Youth Services HIV Navigator

Summary:

Streetwork Project is an innovative outreach-counseling program for homeless youth in Harlem, which utilizes a harm reduction approach. Youth Services Navigator provides comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults impacted by homelessness and involved in street activities (gangs, violence, drug use/sale and survival sex).  The Youth Services Navigator will provide comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults seeking assistance with obtaining supportive services to address their substance use and mental health needs, particularly with respect to HIV counseling and testing. Ancillary support is available to clients for case planning, case facilitation and management, supportive counseling, mental health counseling, referrals, crisis transportation, daily living services (food, shower, respite), triage counseling, recreational activities and support groups.  The Youth Services Navigator will coordinate with other program staff in obtaining assistance and linking youth to HIV/STI treatment and care.

Responsibilities:

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients.
• Engagement of adolescents into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect)
• Milieu counseling; Mediation for internal conflicts
• Conduct intake and assessment and screen for sexual risk & risk reduction techniques
• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest)
• Connect clients to supportive resources with both internal and external partners to increase client’s access to benefits and resources; provide accompaniment as necessary and requested by clients
• Coordinate services with other Streetwork staff and on-site legal, medical, and psychiatric service providers
• Provide group facilitation and conducting of educational presentations on HIV/AIDS, risk reduction and topics related to sub-populations of homeless youth
• Provide bilingual, culturally competent anonymous and confidential HIV antibody counseling, testing, referrals
• Provide sensitive harm reduction counseling, HIV prevention education, and referrals to clients accessing HIV testing
• Performs HIV risk assessments, HIV testing, disclosure of HIV testing results, and enhanced risk assessments to individuals who test for HIV
• Connect clients to medical and other supportive resources for treatment and care
• Participate in weekly case conferencing meetings and clinical group process
• Maintain routine administrative responsibilities to include the preparation of correspondence, maintaining files, mail, email, and telephone.
• Participation in staff trainings, staff meetings, and staff group process workshops
• Participate in weekly supervision

Secondary Job Functions:

•  Petty Cash reconciliation
• Identification of new resources appropriate for population
• Provide wellness and recreational (engagement) activities
• Manage events in the Drop-In Center, monitor entrance to the program, oversee concrete support to clients.        

Interacts with:                      

• All Streetwork program sites and staff
•  All internal Safe Horizon programs and departments that can comprehensively support the client and case plan
• All external agencies and organizations that can provide appropriate services to the client

Knowledge and Skills:

Required:

• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas
•  Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organization skills
• Genuine interest in working with disenfranchised youth and young adults
• Understanding of and ability to work from harm reduction perspective addressing substance use, mental health issues and HIV risk behaviors
• Specialized training or experience in HIV prevention interventions
• One (1) year experience working with homeless population, youth, or harm reduction, including experience with persons at high-risk for HIV infection
• Demonstrated ability to work independently

Qualifications

• High school high school diploma or equivalency plus relevant training and experience in human services or related field, including some prior experience working with victims of crime OR
•  Two years of high-quality work at a Streetwork Project site

Desirable:

• Personal experience with street survival activities (homelessness, gangs, drug economy, sex industry) with at least three years separation from involvement in these activities as well as a deep understanding of the relationship between personal experiences and professional standards.

Other:

•  Basic understanding of computer and systems for managing case records

If hired, I agree to abide by all of Safe Horizon’s rules and regulations, and understand that, if employed, my employment may be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either the company or me. I further understand that no representation, whether oral or written by any representative or agent of the organization, at any time, constitutes a contract of employment

Technology Statement: 

Applicants may be responsible for providing the equipment and tools they need to work remotely as required, such as access to a computer, internet service, and phone service. Safe Horizon will discuss potential solutions with candidates and may assist where needed and agreed to in advance. 

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply

Please follow this link to view complete EEO Law and complaint filing information:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf