HIV Outreach & Navigation Specialist

About the role

The HealthCare Connection is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1967. Our mission is to provide quality and accessible primary healthcare services through community responsive approaches that address financial, geographic, and other barriers to care for residents of northern Hamilton County and surrounding areas. THCC is recognized as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH).

We provide services in Primary Care, Infectious Disease, Substance Use, Integrated Behavioral Health, Dental Services, Women’s Health, and Pharmacy. The HIV Outreach & Navigation Specialist plays a vital role in supporting our HIV programs by identifying, engaging, and linking individuals living with HIV to a comprehensive network of care and support services.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach and education on HIV prevention, treatment, PrEP, and PEP for diverse and underserved populations.
• Complete screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and intake to connect patients to THCC’s continuum of services.
• Provide Ohio Department of Health Counseling, Testing, and Referral (CTR) services in clinic and community settings (must have CTR license or be willing to obtain within six months of hire).
• Collect and enter required program data into designated databases and electronic health record systems.
• Link newly diagnosed individuals and persons out of care to HIV medical care, Ryan White services, and other supportive services within established program timeframes.
• Conduct follow-up activities to support retention in care and re-engagement of individuals who have fallen out of HIV care.
• Identify and reduce barriers to care, including financial, transportation, housing, language, and cultural challenges, by linking patients to appropriate resources.
• Engage populations experiencing significant health disparities, including refugees, sex workers, people who use injection drugs, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other vulnerable communities.
• Educate patients and families on health promotion, disease prevention, chronic disease self-management, HIV care, PrEP adherence, and substance use recovery strategies.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of patient interactions, services provided, and support activities.
• Affirmatively recruit and serve individuals from underrepresented and underserved communities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of community resources and service systems.
• Experience working with diverse patient populations.
• Experience working with marginalized populations, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and/or individuals receiving behavioral health services.
• Lived experience with HIV preferred.
• Knowledge of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and HIV prevention services, including PrEP and PEP services.
• Experience with trauma-informed care and harm reduction principles.
• Familiarity with cultural competency practices and frameworks.
• Bilingual skills (Spanish) preferred, but not required.
• Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) systems.