Community Health Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Department:  Harm Reduction Services

Position type:  Full-Time

FLSA:  Non-exempt

Job Summary:

Working as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, the Community Health Specialist 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 trauma-informed care and health equity principles, with a focus on priority populations.

The Community Health Specialist engages individuals through outreach, education, testing, prevention programming, and linkage to health care, helping clients improve health outcomes and access needed resources and services.

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Outreach & Community Engagement

• Conducts community-based outreach throughout Monroe County and the Finger Lakes region.
• Builds trusting relationships with individuals, community partners, and service providers.
• Operates agency vehicles, including mobile outreach units, in accordance with organizational policies.
• Represents Trillium Health at community events, outreach activities, coalitions, and public education initiatives.
• Distributes educational materials and prevention resources during outreach and engagement activities.
• Promotes awareness of Trillium Health services and facilitate access to care and support services.
• Identifies service gaps and contributes to outreach and engagement strategies that address community needs.

2. Testing, Prevention & Health Education

• Completes required training and competency requirements for HIV, HCV, and STI testing services.
• Provides HIV, HCV, and STI screening and testing onsite and in community, events, and mobile settings.
• Delivers culturally responsive health education related to HIV, HCV, STIs, substance use, and other relevant emerging public health concerns.
• Integrates overdose prevention, harm reduction, and HIV prevention strategies, including PrEP and PEP education, into outreach and service delivery activities.
• Assists clients in developing individualized risk-reduction plans.
• Facilitates access to prevention services, treatment, and care, including PrEP, PEP, HCV treatment and Rapid Start ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) when appropriate.
• Supports development and implementation of educational programming and outreach initiatives.
• Serves as a knowledgeable resource regarding Trillium Health programs and services.

3. Care Navigation & Linkage to Services

• Conducts screenings to identify social determinants of health, barriers to care, and unmet client needs.
• Develops and coordinates client-centered service plans.
• Provides 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 [JR1] services as needed
• Supports individuals who are newly diagnosed with HIV and/or HCV, out of care, or at increased risk for adverse health outcomes.
• Assists clients in navigating healthcare systems, insurance enrollment, and community resources.
• Maintains ongoing communication with clients to support engagement in care and successful service connections.

4. Administrative & Quality Improvement Responsibilities

• Collects, maintains, and reports program data in accordance with organizational, funder, and regulatory requirements.
• Documents services accurately, completely, and within required timeframes utilizing electronic systems, including electronic medical records (EMR) and AIDS Institute Reporting System (AIRS).
• Participates in staff meetings, supervision, training, and professional development activities.
• Collaborates effectively with interdisciplinary teams and community partners.
• Contributes to quality improvement, compliance, and program evaluation efforts.
• Maintains confidentiality and adheres to all organizational policies, procedures, and data security requirements.
• Supports onboarding, training, and mentoring activities as assigned.

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 departmental performance standards 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 duties as assigned

Preferred Skills/Abilities: 

• Understanding of and commitment to harm reduction theory and practice.
• Bilingual in Spanish and/or ASL desired. 
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and health equity principles.
• Experience working in community-based social services and/or outreach.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the service area.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Ability to safely operate agency vehicles and mobile service units.

Education and Experience:

Must meet one of the following:

• 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; or
• Associate degree and two (2) years of related experience (prevention, community outreach, public health, harm reduction, care navigation, health and human services); or
• Bachelor's degree in Health Education, Public Health, Human Services, or a related field and experience working with underserved populations (including individuals and communities who experience barriers to healthcare and social services, including people impacted by poverty, housing instability, substance use, behavioral health needs, justice involvement, stigma, discrimination, limited insurance coverage, or limited access to culturally responsive care).

Physical Requirements: 

While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. Occasionally the employee must stoop, bend and lift or move up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

In support of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this job description lists only those responsibilities and qualifications deemed essential to the position.