HEALTH EDUCATOR

Job Role Summary

The health educator plans, implements, and provides health education, HIV testing, STD screenings and risk reduction activities. The educator must be innovative and a self-starter and must demonstrate the ability to develop outreach locations in order to promote early HIV testing and to ensure that all persons receive HIV/STD education. Also, he or she will provide information regarding transmission, prevention, and behavior change techniques. The health educator must be motivated and willing to conduct outreach in non-traditional locations during non-traditional hours.  The Linkage to Care Specialist (LTC) will identify and link HIV-positive clients to HIV medical care through the implementation of outreach, brief intervention sessions, graduated disengagement, and follow up. Experience working with diverse ethnic and cultural communities is a must, including, but not limited to the following populations: African American Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), and African American Substance Users community in Marion County. Additionally, the person needs to be able to coordinate national HIV events in the community.

Essential Duties

• Assists with the development of health education and risk reduction for target groups
• Provides client-centered counseling and education sessions
• Presents HIV/STD health education/prevention programs to schools, groups, and target communities
• Provides and documents referrals for HIV testing & STD screenings (with follow-up)
• Identify and link HIV-positive clients to HIV medical care through the implementation of outreach and brief intervention sessions per MCPHD and SUOS Program guidelines.
• Conduct patient follow-up to ensure services were obtained and provide additional support as needed.
• Ability to fully utilize an electronic record system to perform essential job functions, which include, but are not limited to, (1) documentation in EHR, (2) transmission of EHI, and (3) retrieval of EHI.
• Document all patient interventions in the EHR in accordance with established MCPHD policies/procedures and demonstrate compliance with all program policies.
• Collaborate with community agencies to strategically develop and implement plans to increase testing by reducing barriers to wellness and increasing access to care.
• Establish and maintain relationships with community organizations to coordinate access to testing.

Qualifications

• Completion of the following training: Fundamentals of HIV Prevention Counseling, Counseling, Testing and Referral, Client Centered Prevention Counseling, Outreach Techniques and Quality Assurance
• Bachelor's degree preferred in an area of study considered relevant to job requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Functions effectively in a number TBDof different settings and locations (i.e., office, schools, groups)
• Modifies or adjusts prevention education to fit the needs of varied and diverse populations
• Assesses the impacts of prevention education activities and modifies them accordingly
• Manages time and activities effectively
• Communicates effectively with diverse populations and age groups
• Works independently and in team relationships effectively
• Engages in conversations with persons regarding HIV/STD prevention and risk reduction

Working Environment

• Standard office environment
• Exposure to communicable disease, illness, and irate community members
• Some physical effort associated with filing, carrying of supplies for health fairs, travel between main office and meetings, program sites, and health fairs