Substance Use Treatment Coordinator $28 - $32 (117 6th St.)
Organizational Summary
San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) envisions a future where health justice is achieved for all people living with or at risk for HIV. Ultimately, we strive for a day when race is not a barrier to health and wellness, substance use is not stigmatized, HIV status does not determine quality of life, and HIV transmission is eliminated.
Our mission is to promote health, wellness, and social justice for communities most impacted by HIV through sexual health and substance use services, advocacy, and partnership.
Our strategic plan includes an articulation of its five key values, which are the foundation for its work and its employees: Justice, Dignity, Courage, Leadership and Excellence. We need passionate agents of social change, vanguards of public health, and practitioners of racial justice to join our fight.
Position Overview:
SFAF Syringe Access & Disposal Services (SAS Program) is the largest syringe access and disposal health engagement program in the State of California serving over 14,000 participants per year. Our program provides evidence-based interventions to improve health outcomes for people who use drugs (PWUD), including decreasing accidental death due to overdose; reducing HIV, STI and HCV infection and transmission rates; improving engagement in care, treatment & adherence. Our mobile and stationary sites provide syringe access & disposal services, health education, counseling, professional & peer support, outreach, linkage, and other community and health improvement-focused services.
The Substance Use Treatment Coordinator is responsible for outreach and engagement with people who use drugs (PWUD) and engaging them in Syringe Access Services, on-site Low-Threshold Suboxone Program, community-based methadone programs, and other in-patient treatment programs. Engagement includes: substance use treatment readiness coaching and enrollment; harm reduction counseling; substance use treatment adherence counseling; The SUT Coordinator also provides harm reduction group and individual level interventions, overdose and infectious disease prevention education and programming. Responsible for client level data collection and documentation, developing collaborative relationships with health and social service providers to facilitate effective linkage, navigation, and data entry and reporting.
As a member of the SAS Team, responsibilities include: building relationships with program participants; providing syringe access & safe disposal services; hosting the harm reduction lounge; providing overdose prevention trainings and naloxone distribution; providing health education and harm reduction groups; facilitating groups, workshops and 1-on-1 counseling; linking participants to SAS’s HCV Wellness Program, HIV, HCV, and STI testing, and other medical services available; providing referrals and linkage to substance use, health and social services; conducting street and venue-based outreach and neighborhood sweeps; hosting syringe and works kit packing parties; completing all paperwork and data submissions per program protocol.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) Outreach and Engagement: Engage and link clients to low-threshold Suboxone access at the Harm Reduction Center; mobile sites, and on street outreach, recruit PWUDs to participate in SAS’s Treatment Support Program through relationship building, recruitment and retention activities; and develop outreach plans, outreach materials, and educational and resource flyers.
- Substance Use Treatment Education and Engagement: Provide health education & referrals to PWUDs at SAS fixed and mobile sites through individual and group risk reduction sessions to educate and link people into Methadone, Buprenorphine, contingency management programs, sobering centers, and other in-patient substance use services. Responsibilities also include staging and breaking down/cleaning the 6th Street Harm Reduction Center & other sites, building ongoing relationships with people who inject drugs, providing on site referral and linkage to substance use, health and social services. Provide health coaching focused on self-care, health improvement activities, disease prevention, etc. Provide individual and group motivational interviewing sessions.
- Wellness Coaching and Treatment Preparation and Readiness Counseling: PWUD may face significant barriers to successfully engaging in medical care and adhering to substance use treatment and medications. Wellness/Treatment readiness coaching will include strategizing around substance use management, nutrition, acquiring identification, creating, or strengthening routines and social connections, overdose prevention, linking to mental health counseling, and primary care.
- Harm Reduction and Substance Use Counseling, Contingency Management Support and Engagement: Responsible for providing substance use and harm reduction counseling through motivational interviewing in groups and individual sessions. Assist PWUDs in contemplating change, making goals, and plans to meet them. Provide support for contingency management models both on site and in the field.
- Data Collection and Documentation: Document and enter data on outreach, individual sessions, group interventions, medical visits, medication adherence and incentives. Responsible for all internal and contractually obligated data collection and submission.
Essential Qualifications:
- Communication Skills: Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge: Possesses technical knowledge required to do the job
- Judgment: Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; can clearly explain reasoning for decisions includes appropriate people in decision-making process; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles
- Adaptability: Adapts to changes in work duties and organizational structure
- Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; works with others to solve complex problems
- Customer Service: Ability to work comfortably with diverse populations, with sensitivity to issues concerning HIV and all disabilities. Responds efficiently and cordially to requests for service and assistance
- Professionalism: Reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration; follows through on commitments
- Dependability: Completes tasks on time; takes responsibility for own actions; reliable
- Computer Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and eClinicalWorks.
- Professional Expectations: Demonstrated ability to fulfill the Foundation’s professional expectations of accountability, active collaboration, commitment, communication, diversity and professionalism
Supervision: N/A
Physical Requirements and Work Environments:
Skill in operating office equipment such as a personal computer, copy machine and telephone system. Ability to perform routine bending, stooping, twisting, and reaching. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The position may have exposure to blood borne pathogens and other infectious agents. Works directly with bio-hazardous materials and infectious wastes. Adhere to strict needle and “sharp” safety guidelines.
Education and Experience:
- One to two years of experience working with people who use drugs, highly marginalized, or people experiencing homelessness required.
- Experience using motivational interviewing preferred
- Strong understanding of harm reduction practices and principles
- Proof of valid California driver’s license with an excellent driving record and driver’s insurance required.
- Understanding of medication assisted treatment
- Bilingual English and Spanish, Tagalog, Cantonese, or ASL preferred
This position will have access to protected health information (PHI) and may only access, use or disclose the minimum information necessary to perform their designated role on behalf of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, regardless of the extent of access provided.
Work Environment:
This position is primarily located at the Harm Reduction Center at 117 6th Street and 940 Howard St., San Francisco, however it may occasionally require traveling to other office locations or off-site meetings as required by the job. Role may include evening, holiday, and weekend coverage.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for personnel so classified.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
SFAF is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package for our full-time employees. These include:
Vacation + Leave
24 days of combined Paid Time Off/Sick Time Off for the first two years of employment
29 days of Paid Time Off/Sick Time Off after two years of employment
Pro-Rated Health & Wellness Hours (subject to change yearly)
14 paid holidays per year
&a
Department: Syringe Access Services
This is a full time position
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Payrate Range: $28 - $32