Enhanced Harm Reduction Specialist (Drop-In)

Position Description

Enhanced Harm Reduction Specialist

The Enhanced Harm Reduction Specialist is responsible for providing an array of harm reduction services to marginalized, street-based populations including people experiencing homelessness, people living with HIV, people who actively use and inject drugs, people with Hepatitis C, people who engage in sex work, and other high-risk populations. This position provides drop-in services, safer use supplies, personal care items and pantry, health education, and assistance with referrals. Overdose prevention education is conducted on a regular basis to all clients with a history of substance use.

Services are conducted utilizing a harm reduction approach that supports the client in identifying their own goals around substance use and safer sex. We support clients who are actively using, those who use occasionally, and those who are in recovery.

Essential Job Functions

Ensure drop-in is set up for the day and that the community room is cleaned up at the end of drop-in hours.

Provide direct services to clients in the drop-in, including assistance with intakes, client engagement, referrals, and distribution of needed supplies.

Track service delivery for all client services in the drop-in; enter completed services in required databases.

Provide occasional coverage for the syringe access program, which may include

• Distribute safer use supplies
• Monitor disposal of syringes being returned into the sharps container and count replacements
• Safeguard inventory
• Adhere to needle stick prevention guidelines
• Provide relevant, accurate, and appropriate risk reduction information via counseling and education, distributing literature and supplies, safer sex supplies, hygiene kits and explaining how supplies may be used to reduce risk;
• Conduct individual and group overdose prevention trainings; these trainings help clients recognize, prevent, and treat an opiate overdose;
• Coordinate referral to patient navigation/medical services. Initiate referrals to additional social support services;
• Provide Risk Reduction counseling and Education relating to HCV prevention and treatment, overdose prevention, substance use and safer sex;
• Provide Hepatitis and health care coordination to appropriate clients;
• Make referrals as needed to low threshold medical services, substance use treatment, mental health services, case management, housing services, food pantry, benefits, emergency needs and other services;
• Discuss PrEP and PEP with all HIV-negative individuals who are interested in additional HIV prevention options. Make referrals as appropriate to patient navigators.

• Other Responsibilities
• Maintain all paperwork and submit on-time to Drop-in Program Coordinator and Program Director.
• Attend trainings, service planning sessions, and other activities to ensure the provision of the most up-to-date and culturally appropriate services.
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism at all times.
• Participate in data-driven and clinical supervision, as well as departmental, divisional, and staff meetings.
• Other related duties as assigned.

• Special Skills and Knowledge
• Experience working with street-based populations, such as people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and sex workers
• Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
• Knowledge of harm reduction and the risks associated with injection drug use and sexual health
• Ability to listen to and communicate clearly and respectfully with people who use drugs, community members, peers, volunteers and agency staff
• High level of self-motivation
• Commitment to working as a member of a team
• Able to work with a team with different attitudes and personalities.