Harm Reduction Specialist - Peer Support

Salary : $53,268.80 - $77,230.40 Annually
Location : Adams County Government Center (Brighton) & Western Services Center (Westminster), CO
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 06740
Department: Public Health Department
Division: Public Health Nursing
Opening Date: 09/25/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Our Mission: At Adams County, our team members engage in top-notch opportunities to grow and expand their impact. We cultivate an inclusive and innovative culture where diversity matters! Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is a core cultural competency at Adams County, and we actively seek and welcome applicants that bring diverse experiences and value inclusion.
Cultural Competencies/EEO: Adams County is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status,marital status or any other legally protected characteristic.
Position classification: Onsite -- Job duties and expectations require employee to be regularly scheduled onsite.
What Success Looks Like In This Job
The Harm Reduction Peer Specialist is an entry-level position performing routine harm reduction services providing public health care and treatment within the scope of services in the sexual health and harm reduction programs. As a part of the harm reduction program, this role focuses on meeting participants where they are at; providing direct linkage to care services including outreach, case management, navigation, and transportation support. The Peer Specialist provides targeted individual and group level education and outreach for all services along the substance use continuum of care, with a focus on the linkage to recovery and treatment services for individuals post-overdose occurrence. The goal of this role is to remove barriers and improve access to high-quality, client-centered, culturally competent care throughout Adams County to reduce infectious disease, decrease overdose risk and improve health and wellbeing of people who use drugs (PWUD). The Harm Reduction Peer Specialist collaborates with other subject matter experts to establish standards of care for harm reduction services and assists in convening a substance use advisory group of community members and agencies throughout the area that have an interest and knowledge of substance use. Along with the harm reduction program, this position focuses on Syringe Access Program (SAP) scope of practice to include overdose prevention education, Naloxone distribution, linkage or direct provision of physical and mental health care and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and a variety of social services. This position may be based throughout Adams County.
The anticipated hiring range for this position is $25.61/hour - $29.45/hour. The full salary range for this role is $25.61/hour - $37.13/hour.
Examples of Duties for Success
Direct Services:

• Participates in harm reduction outreach program activities and special events, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Conducts direct harm reduction counseling, HIV/HCV/STI screening and point of care testing.
• Provides linkage to care services, and connects participants to interim and extended health care, behavioral health care, recovery resources, social services, etc.
• Offers opioid overdose prevention and education and Naloxone training and distribution.
• Utilizes appropriate resources to plan and provide services that are safe, effective, and financially responsible.
• Gathers and organizes supplies for outreach activities. Reconciles inventory and checks expiration dates to ensure all materials are up to date.
• Maintains program-specific documentation. Uses organizational skills to maintain correct forms and tools necessary for documentation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Community Health Strategy

• Fosters community engagement to advance health equity. Develops and maintains interpersonal relationships with community partners, internal and external customers, and resources to create linkages to care and prevention services, including no-cost medications, emergency financial assistance, housing, and/or food. Assists in coordinating a local substance use advisory group.
• Coordinates with acute care providers and emergency responders to support post-overdose response for individuals after an overdose occurrence.
• Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the participants' health or situation. Monitors health status to identify community health problems.
• Improves population health by emphasizing prevention and attending to multiple determinants of health.
• Participates in community-specific solutions to address health priorities.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.
• Utilizes county-vehicle and mobile units to perform outreach services throughout the county.

Emergency Preparedness Duties

• Responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents, and events.
• Participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness, as required.
• Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.

Additional Duties

• Provides administrative support as assigned for the program. Handles confidential matters and collects information as requested for the use of the program staff. Filing, typing, and answering phones in support of daily program functions. Maintains files and records.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required.
• Travel may be required to any ACHD clinic or outreach event as needed for efficient program operations. Travel may be determined on the day of work, based on program needs.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to work community outreach events, including tabling, teaching, and mobile services.
• Participates in QA/QI projects as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

HIPAA Statement
Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy confidentiality requirements.
Qualifications for Success

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating effectively with a broad range of community representatives.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of hire date.

Knowledge of:

• Maintains knowledge of current practice guidelines and continuing education topics pertinent to the Harm Reduction Peer Specialist role.

Ability to:

• Work with diverse populations.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team.
• To perform phlebotomy, collect specimens, and administer Naloxone, CPR and first-aid procedures.
• Capture health visit information into the electronic health record.
• Provide helpful, accurate, and direct assistance to internal and external customers via phone, email and in-person. Exhibits excellent office etiquette.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships all participants and partners.

Equipment used:

• Standard office equipment including, but not limited to, laptop computer, tablet and associated hardware and software, telephone, copier, calculator, and audio-visual equipment.
• Maintenance of CLIA waived laboratory equipment.
• Basic care and ability to drive Adams County vehicles and mobile units for outreach services.

More Qualifications for Success
Education: High school diploma or GED required.
Experience:

• Lived experience: A minimum of 1 year lived experience including substance use treatment, poverty, and homelessness and/or behavioral health required.

AND

• Professional experience: 1 year of relevant professional experience working as a peer or health navigator, advocate, peer support services, community health educator/navigator, community health worker, case management, crisis services/management, customer service required.
• Training in trauma-informed care/support, boundaries/ethics training, recovery, strengths-based care/support, case management services, crisis services/management, Naloxone preferred.

*If you would like to capture lived experience for Qualifications for Success, please respond to the prompts in the Questions section.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Peer Specialist Certification
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification through the American Heart Association
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Adams County complies with Colorado's Job Application Fairness Act ("JAFA"). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant's age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.
Adams County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees that goes above and beyond what is offered at most organizations.
Click to watch our video about why Adams County is an Employer of Choice!
Benefits You Expect:

• AFLAC Supplemental Medical Insurance
• Basic Term Life & Optional Term Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Dental/Vision/Medical Plans
• Generous Vacation/Sick leave
• Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Plan
• Short-Term Disability

Plus some you might not expect:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Fitness Center
• Employee Health Clinics
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Recreation Center Discounts
• Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Wellness programs
• Lactation friendly certified workplace

01
Please be aware that your cover letter and resume will not be accessed in the initial screening process, so you must complete your application and supplemental questions with as much detail as possible. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your cover letter and resume will then be accessible to the hiring team. Information provided on the application is used to determine if a candidate meets minimum qualifications. Only information provided at the time of the application being completed will be considered and additional information that is not listed on the application will not be considered when deciding if a candidate meets or does not meet the qualifications. Applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to include all information and details on their application. I understand and agree that only information provided at the time of my application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum requirements for this position.

• Yes, I understand and agree
• Yes, I understand but disagree.

02
A High School Diploma or GED is required for this role. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you possess a minimum of 1 year lived experience including substance use treatment, poverty, and homelessness and/or behavioral health?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you possess 1 year of relevant professional experience working as a peer or health navigator, advocate, peer support services, community health educator/navigator, community health worker, case management, crisis services/management, customer service?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have training in trauma-informed care/support, boundaries/ethics training, recovery, strengths-based care/support, case management services, crisis services/management, Naloxone?

• Yes
• no

Required Question