Community Response Community Health Worker Tues- Sat 1 p

Job Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Community Response Community Health Worker, mental health /substance use is to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. This position is responsible for being a trusted member of the community, where they can be engaged to provide psychosocial support to participants who were at increased need for providing an array of street-based harm reduction services to people calling for assistance from the Police Department that may or may not be actively using drugs, including injection drug users (IDUs), sex workers, and people living with HIV/AIDS and/or Hepatitis C amongst other social determinants. The general duty is to reduce the need for arrest in favor of referrals to appropriate treatment resources and supports, and, to promote safety for persons in crisis, the community, and the police. All activities are designed to be consistent with SSP service model, based on educating and empowering individuals for self- advocacy and to make self-identified changes in their lives with reducing need for emergency services.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Perform outreach activities and prevention education to foster good community relations, educate about program services and assess needs in Hartford neighborhoods where there is high crime and utilization of 911 for crisis intervention.

Engage high-risk, hard to reach people who use drugs or engage in sex work, including injection drug users.

Identify potential recruitment locations. Engage in dialogue with participants and other community members to continually improve our services and ensure that CRT is operating its sites and engaging in outreach activities in the best locations at the best times.

Culturally appropriate health promotion and health education such as safer sex and safer drug use education and distribute syringes and other health-related resources and tools (and collect used syringes) in accordance with public health regulations.

In a manner consistent with Harm Reduction principles, provide substance use and sexual risk assessments and discuss individualized risk reduction and harm reduction strategies (including safer injection practices; safer sex practices; overdose prevention and reversal; drug use management techniques; HIV, HCV and STI prevention; and other topics relevant to people who use drugs).

Provide low-threshold referrals and connect participants with medical care, substance use and mental health treatment, and other life-stabilizing services.

Solicit and track feedback from participants to ensure that the agencies to which we refer are effective and treat participants with respect and in a manner appropriate to harm reduction programs. This includes, helping connect to schedule appointments to identified service/resource.

Emphasizes person-centered, recovery-oriented approaches and interventions.

Prepares participants to recognize and respond to various mental health and addiction crisis, including trauma; develop effective communication and connection skills.

Establish and maintain enhanced communication between community members and providers.

Model proper participant engagement and outreach for other staff, peers, and volunteers.

Provide guidance and mentorship as necessary.

Keep accurate, consistent, complete records and data on all program activities and/ or participants; provide program director with reports in a timely manner.

Prepare, set up and dismantle program sites and other program materials. Ensure the integrity of the sites and maintain inventory of program supplies and bilingual educational materials.

Complete vehicle daily maintenance logs which include oil, tires, gas, and structural checks. Document and report any incidents or accidents within 24 hours of occurrence. Ensure that vehicles are kept clean, properly stocked, and ready for service.

Must be available to work a varied schedule, late evenings, weekends, and unconventional hours.

Perform all other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND HEALTH CERTIFICATIONS

Education: Associates with an approved combination of experience, certification, and or education.

Minimum Years of Experience: A minimum of three years of experience in client case management.

Active Certification in good Standing: Community Health Worker (CHW) preferred, Valid Driver’s license.

Demonstrate skills: Ability to manage diverse operations, effectively multi-task and a style that encourages creativity, growth, collaboration, problem solving, open communication and accountability. Organized, self-motivated team-player, with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Proficient in MS Office Suite and in using technology for data collection as a management reporting tool. Ability to compile written reports and maintain case notes. Ability to work with diverse, multicultural population. Ability and willingness to be hands-on and solve problems as they arise. Willingness to work outdoors (sometimes in inclement weather), and/or in participants’ homes.

Knowledge: Knowledge of local community resources.

Physical and TB Required: Yes, prior to appointment.

Bilingual: Preferred – Language Spanish

Driving Required: Yes. Agency Vehicle: Yes, Employee’s Own Vehicle: Yes, with proof

of auto liability ins.

Active Driver License in good standing required upon hire and throughout employment.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

Significant work or personal life experience with substance use, PLWHA, women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, sex work, and the formerly incarcerated.

Skills in the areas of harm reduction up to including safer injection and safer drug use techniques and overdose prevention, HIV and HCV prevention and treatment desired.

Significant ties to the Hartford community and resources available.

Experience in advancing an agenda of equal rights and social justice for marginalized people.

Ability to adapt to rapid change.

Experience working in high risk, fast paced, environments.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: All tasks require visual perception and discrimination and the ability to communicate daily in oral and written form.

Environmental Factors: Tasks performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.