Harm Reduction Specialist

Reports to: Project Manager

Job Description: We are seeking an individual who can help work with participants of BLM Paterson, programming to navigate social service and medical systems. Many participants of our programs navigate complex identities that places barriers to receiving the services they need. The individual in this position will be able to use their lived experience, along with other training received in house as community advocate, to walk alongside clients to support them as they face these complex barriers. People who inject drugs face countless community and health barriers, including but not limited to stigma, social disparities, STI, HIV, Hepatitis C, and possible overdose. BLM Paterson program utilizes a harm reduction approach to decrease negative consequences of drug use, through education, outreach, and advocacy. On a yearly basis, we reach over 500 out of treatment individuals who inject drugs, providing access to the tools they need to stay healthy and to stay alive. This position would focus their work with people who actively use substances to engage them in staying healthy and alive.

Responsibilities

1. Active engagement with people who use substances and individuals who are living with, or at risk for HIV using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction, trauma- informed practice and healing based practices.
2. Distribute and recover harm reduction supplies, and provide education and support on safer drug use, safer sex, HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs.
3. Conduct street-level outreach activities to people who inject drugs in areas or neighborhoods identified as high-risk or high-need
4. Work one-on-one with participants to set goals in achieving any positive change as they define it for themselves
5. Assist in creating a supportive environment in which Recovery is an individually defined concept, and all paths towards it are encouraged. Share personal recovery journey as needed.
6. Facilitate individual and group sessions on an on-going and as needed basis.
7. Identify participants in need and provide appropriate referrals, including assisting participants with accessing support services such as substance use treatment, homeless shelters, syringe exchange, OD prevention and Naloxone, PrEP, treatment for HIV, HCV, and STIs, and other services as needed
8. Identify service providers working with populations at risk for overdose.
9. Develop and maintain partnerships with local service providers to reach focus population.
10. Maintain a presence at community events reaching focus populations.
11. Work through existing opioid using networks to increase awareness and utilization harm reduction services.
12. Identify locations to provide on demand overdose prevention and response trainings.
13. Provide service delivery in line with BLM Paterson policy and procedure.
14. Correctly fill out all requisite paperwork, and accurately track program data.
15. Recommend program improvements, and innovative strategies to reach focus populations as needed.
16. Coordinate and implement all program activities as per scope of work and timeline.
17. Link newly diagnosed individuals to care services, including case management and doctor appointments, as well as helping with access to health insurance.
18. Assist with outreach and HIV testing efforts.
19. Attend specialized training specific to program design and implementation, and behavior change theory application.
20. Assist in achieving agency goals and additional responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications:

1. Lived experience as an individual who uses drugs.
2. Recovery Coach Certification (assistance can be provided to obtain).
3. Ability to work effectively with humans of diverse gender identities, races ,ethnicities ,ages, sexual orientations, and drug use patterns, in a multicultural environment. This is a critical component to the agency and the work that is done in the community.
4. Willingness to work non-traditional hours(nights and weekends).
5. Must be able to work independently as well as in a team environment.
6. Must demonstrate sound judgment, initiative and discretionary abilities.
7. HIV/HCV testing certification obtained within 6 months of hire.
8. Must possess reliable transportation.

Critical Qualities

1. Confidentiality-capable of maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality with regard to client and organizational information.
2. PersonCentered-capable of working with individuals to identify need sand priorities, and

facilitate any positive change as a client defines that for themselves.

1. Motivated-capable of taking the initiative and following a project through to completion.
2. Organized- capable of prioritizing needs, goals and objectives. Capable of maintaining all required information to achieve goals and priorities.
3. Problem Solver-capable of thinking on the spot to resolve problem situations as they arise. Able to assess relevant information, identify a range of options, and make recommendations for resolution of problem situations.

10 AM until 5PM & room for some non traditional hours