Bilingual Outreach Specialist (Spanish)

About the Role

Fenway Health’s Department of Prevention is hiring a Bi-Lingual Outreach Specialist to address surging overdose fatalities in BIPOC and Latinx communities. The role focuses on culturally competent street and mobile outreach for active injection drug users in high-need areas of Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Responsibilities include conducting rapid HIV/HCV/STI testing, providing overdose prevention trainings, and delivering on-site health education.

Responsibilities

• Conduct street and mobile outreach activities with active drug users in high-risk or high-need areas, including East Somerville, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Cambridge.
• Distribute safer sex, overdose prevention, and injection supplies to people who use drugs (PWUD). Collect used syringes for safe disposal.
• Provide written and verbal harm reduction information on safer injection strategies, vein and abscess care, overdose prevention, and HIV/STD/Hepatitis transmission to program participants and area providers. Offer appropriate referrals.
• Provide practical interventions for injection site issues, including basic wound and/or abscess care.
• Break down language barriers by delivering interventions in two languages (Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese) when necessary.
• Conduct rapid HIV testing, provide screening and risk reduction sessions, and offer education and referrals as needed.
• Train active users, their allies, and service providers on overdose prevention and naloxone (Narcan) administration.
• Provide low-threshold harm reduction services, assisting clients with accessing support services such as primary care, drug treatment, homeless shelters, and legal advocacy. Enroll clients in syringe exchange and overdose prevention programs.
• Participate in daily drop-in operations, including opening/closing procedures to maintain clean, safe, and welcoming facilities.
• Build and maintain partnerships with community partners and conduct community advocacy.
• Assist the Program Manager in program development, evaluation, and vehicle maintenance.
• Respond to overdose and behavioral health crises as necessary.
• Attend and participate in departmental, collaborator, and funder meetings and trainings.
• Gain Overdose Prevention Master Trainer designation from funders and assist in training/certifying new staff for overdose prevention.
• Maintain Narcan distribution to community partners.
• Adhere to agency and departmental policies, including client confidentiality, safety, and crisis procedures.
• Participate in quality assessment and improvement activities.
• Attend required meetings, in-services, and professional trainings.
• Maintain professional competence and provide records of continuing education activities.

Requirements

• Minimum two years of relevant work experience. A Bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience may substitute for the minimum work experience requirement.
• Knowledge of and commitment to harm reduction practices in all interactions and program planning.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Experience conducting street and mobile outreach with at-risk populations.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Previous experience with data collection and entry.
• Self-directed, motivated, and flexible with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Significant knowledge of health-related issues faced by injection drug users, including awareness of injection drug user networks, norms, and culture.
• Current valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and a minimum of 1 year of driving experience.
• Ability to provide rapid HIV testing using a finger-stick test and/or willingness to learn phlebotomy skills.
• Experience in crisis intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience implementing support groups and trainings.
• Familiarity with electronic databases.
• CPR certification or willingness to be trained.

Physical Requirements

• Travel to community events and venues, including health fairs, neighborhoods, bars, and nightclubs, for outreach activities (may include late evenings and weekends).
• Sit at a computer station and use a keyboard for extended periods.
• Handle average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds and occasionally assist patients.
• Work with blood or blood-borne pathogens, requiring OSHA training and adherence to safety precautions, including the use of protective equipment.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries.
• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans (for qualifying employees).
• Retirement plan with employer match.
• 11 paid holidays and paid vacation.

This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.