Care Navigator - East New York

Housing Works • Brooklyn, NY

3d • $18 - $21

About The Position

The Care Navigator (CN) will implement effective Care Navigation strategies intended to serve New York City’s most at-risk LGBTQ+ and TGNC (Transgender and Non-Gender Conforming) communities of color for the AIDS Institute (AI) Advancing Access Case Management program. As a CN, your primary responsibility will be to provide comprehensive support and guidance to individuals living with HIV/AIDS who have been newly diagnosed, out of care, or are virally unsuppressed. You will work closely with clients to ensure they receive the necessary resources, medical care, and social services to manage their condition effectively. Your role will involve conducting outreach, coordinating services, and advocating for clients within the healthcare system. The CN will support outreach efforts including both in-person and online. This will be accomplished by utilizing new media technology, work drop-in activities and weekend events that engage target populations that need connections to care.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required
• 2 years of outreach or patient navigation experience, preferably in health services setting or related experience working with medical
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, substance use and mental illness, LGBT youth issues and MSM networks/hot spots  
• Strong socio-cultural identification and understanding with the priority populations.
• Ability to problem-solve effectively under pressure while maintaining a professional demeanor and communicate in a timely manner with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Knowledge of issues pertaining to homelessness, substance use, harm reduction, mental illness, transgender healthcare, and LGBTQ+ youth

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough assessments of clients' medical, psychosocial, and support needs.
• Collect relevant information regarding their HIV/AIDS diagnosis, current treatment plan, lifestyle, and any barriers they face in accessing care.
• Collaborate with clients to develop personalized care plans that address their specific needs and goals.
• Linkage to primary care.
• Identify and prioritize interventions, including medical treatments, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, housing support, and social services.
• Identify and participate in managing new outreach referral channels whether through digital resources (social media, & email) as well as events and partnerships with other community-based organizations.
• Facilitate and encourage recruitment from internal programs in our targeted populations.
• Conduct Hep C testing as needed.
• Coordinate with internal and external departments and partners interested in the services provided by Youth and Prevention Services department.
• Provide clients with up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS, treatment options, medication adherence, and healthy lifestyle practices.
• Offer support and education on prevention strategies, including safe sex practices and harm reduction techniques.
• Assist with the recruitment for Evidence Based Intervention groups as well as group facilitation.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of events to increase client engagement.
• Participate in community events, such as health fairs, LGBT events, testing events, etc. to engage new at-risk clients for prevention services and treatment services.
• Provide frontline support including helpful information, answer questions, and respond to inquiries for HIV treatment with an emphasis on delivering excellent customer service that supports quality of care.
• Refer clients to Housing Works Behavioral Health Services, Medical Services, Housing Services, Intensive Case Management Services.
• Participate in social media activities and support content development that speak to our community’s needs.
• Responsible for connecting all newly identified HIV positive clients to HIV Care and ensuring clients maintain adherence with treatment protocols.
• Track client attendance at medical and behavioral health appointments and initiate outreach to clients with missed appointments, as necessary.
• Participate in reoccurring clinical meetings with Medical Case Manager to discuss retention issues, and internal CQI projects.
• Maintain documentation of all client encounters in electronic health record (eiCARE and ECW) and funder database (AIRS) and complete reporting requirements according to organization standards.
• Accompany clients to medical appointments, HRA appointments, when required.
• Facilitates Evidence Based Intervention (EBIs) groups.
• Manage organization and documentation of engagement/outreach efforts.
• Participate in supervisory sessions with the Assistant Program Director and other team and departmental wide meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary.
• Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year.
• We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED