HOLYOKE Harm Reduction Counselor Floater Job purpose Under the direction
of the Program Manager, the Harm Reduction Counselor will be responsible
for working as part of a team to provide outreach and education to
injection drug users and LBGTQIA+ individuals in regards to HIV
prevention. Primary duties will include: developing effective goals and
strategies to identify, access, educate and support injection drug
users, MSM and LGBTQIA+ individuals in reducing their risk for HIV
infection and transmission Duties and responsibilities Conduct
Needle/Syringe exchange according to Tapestry Syringe Access Policies
and Procedures. Identify and access injection drug using population, MSM
and LGBTQIA+ individuals through innovative outreach efforts. Assess the
education and prevention needs of IDUs, MSM and LGBTQIA+ individuals and
their sexual partners. Maintain cooperative relationships with key
leaders that include community leaders, agency staff, external agencies,
business owners and other within the community. Engage with clients to
provide education, prevention, and appropriate supported referrals to
health services, PrEP and other services/agencies as needed. Develop
peer educators in target populations, and support selected educators
with on-going contact. Conduct presentations and provide needed services
in various community and substance use related sites. This includes
bars, clubs, detoxes, shelters, jails and other gathering sites of
targeted population. Services include the provision of HIV/HCV/STI
screening and Narcan distribution. Regular travel to needed Tapestry
sites and local service agencies. Approximately 10% of working hours
will be dedicated to travel time. Conduct HIV/HCV/STI screening that
includes obtaining blood and urine samples, completion of submission of
documentation, charting, and laboratory shipping. Participate in
advisory committees, external meetings, and other educator and outreach
worker networking and professional development opportunities locally and
across the state. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications High
school graduate or equivalent Valid Driver\'s License and Access to
Reliable Transportation Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Harm Reduction
principles and practices Experience with substance use disorder
Experience and ability to work with diverse communities across Western
Mass. Awareness and involvement with LGBTGAI+ culture. Ability to work
independently and as part of a team. Willingness to be trained in blood
draws Ability to provide high quality non-judgmental services Strong
written and oral communication skill Experience with social media,
dating apps and other online recruitment methods preferred. Experience
with blood draws and Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred
*Individuals with relevant personal experience strongly encouraged to
apply* Working conditions Evening and weekend availability required.
Position schedule dependent on needs of participants and programs.
Potential exposure to blood borne pathogens. Regular street outreach in
various weather conditions required. Outreach to bars, clubs and other
areas where high risk sex and drug use regularly occur required. Ability
to deal with stressful situations. Ability to provide support to and
coverage at other Tapestry harm reduction sites when needed. Physical
requirements Required to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs. Ability to sit
at a desk and conduct basic administrative duties. Ability to be
outdoors for long periods of time. Tapestry is committed to providing
high quality, compassionate and community-based care to everyone in our
region including the most vulnerable. We are passionate about providing
non- judgmental sexual and reproductive healthcare, syringe access and
disposal, overdose prevention and education, HIV support and prevention,
and WIC family nutrition.