughout Central Illinois.
• Engage individuals who may be at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
• Provide HIV prevention education and distribute approved prevention and harm-reduction materials during outreach.
• Provide information regarding HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment, safer sexual practices, and available community resources.
• Facilitate direct referrals and linkages to HIV testing, medical care, prevention services, and other appropriate resources.
• Assist Health Initiatives leadership in identifying outreach locations and strategies based on community needs and engagement trends.

HIV Education, Prevention, HIV Testing and Counseling

• Provide accurate, culturally appropriate HIV education to individuals and groups.
• Conduct or assist with workshops, presentations, outreach sessions, and community education activities.
• Educate community members regarding HIV transmission and prevention, routine testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment adherence, viral suppression, and safer sexual practices.
• Promote awareness of available HIV prevention and treatment resources.
• Address HIV-related misinformation, stigma, and barriers to accessing services through evidence-based education and peer engagement.
• Distribute approved educational materials, safer-sex supplies, and other prevention resources.
• Promote and facilitate access to confidential HIV testing.
• Conduct HIV testing when appropriately trained, certified, and authorized under Springfield Urban League protocols and applicable program requirements.
• Provide appropriate pre-test and post-test education and counseling within the employee's scope of training.
• Ensure individuals with preliminary/reactive test results are appropriately connected to confirmatory testing and follow-up services.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow all established testing, documentation, quality assurance, and infection-control procedures.
• Assist with reducing fear, stigma, and other barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking HIV testing.

Navigation and Linkage to Care

• Connect individuals living with HIV or at increased risk for HIV with appropriate healthcare providers, clinics, prevention programs, and community resources.
• Provide direct referrals for HIV prevention services, PrEP and PEP services, confirmatory testing, HIV treatment, and other health services.
• Conduct appropriate follow-up to support successful linkage to referred services.
• Identify barriers that may prevent clients from accessing or remaining engaged in care.
• Connect clients to supportive services addressing social determinants of health when appropriate, including behavioral health, housing, food, insurance, transportation, and other community resources.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care.

Peer Support and Advocacy

• Provide peer-based support to individuals living with or affected by HIV.
• Serve as a trusted resource for individuals who may experience stigma, discrimination, fear, or other barriers related to HIV prevention and treatment.
• Encourage individuals to remain engaged in appropriate prevention, testing, treatment, and supportive services.
• Advocate for respectful, equitable, culturally responsive, and accessible services for priority populations.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing meaningful relationships with clients and community members.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; associate's or bachelor's degree in public health, social work, health education, human services, behavioral health, community health, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ populations, MSM communities, and/or other populations disproportionately impacted by HIV.
• Knowledge of or willingness to develop competency in HIV prevention, testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment, sexual health, and linkage-to-care principles.