HIV Prevention Specialist

HIV Prevention Specialist

Prevention Team

Damien Center Values

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Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization (ASO) and serves more than 8000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to care and prevention. Our purpose is to be a trusted partner in providing services, education and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care. Our services include care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition.

Position Summary:

The HIV Prevention Specialist is part of the Prevention Team with the primary goal of HIV prevention and PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) adoption among high-risk populations, focusing on African American and Latino men who have sex with men. This position will plan and coordinate trainings about HIV/AIDS, PrEP adoption, harm reduction, best practices in prevention, and effective risk-reduction messaging. The program’s goal is to provide sexual health and harm reduction education to communities at high risk of HIV infection. This position will target those affected by substance use, educating them about the availability of prevention services at Damien Center, including HIV/STI testing, and connecting individuals with PrEP services, Peer Recovery coaching, as well as the appropriate counseling services in-house or via referral. The HIV Prevention Specialist will also identify outreach opportunities to promote clinical services to HIV+ individuals who are not currently in care as well as engage individuals with immediate need for Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills.

• Identify high-risk and uninsured individuals and provide education about HIV prevention and PrEP navigation services to appropriate programs.
  • Recruit and engage persons from high-risk populations who would be influential in spreading the program’s message of prevention.
  • Elicit the involvement, support, and cooperation of key organizations and individuals (or “gatekeepers”) in the community to support the program and which result in PrEP adoption and/or HIV testing.
  • Provide PrEP and PEP navigation to individuals who are referrals, community members, or walk ins who are at high risk for HIV.
  • Continually adapt and identify at risk populations.
  • Assist with the coordination, logistics and implementation of marketing campaigns.
  • Follow all guidelines in the grant including data collection and reporting.
  • Keep accurate and updated data documentation on client interactions.
  • Implement effective behavior change communication messaging targeting risk-related attitudes, norms, intentions, and self-efficacy.
  • Engage in continuous risk reduction messages/conversations with social networks and community allies in the target population, as well as implement community trainings and evidence based strategies for substance use prevention among the focus population.
  • Provide a pre-screening assessment for individuals affected by substance use.
  • Engage and interact with pre-screen patients to connect with Peer Recovery Coaches.
  • Provide an integrated, highly targeted approach to PrEP education for high-risk populations, address perceived barriers, provide information on receiving services and update staff members on the latest information pertaining to PrEP.
  • Endorse the benefits of safer sexual behavior and harm reduction to better recommend practical steps needed to implement change.
  • Conduct outreach events to raise awareness of the availability of Damien Center services, at appropriate events, bars, and other venues providing information on HIV prevention and the availability of PrEP and PEP.
  • Provide appropriate referrals for care, treatment and/or prevention.
  • Conduct risk reduction presentations with identified partner programs.
  • Link individuals interested in becoming a client/patient at Damien Center with the appropriate team member.
  • Performs special assignments and other work, on an as-needed basis.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree in social work, Public Health, Human Services, or related field preferred.
Two years’ experience providing community outreach, community education and/or work in the HIV/AIDS or related field preferred. A person who represents the focus population of the position preferred.

*Work or lived experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess superior organizational and administrative skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Ability to work independently and achieve high standards of productivity, achieving deadlines and with superior product results. Strong calendaring, organizational, and document management skills required. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects. The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Remote work is on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the supervisor.

• Office setting, with sustained use of a computer.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Individuals should maintain personal and professional competency and work to create an environment of courtesy, respect, inclusion, and positivity in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.

• FLSA Status: Salaried, Full-time, Exempt
• Leader: Senior Program Manager of Community Engagement
• Salary: $42,500

• Benefits:
• 150 hours of PTO in the first year followed by 195 hours per year moving forward.

• 12 paid holidays
• Medical coverage options include a PPO plan or a HDHP.
• Dental & Vision plans
• Health Saving Account or Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403b Retirement Account with 5% matching and 100% vesting after 90 days
• Life Insurance @ 2 times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life Insurance Plan including spouse and child coverage options
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Plans
• Premium Subscription to the CALM APP which assists with anxiety, stress & other mental health challenges
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Annual performance review that includes an annual performance-based salary increase

Protecting our team members, clients, volunteers, and community partners is an integral part of how we ensure our continued work with the clients we serve. As a condition of employment, Damien Center requires team members to be vaccinated against influenza and receive a tuberculosis skin test (or chest x-ray) annually, and to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (including all boosters), barring an approved religious or medical exemption.

Damien Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Damien Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, other legally protected status, or genetic (including family medical history) information.

Damien Center complies with applicable federal laws and with all state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which Damien Center has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please apply at www.damien.org/job-opportunities

This position description does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee of any terms or conditions of employment. Damien Center employees are employed on an at-will basis. Nothing in this position description restricts Damien Center’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.