The part-time Hepatitis C (Hep C) Navigator will provide harm reduction services focused around Hep C education, testing, and treatment to active and former drug users, both onsite at our office and through outreach in Brooklyn.

This position will report to the HCV Programs Manager and work closely with fellow Hep C Navigators, a medical provider, and the Director of Harm Reduction Services. This team works together to help individuals with untreated Hep C access treatment. VOCAL-NY provides a low-threshold, non-judgmental, convenient treatment option in-house if preferred by the individual.

VOCAL-NY provides both onsite and street-based syringe exchange, overdose prevention, Hep C and HIV education, drug treatment education, MAT (buprenorphine), primary healthcare, and other services for active and former drug users. Services are provided in a low-threshold, non-judgmental, and culturally relevant manner.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of harm reduction and past experience providing low-threshold services to active drug users, and a commitment to building power among low-income people who use drugs to fight for social justice. Bilingual Spanish-English preferred. We encourage everyone interested to apply.

COMPENSATION

This position will work for approximately 20 hours per week, with potential for growth. Compensation starts at $20/hr, with some flexibility for exceptional candidates. Annual pay increases for this position are standard practice at VOCAL-NY under most circumstances.

BENEFITS

VOCAL-NY offers a generous benefits package with an unlimited weekly Metrocard for travel, monthly cell phone reimbursement, and wellness and vacation time. Part-time employees who have worked at VOCAL-NY for at least 3 months and who work at least 20 hours per week are also eligible for 100% employer-covered health, vision, and dental insurance.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (but are not limited to):

-- Outreach: Conduct regular outreach targeted at reaching people at risk for or living with Hep C. Outreach activities will include Hep C prevention education, Hep C rapid testing and dry blood spot testing, drug treatment education, and provision of referrals. .

-- Patient Navigation:  Patient Navigation: Work closely with participants who have Hep C to access--and complete--treatment & care. Assess whether participants have other, more immediate needs that pose a barrier to them focusing fully on their treatment--lack of insurance, food insecurity, etc.,--and work together with your team to meet participants "where they're at" and resolve those issues, or work with your supervisor to identify and provide appropriate referrals for issues that cannot be resolved by the team via VOCAL's existing resources (i.e. housing)   . Escorts may also be required for these appointments.

-- Hep C Testing: Perform rapid antibody and Dry Blood Spot (DBS) confirmatory testing for Hep C virus in accordance with standard operating procedures.

-- Data collection: Maintain accurate documentation of program activities.

-- Training: Attend training as needed to improve skills and knowledge. Attend monthly “Hep C Peer Navigation Team Meetings” organized by the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Attend weekly supervision with program manager. Attended weekly VOCAL/Mount Sinai Cures meeting and case conference.


REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

-- Completion of NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute training for SEP workers and volunteers (if not already completed, must complete within first 90 days).
-- Excellent oral communication and listening skills.
-- Excellent organizational skills, particularly data management and managing testing supplies, as well as ability to work in a sometimes chaotic environment.
-- Ability to complete required documentation.
-- Understanding of and commitment to basic harm reduction theory and practice.
-- Ability to conduct street outreach throughout various neighborhoods in Brooklyn
-- Willingness to attend additional in-house and external trainings.
-- Previous experience providing harm reduction services via street and/or site-based outreach strongly preferred.
-- Previous experience providing prevention education and safer substance use strategies and education strongly preferred.
-- Phlebotomy certification preferred, but not required.
-- Strong computer skills, including ability to use Excel and Word.

VOCAL-NY is an equal opportunity employer. People with a history of drug use, women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people living with HIV/AIDS are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information, please visit our website at www.vocal-ny.org.