Overview

VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among people affected by HIV and hepatitis C, mass incarceration and the war on drugs. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, direct services, policy advocacy and direct action with the belief that true social change must come from the bottom up and is led by those most directly impacted.

VOCAL-NY provides onsite and street-based syringe exchange, overdose prevention, hepatitis C and HIV education, care coordination, drug treatment education and other services for active and former drug users. Services are provided in a low-threshold, nonjudgmental and culturally relevant manner.

 

This position will provide harm reduction services through HCV testing and care coordination for care treatment among active and former drug users both onsite at our office and through outreach in Brooklyn. The position will report to and be supervised by the VOCAL-NY & Mount Sinai Cures program manager.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of harm reduction and past experience providing low-threshold services to active drug users and a commitment to building power among low-income people who use drugs to fight for social justice.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

  •  Outreach: Conduct regular outreach targeted at reaching people at risk for or living with Hep C. Outreach activities will include Hep C prevention education, Hep C rapid testing and dry blood spot testing, drug treatment education, and provision of referrals. .

  • Patient Navigation: Work closely with participants who have Hep C to access–and complete–treatment & care. Assess whether participants have other, more immediate needs that pose a barrier to them focusing fully on their treatment–lack of insurance, food insecurity, housing, etc.,–and work together with your team to meet participants “where they’re at” and resolve those issues first, or work with your supervisor to identify and provide appropriate referrals for issues that cannot be resolved by the team independently via VOCAL’s existing resources (i.e. housing). Escorts may also be required for these appointments.

  • Hep C Testing: Perform rapid antibody and Dry Blood Spot (DBS) confirmatory testing for Hep C virus in accordance with standard operating procedures.

  • Data collection: Maintain accurate documentation of program activities.

  • Training: Attend training as needed to improve skills and knowledge. Attend monthly “Hep C Peer Navigation Team Meetings” organized by the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Attend weekly supervision with program manager. Attended weekly VOCAL/Mount Sinai Cures meeting and case conference. 

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Completion of NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute training for SEP workers and volunteers (if not already completed, must complete within first 90 days).
  • Excellent oral communication and listening skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills, particularly data management and managing testing supplies, as well as ability to work in a sometimes chaotic environment.
  • Ability to complete required documentation.
  • Understanding of and commitment to basic harm reduction theory and practice.
  • Ability to conduct street outreach throughout various neighborhoods in Brooklyn
  • Willingness to attend additional in-house and external trainings.
  • Previous experience providing harm reduction services via street and/or site-based outreach strongly preferred.
  • Previous experience providing prevention education and safer substance use strategies and education strongly preferred.
  • Phlebotomy certification preferred, but not required.
  • Strong computer skills, including ability to use Excel and Word.
  • VOCAL-NY is an equal opportunity employer. People with a history of drug use, women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people living with HIV/AIDS are strongly encouraged to apply. 

VOCAL-NY is an equal opportunity employer. People with a history of drug use, women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people living with HIV/AIDS are strongly encouraged to apply. 

For more information, please visit our website at www.vocal-ny.org.

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