<p>Company Overview: Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center, Inc. (dba Cooperative Health) is a leading community health center serving the Midlands of South Carolina since 1981. It is deeply rooted in its mission of providing accessible, high quality, compassion health care in the spirit of the Good Samaritan. The organization's values of: treating each other with respect, putting people first, being excellent at what we do, promoting a collaborative work environment, improving community/population health, fostering innovative thinkers, and getting results, are core attributes of every employee at Cooperative Health.</p> <p>Job Summary</p> <p>Under the supervision of the Ryan White Program Manager, the PrEP & Linkage to Care Coordinator will identify and link HIV-positive clients to HIV medical care through the implementation of outreach, brief intervention sessions, graduated disengagement, and follow up. Rapid HIV and HCV testing Experience working with diverse ethnic and vulnerable populations. The position works closely with an interdisciplinary team to ensure proper continuation and expansion of PrEP patient navigation and adherence counseling program and linkage to care. Use Anti-Retroviral Treatment and Access to Services (ARTAS) model which is an individual-level, multi-session, time-limited intervention designed to link individuals who have been recently diagnosed with HIV to medical care. ARTAS is based on the Strengths-based Case Management (SBCM) model, which encourages the client to identify and use personal strengths; create goals for himself/herself; and establish an effective, working relationship with the Linkage to Care Specialist. ARTAS consists of up to five client sessions conducted over a 90-day period or until the client links to medical care - whichever comes first. ARTAS views the community as a resource for the client and client sessions are encouraged to take place outside the office or wherever the client feels most comfortable. Following the final client session, the client may be linked to a long-term/Ryan White medical case manager and/or another service delivery system to address his/her longer-term barriers to remaining in care, such as substance use treatment or mental health services.</p> <p>Essential Job Functions</p> <p>The PrEP Care Navigator will also work directly with pharmacy for patients seeking consistent access and coverage for PrEP medications. The PrEP Care Navigator will ensure that participating clients receive relevant HIV/STI-related education and services, sexual health information, and navigation to health insurance if eligible. These services will be geared towards persons at-risk for HIV within the Richland, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry area and others where there is a need, focusing on any persons at-risk for acquiring HIV</p> <ul> <li>Performs Linkage to Care for all reported newly diagnosed patients. </li><li>Rapid HIV/HCV testing in communities and clinical/non-clinical settings. </li><li>Organize and conduct a minimum of twenty (20) community events to raise awareness of HIV, STI's, and risk reducing behaviors. </li><li>Link newly HIV-diagnosed individuals to HIV treatment and care, make referrals to other support services as appropriate, increase retention in care, conduct patient follow-up, assist the Outreach Program Coordinator in the coordination of and participate in community events, health fairs, etc. </li><li>Participates and conducts rapid HIV/HCV testing during annual events e.g. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, National HIV Testing Day, World AIDS Day and more </li><li>Participates in presentations to venues and events frequented by targeted populations </li><li>Develops and maintains cooperation between public, civic, professional, and voluntary agencies </li><li>Plans and provides educational opportunities for health personnel within the agency and community at large </li></ul> <p>o Conducts face-to-face Strength Assessments with clients enrolled in ARTAS to identify skill areas, abilities and personal strengths to be used to help them with linking to HIV medical care.</p> <p>o Develops a client-driven Session Plan to identify goals, objectives and specific activities needed to accomplish linkage to HIV medical care and to address barriers to care.</p> <p>o Provides timely assistance and referral to needed resources that may be defined as a barrier to care (e.g. offering to schedule transportation for and follow client to medical appointment if they don't have transportation, providing a food voucher, starting Medicaid and / or other applications if no insurance)</p> <p>o Assists clients by helping them access services needed to promote linkage to medical care, coordinating multiple services, monitoring and following-up with clients and service providers, and by case advocacy when necessary by developing and implementing session plans. The L2CS has excellent knowledge of community resources and sound judgment in prioritizing needs and formulating activities to meet those needs. The L2CS will maintain regular, periodic contact with clients to keep them engaged in the program, to assess their health status, and to check on follow through with referrals (linkages).</p> <p>o Schedule transportation for ARTAS clients and accompany the client to their HIV medical appointment as needed and any other necessary appointments as identified on their Session Plan to promote linkage to care.</p> <p>o Assists the client upon completion of their linkage to care goal with connection to Ryan White Medical Case Management Services at a location of their choice if they are interested. The L2CS will facilitate the referral for the next phase of care (if appropriate).</p> <p>o Facilitates and coordinates Discharge, Aftercare, and Follow-up Plans and services.</p> <ul> <li>Provides supportive counseling according to clients' needs within the scope of specific program or service and within the range of prior professional training and individual competency. Effects timely referrals of clients as necessary for specialized mental health services or psychotherapy. May facilitate support groups and provide basic educational group services related to his/her specialization. </li><li>Refers clients to appropriate resources during times of crisis and provides support. </li><li>Provides Information & Referral assistance so that the public may receive clear information about our agency's services and be linked effectively with appropriate community resources as necessary. </li><li>Develops and maintains professional relationships with medical providers and other community service providers. The L2CS communicates proactively in planning for interagency collaboration. The L2CS may represent the agency at specified interagency meetings. Regular, periodic follow-up with potential referral sources is a critical component of the job needed to ensure referral flow. </li><li>Understands importance of promoting, maintaining, and improving individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. </li><li>Provides HIV and STD disease intervention activities to include case interviews, partner counseling and referral services in order to get contacts/ associates/suspects identified and brought for testing. </li><li>Identify patient health needs, screen for barriers to care, provide education on HIV disease and treatment, make referrals for needed services such as mental health services among others in order to increase and facilitate client self-sustainability </li><li>Prepares and disseminates educational and informational materials and increase awareness for HIV/HCV and other related diseases </li><li>Conducts Rapid HIV and HCV testing and counseling in clinical and non-clinical settings including and not limited to substance abuse treatment centers, detention centers or jails, motels, truck stops as well as various community and in-house events </li><li>Promotes health discussions in schools, industry, and community agencies </li><li>Receives additional training, as required, to gain full proficiency and experience in all areas </li><li>Maintain condom and contact tracking logs and spreadsheets </li><li>Report and enter newly diagnosed clients and encounters into the Evaluation Web (EW) and CAREWare database in a timely manner (within 48 hrs of encounter) and assists with required written and data reports as needed. </li><li>Assists with data entry into Evaluation Web and document in Electronic Medical Records </li><li>Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies and environments. </li><li>Other duties as assigned </li></ul> <p>Qualifications</p> <p>Bachelors or Master's Degree in the human service field. Preferred Master's degree in public health or Social Work education from an accredited college or university OR Bachelor's degree in education, social, behavioral or biological sciences or a directly related field from an accredited college or university. LMSW or LBSW preferred</p> <ul> <li>Must have first-hand understanding of issues related to living with HIV or AIDS </li><li>Experience in providing HIV/HCV/STI education and related topics </li><li>Ability to work in a fast paced clinic and community setting. Proficiency in computer/automated systems purposes. Proficient in using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office Applications, including Excel and Word. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to a diverse group of people. Excellent Communication skills both written and verbal </li></ul> <p>Competencies</p> <ul> <li>Ability to embody the mission and vision of Cooperative Health. </li><li>Excellent written and verbal communication and problem solving skills. </li><li>Ability to communicate with people from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. </li><li>Ability to prioritize, organize and carry out work assignments independently and efficiently. </li><li>Ability to maintain appropriate degree of confidentiality. </li><li>Proficient in use of computer programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint </li></ul> <p>Physical demands</p> <ul> <li>Prolonged periods sitting or standing </li><li>Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds. </li><li>Be able to sit, stand, stoop, squat for extended periods of time throughout the day. </li><li>Standing or walking for extended periods throughout the day. </li></ul> <p>Company conformance statement</p> <p>In the performance of respective job assignments, all employees are required to conform with Cooperative Health's:</p> <ul> <li>Board approved policies and procedures; </li><li>Confidentiality and professional provisions; </li><li>Compliance program; and </li><li>Standards of conduct. </li></ul> <p>Cooperative Health provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Cooperative Health complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfers, leaves of absence, compensation and training.</p>