Outreach Worker; Harm Reduction Clinic

Job Summary

Directly supervised by the Behavioral Health Prevention Programs/Harm Reduction Supervisor, the Syringe Services Program (SSP) staff members will provide sterile syringes, and other harm reduction supplies, written and verbal education, and referral information for the SSP participants at the Program site. The goal of this program is to increase harm reduction and syringe service programming in Cherokee Nation.

• Become familiar with the various equipment used for safer injection and the value participants place on the various supplies offered by the program.
• Become familiar with the Cherokee Nation Harm Reduction Program policies and procedures documents.
• Actively solicit feedback on what works, what doesn’t work and any needs the program’s current supply offerings do not meet.
• Provide education regarding the safest use of sharps, sharps containers, and disposal procedures, if needed, and provide sharps containers in the size and abundance needed by participants.
• Promote safe disposal, including collection and disposal of used syringes.
• Encourage participants to return all used syringes at the next visit to the program or community kiosks as applicable, whether or not they were originally supplied by the Program or not.
• Assist with the development and delivery of educational programs that are relevant to the program.
• Establish mobile or community outreach services in Cherokee communities.
• Communicate regularly with Cherokee community partners and attend coalition meetings and events.
• Assist with advertising and promotion of the program during community-based outreach.
• Provide information on and referral to the Care Coordinator for additional health services offered by Cherokee Nation, including behavioral health, prenatal care, HIV, HCV, and STI testing.
• Assist in the coordination of care for all participants who come in for SSP services.
• Follow universal safety precautions at all times to prevent syringe-related injuries and blood-borne pathogen exposure.
• Participate in ongoing training as needed.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with individuals of diverse races, socioeconomic statuses, housing statuses, variations in hygiene, ages, sexual orientations, and people who inject drugs.

No supervisory responsibility.

• Educational Requirement: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and one (1) year of specialized training or education.
• Experience Requirement: No additional experience required.
• Computer
  
  Skills:
  
  To perform this job successfully, an individual should know word processing software.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Must possess a valid driver’s license with a driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets the requirements for Cherokee Nation underwriting rating. A driver’s license is required, as certain jobs require the operation of the Mobile Harm Reduction Van.
• Other
  
  Qualifications:
  
  The employee must not be and will not be under sanction by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or by the General Services Administration (GSA) or listed on the OIG’s Cumulative Sanction Report, or the GSA’s List of Excluded Providers, or listed on the OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Lived experience with substance misuse and/or abuse, injection drug use experience preferred.
  
  Candidates must be willing to learn all aspects of HIV/STI/Hepatitis C testing, overdose response, and syringe service program delivery. In addition, candidates must possess the following characteristics:
  Team player attitude, willingness to participate in a team environment, ability to work independently, self‑motivation, strong interpersonal skills, ability to work in a collaborative office setting with a team‑based approach, ability to connect with one‑on‑one and group settings, willingness to receive constructive feedback, self‑awareness, basic technology proficiency, ability to use computer and technology to communicate, enter basic data, maintain schedules, equipment, and supply logs, and navigate internet research, and a commitment to the…