Harm Reduction Support Specialist - Wellness Center

About the role

The Harm Reduction Support Specialist works with both the C3 Skid Row and E6 Multidisciplinary Outreach Teams. They provide education and safer drug use/sexual health supplies to high needs people experiencing homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Manage supplies, assembly, distribution, and storage of Narcan supplies, safe use kits, and other harm reduction supplies.
• Provide field based safer drug use supplies, sexual health supplies, and harm reduction education to homeless individuals.
• Engage the highest need individuals with severe mental illness, severe medical needs, and chaotic substance use disorders through a trauma informed lense.
• Support the street medicine teams with STI testing interventions and education around safer sex work.
• Provide overdose response and prevention education to community members.
• Manage outreach teams’ Narcan distribution data and submit per agency and contract requirements.
• Manage Syringe Exchange Program supplies inventory, and make supplies kits for all C3 and E6 outreach staff.
• Afford transportation of harm reduction supplies between sites and storage as needed as determined by supply and service delivery needs.
• Document and account for time spent with community members in client record in accordance with agency and funder standards.
• Remain up to date with community needs to provide information to outreach teams about trends and resources available.
• Attend regular agency and funder meetings as it pertains to harm reductions service delivery.
• Effectively represent agency at collaborative meetings.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED or Equivalent
• Valid CA driver’s license, reliable car, auto insurance, and an acceptable driving record
• Strong commitment to the rights of People Who Use Drugs, and people involved in sex trade
• Detailed knowledge of ways in which substances are used including: heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, crack, intravenous drug use, alcohol, etc.
• Detailed knowledge of harm reduction interventions including: Medication Assisted Treatment, clean injection and smoking equipment, overdose prevention, abscess treatment/prevention, fentanyl testing, etc.
• Knowledge of sexual health and sex work in relation to drug use
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and database applications
• Experience working with individuals with multiple barriers including severe mental illness

Preferred Qualifications

• Lived experience of substance use, homelessness, and/or sex work

Work Environment

Combination of field and office environment. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend; occasionally lift or carry up to 35 lbs. On occasion walk or drive to different local sites. Will necessitate working in busy and loud environments. Will be exposed to elements like cold, heat, dust, noise and odor. May need to bend, stoop, twist, and sit throughout the day.

Expected Behaviors of All Staff

• Act as a role model
• Demonstrate a sense of responsibility
• Continuously learn and improve
• Acknowledge your own areas of improvement
• Hear and provide honest, specific and direct feedback
• Create an environment where everyone is welcomed, valued and respected
• Collaborate

About The People Concern

The People Concern empowers the most vulnerable among us to rebuild their lives. One of Los Angeles County’s largest social services agencies, The People Concern was formed in 2016 in a merger of two trusted social service organizations based in Los Angeles County, OPCC and Lamp Community. Informed by more than fifty-eight years of work in the community, The People Concern is a leading provider of, and advocate for, evidence-based solutions to the multi-faceted challenges inherent in homelessness and domestic violence. With compassion and profound respect for those we serve, we provide a fully integrated system of care – including outreach, interim housing, mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, domestic violence services, life skills & wellness programs, and permanent supportive housing – tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals, survivors of domestic violence, challenged youth, and others who have nowhere else to turn. The People Concern’s model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers our participants to navigate the multi-faceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves, and ultimately, connect with and contribute to their communities.