Linkage to Care Specialist

About the role

A Linkage to Care Specialist acts as a friendly, helpful resource for clients newly diagnosed with HIV or not in care, facilitating entry into medical care, accompanying clients to appointments, making referrals, offering HIV testing to partners, building relationships with community organizations, advocating for AHF initiatives, upholding core values, adapting in a dynamic environment, working within a collaborative team, bridging testing with care, guiding clients after reactive test results, preparing clients for care regardless of insurance status, and empowering clients to manage their health and protect others.

Responsibilities

• Answer questions about living with HIV and disclosure of status
• Facilitate entrance into medical care for newly diagnosed or out‑of‑care clients
• Accompany clients to their first few medical appointments
• Make referrals to complementary services
• Offer HIV testing to partners and friends
• Build and foster relationships with agencies that provide support services and with groups whose clients could benefit from AHF services
• Act as a passionate advocate for AHF’s top initiatives
• Ensure AHF core values and mission remain top of mind in all activities
• Adapt quickly in a dynamic environment to provide the best client experience and workplace
• Work as part of a close‑knit team to bridge testing with medical care and other services
• Provide immediate support after a reactive test result to guide clients through next steps
• Help clients prepare for and orient to engagement in care, regardless of insurance status
• Assist clients through their HIV diagnosis and empower them to be proactive in self‑care and protecting others

Skills

• Friendly and helpful interpersonal communication
• Compassionate, non‑judgmental customer service
• Relationship building and networking with community partners
• Advocacy and promotion of AHF initiatives
• Adaptability and nimble problem‑solving in changing environments
• Collaboration within a team structure with multiple leaders
• Ability to guide clients through medical navigation and referral processes
• Knowledge of HIV care continuum and testing procedures