Intervention Specialist, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY

Intervention Specialist

Posted on: April 5, 2013
Posted by: Harlem United Community AIDS Center

DESCRIPTION

The Intervention Specialist is responsible for delivering two group level interventions for African American/Latina women from East and Central Harlem:

• WILLOW, a social-skills building and educational intervention for adult women living with HIV. A small group intervention, WILLOW emphasizes gender pride, informs women how to identify and maintain supportive social networks, teaches coping strategies to reduce life stressors, enhances awareness of STD transmission and HIV re-infection risk behaviors, teaches communication skills for negotiating safe sex, reinforces proper and consistent condom use, distinguishes between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and defines types of abusive relationships and their effect on a woman's ability to negotiate safer sex practices.

• SHIELD: The Self-Help in Eliminating Life-threatening Diseases (SHIELD) intervention is an innovative approach to HIV prevention. SHIELD, a group level intervention, trains current and former drug users to be Peer Educators who share HIV prevention information with people in their social networks (e.g., friends, family, sex partners, etc.).

The Intervention Specialist will screen and enroll clients into each intervention and serves as the trainer/facilitator for both interventions. Additionally, the Intervention Specialist is responsible for initiating PCRS discussion with HIV positive clients enrolled into the program, and initiates a referral to the New York City - Partner Services program as required by NYC guidelines.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The following duties are mandatory requirements of the job:

• Conduct preliminary interviews/screening for program participants to asses' immediate needs, including medical, housing, insurance, mental health and other supportive service.
• Pre-screen intervention participants into our Social Network (CTR) recruitment program.
• Recruit and screen eligible participants for the WILLOW & SHIELD interventions.
• Prepare and deliver 4 WILLOW cycles (4 group sessions per cycle) each year and successfully train at least 40 women; Conduct 3 SHIELD cycles (6 group sessions per cycle) each year and successfully train at least 30 women.
• Effectively refer clients to medical care, counseling, and behavioral health services, and document all follow up to ensure successful access to care and services.
• Provide HIV/STI/HCV screenings to the SHIELD and WILLOW workshop participants.
• Prepare peer educator support sessions and provide effective coaching and oversight to their participation in outreach and education efforts.
• When applicable, assist Linkage to Care team with connection to care activities with all HIV positive clients. Conduct preliminary interviews/screening for program to assess client's immediate needs, including medical, housing, insurance, mental health and other supportive services.
• Develop linkage agreements with community partners, HIV/AIDS clinics and hospitals, supportive services providers, etc.
• Engage clients in HIV education, risk reduction, and prevention with positives counseling.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of all program activities, both in chart documentation and AIRS and Survey Monkey databases.
• Perform quality assurance activities (documentation and chart review, session observation and group evaluations) consistent with the program's quality assurance plan.
• Participate fully in all CQI and program evaluation activities.
• Provide support to Testing program as needed

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are to be performed as assigned by the supervisor:

• Required to work some evenings and weekends.
• Participate in agency-wide events as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

Bachelors Degree preferred OR equivalent experience may substitute a college degree.. Candidate will be knowledgeable about HIV and related health issues, and well versed in harm reduction and motivational interviewing. Candidate should have experience working with peer educators or volunteers.

SPECIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

In addition to the above-listed job responsibilities and educational requirements, the ideal candidate for this position possesses most or all of the following:

• Able to provide culturally competent services and demonstrate a deep respect for the community served by our program.
• Must possess active listening and good interpersonal skills
• Experience delivering curriculum based training a plus.
• Candidate will be knowledgeable about HIV and related health issues, and well versed in harm reduction and motivational interviewing.
• Candidate should have experience working with peer educators or volunteers.

HOW TO APPLY

Harlem United is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates should forward cover letter and resume to Sakinah Jabbar, sjabbar@harlemunited.org