HIV Advocate (Linkage to Care) at The Gay &… · Las Vegas

Our Mission

The LGBTQ+ Center serves as a safe haven for all. We welcome and celebrate the diversity of our communities and strive to empower all to live authentic lives.

Position Overview

The HIV Advocate (Linkage to Care) plays a vital role in preventing opioid overdoses, addressing substance misuse, and advocating for individuals living with or at risk for HIV. This position provides strategic leadership, case management, and care coordination to connect clients with essential services, support treatment adherence, and promote HIV prevention and care. The role also includes overseeing outreach activities, facilitating educational sessions, and leading a team of peer navigators to ensure clients receive comprehensive, compassionate care tailored to their needs.

Key Responsibilities

Care Coordination and Case Management

• Oversee the process from intake to assessment to treatment adherence as part of a care coordination team.

• Conduct assessments upon program intake to identify risks, health service needs, and HIV prevention or treatment requirements.

• Coordinate with team members to provide assistance and support to individuals seeking medical care, substance misuse treatment, and HIV-related services.

• Serve as a liaison with medical providers to ensure access to and retention in healthcare services, including HIV care and treatment.

• Supervise peer navigators to promote services in the community and provide one-on-one support for participants enrolled in treatment or HIV care services.

• Assist participants in scheduling and attending physician appointments, including arranging escort/transportation as needed.

• Manage crisis intervention and provide supportive counseling to participants as necessary.

HIV Advocacy and Education

• Provide education to participants on HIV prevention, transmission, and treatment, including PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis).

• Develop and deliver educational messaging regarding HIV testing, treatment adherence, and wellness for individuals living with or at risk for HIV.

• Facilitate onsite educational sessions and support groups for individuals interested in HIV prevention, treatment, and post-care services.

• Advocate for individuals living with HIV to ensure they receive equitable access to healthcare, housing, and other essential services.

• Collaborate with local HIV prevention and care programs to enhance service delivery and community outreach.

Community Engagement and Outreach

• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations to connect clients with needed services, including HIV-specific resources.

• Plan and oversee community activities and events to link clients with service agencies and promote HIV awareness.

• Lead research, planning, and execution of weekly outreach activities, including street-based and park-based outreach.

• Provide agency and community briefings on treatment initiatives, harm reduction strategies, and HIV prevention efforts.

• Conduct peer-to-peer and evidence-based training for the community on HIV prevention and substance misuse.

Group Facilitation and Education

• Implement onsite educational sessions and support groups for individuals interested in substance misuse treatment, hepatitis C treatment, and overdose prevention.

• Provide education on injection drug use, overdose prevention, HCV prevention and treatment, and HIV transmission and prevention.

• Facilitate discussions and workshops on reducing stigma around HIV and substance misuse.

Administrative and Team Collaboration

• Serve as the primary contact for administrative and medical document retention and dissemination to coordinate care services.

• Assist participants with procuring necessary documents to begin or continue care, including HIV-related services.

• Provide audit-worthy documentation for all services in the Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and Access Database.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Care Coordination on program reports and service utilization.

• Participate in weekly care coordination meetings and team discussions to identify systems-level improvements for service quality and efficacy.

• Work with team members, medical consultants, and interns to provide services, programming, needs assessments, and evaluations.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of harm reduction principles, substance misuse, HIV prevention and care, and public health strategies.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, EHR systems, and online search engines.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with clients, service providers, and community programs.

• Pragmatic and competent in conflict resolution and crisis intervention.

• Organized, creative, and collaborative team player with a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills.

• Must be able to work occasional weekends and evenings.

• Reliable transportation is required.

• Must be available for home visits and to see clients at the agency or in their homes.

• Enthusiasm for working with individuals who are current substance users and diverse communities (gender, ethnic, generational, lingual, political).

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years working with marginalized populations (e.g., people who use drugs, individuals living with HIV, sex workers, individuals with mental illness, homeless individuals, and/or formerly incarcerated individuals).

• Knowledge of the health and human services industry, including HIV care and prevention.

• Familiarity with social media and marketing platforms.

• Experience in supportive counseling and group facilitation.

Educational/Licensure Requirements

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.

Alternative Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in a related field with 2 years of case management experience.

• In lieu of a degree, 4 years of case management experience, preferably with youth experiencing homelessness.

Licensure Requirements

• N/A

Physical Requirements

The ability to:

• Remain seated and work at a computer for extended periods.

• Use a computer, keyboard, mouse, and telephone regularly.

• Occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift office or clinical materials.

Lift and carry items weighing up to 10–25 pounds occasionally.

• May be required to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions or indoors with loud noises.

• Ability to conduct street-based and park-based outreach, including climbing stairs, hills, and trenches.

• Perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Salary range: $45,000 - $50,000 – Annually

Benefits:

• 403(b) W/Employer percentage match
• Health Insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Employee Assistance Program – EAP
• PTO
• Paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Birthday time