Massachusetts Jobs

https://bhchpjobs.applytojob.com/apply/ka9FCG6owO/Harm-Reduction-Specialist Job Summary: Drug overdose has become the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness in Boston. Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) advocates for a health care system without stigma, and we recognize the need to expand access to all types of addiction treatment, on demand. We assert a parallel need to reduce the harms associated with drug use for people who do not seek treatment or cannot currently access treatment. We do not require people to stop using before we can start helping. Working at the intersections of the epidemics of drug overdose, HIV risk, and homelessness, the Harm Reduction Specialist will provide care coordination and case management, behavioral risk reduction counseling and harm reduction education, and medication adherence support for people in a street-based outreach setting in Boston?s South End. Responsibilities: Work collaboratively with other Harm Reduction Specialists, nurses, medical providers on the Harm Reduction team to proactively engage and build relationship with people who use drugs in a low-threshold, street-based setting; attend Harm Reduction team staff meetings and clinical case conferencing, working collaboratively with the HIV Outreach, CCiR Van, Counseling and Testing, HepC, and House of Corrections Teams; participate in clinical supervision of Harm Reduction Specialists in individual and/or group format at least once per month Serve as a liaison, connecting patients with longitudinal case management programs at BHCHP, with the ability to assist in these transitions over a long period of time while maintaining clear lines of communication with mutual teams to ensure patient goals are met Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed services, to include: Sexual health promotion and substance use risk reduction ? Support client health promotion, behavioral risk reduction, and prevention of communicable disease acquisition or transmission by offering guidance and practical support Medical care coordination ? Facilitate access to medical care and to support continued retention in medical care and treatment services through coordination and in-person accompaniment Social services coordination ? Help clients identify health-related social service needs, help them access related resources, and support the successful utilization of these resources. This may include referrals or direct support in housing stabilization though not serving as the primary contact, and referrals or direct support in attainment of benefits Medication adherence support ? In collaboration with Harm Reduction nurses, enhance client readiness for, and adherence to, preventive and therapeutic medications for HIV/AIDS and other conditions, by providing support, developing strategies, offering counseling, and/or locating clients and supporting directly observed therapy through medication couriering Facilitate referrals to BHCHP and external services for both behavioral health and medical care, document referrals and interactions with patients in the electronic health record Visit patients at their place of residence (street, shelter, etc.) as needed to accompany them to appointments, reconnect them to care, and/or provide case management Complete training in overdose prevention and response, and respond to overdoses if nursing or medical staff are unavailable Qualifications: Bachelor?s degree (social service or related field preferred), or comparable work experience Experience working with people with substance use disorder is required; a commitment to and knowledge of harm reduction strategies and trauma informed approaches, with an emphasis on patients not needing to be abstinent to receive care and an openness to recovery being defined by the patient; experience working with people experiencing homelessness, incarceration and/or sexual violence as well a conducting street level ou