Street Health Outreach Director

The Street Health Outreach program is an innovative project which identifies homelessness, chronic health, and mental health needs in designated areas of Alameda County. The program assists participants in attaining housing stability and improving health and well-being.

Using a multi-disciplined team approach, the program provides street and venue-based outreach and engagement, assessment, health services and triage, case management, linkages to housing agencies, and mental health services. The program works with all participants to develop and carry out action plans that improve health and wellness.

Under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer, the Street Health Outreach Director guides and maintains program performance, provides leadership and motivation to program staff, and leads strategy for program development. This position also acts as a liaison between the Street Teams and brick-and-mortar clinics, creates and maintains a program support structure for staff, and directs the development of protocols and procedures. This position will supervise the RN Care Manager of each Street Team. The Program Director may also complete nursing assessments and provide nursing care including medical assessments, wound care and skin assessments, vaccinations (i.e. flu, Hepatitis A), treatment of respiratory illnesses, and care for patients with active substance use disorders. The Program Director may also work with medical providers on behalf of patients. Medical providers will be available by phone for consultation.

This is a full-time benefited position, typically Monday through Friday with periodic Saturday hours.

*As position is grant-funded, employment is subject to the availability of grant funding*

Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center is a non-profit community health center that is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of our community by providing accessible, high quality care by integrating primary care, dental care, WIC support, mental health counseling, community health education and more.

Compensation : $110,000K - $130,000K annualized, depending on experience.

Responsibilities:

• Guide and maintain program performance.
• Provide leadership and motivation to program staff.
• Lead strategy for program development.
• Build the program’s public profile through networking, conferences, and speaking engagements.
• Establish relationships with Street Health / Street Medicine experts.
• Build partnerships with local community and government organizations.
• Oversee contract management and submission of required deliverables including preparing draft budgets.
• Direct reporting of client-level data and evaluation outcome reports.
• Support teams to track outcomes.
• Direct development of protocols and procedures.
• Create program support structure for program staff.
• Direct recruitment of program staff.
• Act as a liaison between teams and clinics.
• Provide clinical oversight of RN Care Managers.
• Represent TVHC at county and community meetings, and engage with community stakeholders.
• Participate with other staff in multidisciplinary staff meetings and other staff processes to achieve program development, staff development, program evaluation, program operations review, and other activities as appropriate.
• Participate in regular meetings with Alameda County Healthcare for the Homeless.
• Administer medical care in homeless encampments and vans.
• Work as part of a specialty medical team to provide nursing services including: administration of medications and injections to patients as directed by the providers; immunizations; referrals to other providers and community health resources; and health instruction to patients.
• Conduct health assessments, provide brief interventions, triage patients, and provide support in navigating health and social services systems.
• Prioritize individuals with high medical and behavioral health needs and/or Substance Use Disorders for intensive visits to improve health and lift them out of homelessness.
• In the capacity of patient advocate, assess the learning needs of patients, and develop and implement patient education as appropriate.
• Act as a resource and contact person for patients.
• Respond to immediate survival needs as prioritized by clients, e.g. basic needs, problem-solving, health education, and information about health and community services.
• Provide linkage and referrals to community services as needed and work from an interdisciplinary approach.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding privileged administrative and patient information and complete required documentation in a timely manner.
• Provide outreach and engagement, health services and triage, and collaboration with Housing Resource Centers.
• Build relationships over time via consistent visits with potential patients.
• Screen and identify individuals with medical and behavioral needs.
• Provide culturally competent, trauma-informed, and harm reduction-based services.
• Conduct regular outreach and engagement, building trust with individuals encountered at encampments and other service locations according to the responsive schedule.
• Perform all duties and services in full compliance with TVHC’s Service Excellence Standards.

Minimum Requirements:

• Valid Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Card (CPR).
• Valid CA driver's license.
• Preferably two years of nursing experience serving low-income patients with complex needs, ideally unsheltered populations.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse preferred but not required; current, valid California RN license.
• Bilingual in English, Spanish, or other languages preferred.
• Ability to work independently, organize tasks, problem-solve, make decisions, work collaboratively as a team member, and handle multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated experience with quality improvement process to improve client care and meet required health risk outcome measures.
• Culturally sensitive and demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with ethnically diverse populations.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the special needs of unsheltered people facing complex challenges.
• Ability to effectively intervene in crisis situations with de-escalation techniques.
• Interest and knowledge about health and wellness, especially regarding patients with medical and behavioral health issues.
• Desire to outreach to unsheltered community members.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills at the level necessary for taking patients’ medical histories, and accurately documenting patients’ medical information.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patient population and staff while demonstrating a high degree of diplomacy and tact.
• Working knowledge of “Universal Precautions” and demonstrated professionalism.
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a high-stress and fast-moving environment.
• Possess a thorough understanding of the importance of confidentiality and non-disclosure according to the general standards set forth by HIPAA.
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends; demonstrates flexibility regarding job duties and assignments.
• Must be willing to drive street health van to and from various service sites as needed.
• Ability to effectively intervene in crisis situations with de-escalation techniques.

We offer excellent benefits including: 100% paid medical (co-payments, prescriptions, premiums covered), dental, vision (including dependent and domestic partner coverage), generous paid leave benefits including holidays, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement plan with an Employer match, tuition reimbursement, monthly treats, pet insurance and more.