Sr. Community Outreach Specialist

The Department of Medicine is seeking a Senior Community Outreach Specialist who will provide support, education, and guidance to clients at high risk for HIV and people living with HIV who need support with linkage engagement, and/or retention in care with the goal of supporting access and adherence to treatment and care. This person will follow up with clients by phone and in person to try to engage and retain them in services. They will facilitate HIV and STI testing, post-test counseling, and status-neutral linkage to care.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform community outreach to work with other agency navigators and staff to conduct HIV testing and to find and support activities to engage new clients in PrEP and HIV linkage to care services.
  

• Educate patients referred for PrEP about PrEP services and facilitate PrEP appointments for those interested in/potentially eligible for PrEP.
  

• Meet with inpatients, ED patients, and patients at the JGBSP and/or Johns Hopkins Hospital clinics who are at high risk for HIV, newly diagnosed, or out of care providing support and encouragement about PrEP and/or living with HIV.
• Educate these consumers on the availability, importance, and effectiveness of PrEP and HIV treatment.
  

• Initiate, build, and maintain professional relationships with patients in the clinic, offering support and guidance in medical and non-medical supportive services that are available in our program and the community.
  

• Assist clients in navigating a complex medical system by building trust and a professional working relationship.
  

• Act as a liaison between social workers, clinic staff, and patients as needed
  

• Develop and update referral processes between JGBSP and community partners.
  

• Communicate any issues of concern (e.g., mental health concerns, substance use concerns, non-adherence) to the patient care team.
  

• Establish and maintain relationships with community partners by attending in-person and/or virtual meetings, town halls, and events.
  

• Assess the patient's strengths as well as needs to address individual and community barriers to care and intervene as appropriate.
  

• Assist with patient education groups in the John G. Bartlett Specialty Practice (JGBSP).
  

• Conduct follow-up in person, telephone and/or secure video calls with clients to ensure that services were obtained; reschedule appointments as needed.
  

• Educate patients on self-advocacy skills and empower them to communicate effectively with their healthcare team.
  

• Encourage patients to use supportive services and counseling (e.g. substance use counseling, therapy, etc.)
  

• Help coordinate and potentially accompany patients to medical appointments.
  

• Help coordinate clinic appointments via phone or secure video appointment.
  

• Provide educational resource materials
  

• Provide referrals for HIV services as needed.
  

• Provide wellness phone calls and support to persons struggling with adherence and/or psychosocial issues (i.e. sexual orientation, gender identity, unemployment)
  

• Assist with the administration of annual patient satisfaction surveys Plan and conduct client focus groups as needed.
  

• Assist with tracking information and general record keeping Maintain client confidentiality
  

• Provide direct service to potential consumers and to those JGBSP consumers who have fallen out of care.
  

• Document and provide pertinent information regarding services delivered in the EMR.
  

• Build rapport with community-based agencies in an effort to streamline referral processes for housing, domestic violence support, legal services, etc.
  

• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and conference calls.
  

• Work closely with other program navigators to plan and conduct navigation and outreach activities.
  

• Participate in health promotion and health education outreach.
  

• Provide HIV testing and counseling services at JGBSP and JGBSP community events. Any other duties are at the discretion of the supervisor or manager of the project.

• Bachelor's Degree is required.
• Some related work experience.
• Additional experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Basic understanding of the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility, Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and the importance of using personal and community supports.
• Lived experience with HIV, substance use, or mental health is not essential but welcome.
• The individual does not need to be in recovery him/herself but must be able to confer empathy through lived experiences.

Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Peer Recovery Navigator certification or equivalent experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Commitment to a positive, collaborative work environment that serves clinic staff and providers in order to better care for patients.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Flexibility with work schedule days/hours needed.
• Ongoing commitment to safety regarding all infectious disease protocols, including flexibility with changing protocols as necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Some competency using a computer, including email use and Microsoft Word.
• Ability to maintain clear professional boundaries.
• Proficiency with MS Word and MS Excel is preferred.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal communication skills, particularly for communicating with a wide variety of individuals from patients to administrative personnel, experienced clinicians, and physicians.
• Ability to adhere to policy and procedures and maintain clear professional boundaries.
• Attention to detail and ability to chart and enter data accurately.

Classified Title: Sr. Community Outreach Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ACRO37.5/02/CD
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY ($48,000 targeted; Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:30am-5:00pm
Exempt Status:Non-Exempt
Location:Hybrid/School of Medicine Campus
Department name: SOM DOM ID Bartlett Clinic
Personnel area: School of Medicine