What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Health Specialist - Partner Services Coordinator position at Hennepin County?
The Hennepin County Public Health Clinic (PHC) is hiring a Community Health Specialist- Partner Services Coordinator who will work with individuals diagnosed with a reportable STD to interview, educate, arrange treatment, and confidentially work with their sexual (and/or needle sharing) partners to provide testing and treatment services if necessary. This position will provide sexual health care and prevention services within a multidisciplinary team of medical providers that includes nurse practitioners, registered nurses, medical assistants, and community health specialists.
The Public Health Clinic is a respected leader in providing sexual health services, comprehensive testing & treatment for tuberculosis, and refugee health exams. The PHC is home to the Red Door Clinic, Minnesota’s largest HIV and sexually transmitted infection clinic. The Red Door Clinic has been providing culturally sensitive and sexually affirming services for the last 50 years. The mission of PHC is to reduce health disparities, increase access, and promote health across communities with specialized services that value evidence-based, client-centered care to create empowered and healthy communities.
Location and hours:
This Public Health Clinic is located at 525 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Currently, due to COVID, the clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hours during COVID response would be primarily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This position will require working some evening hours post COVID when the clinic resumes evening hours on Mondays and Wednesdays until 7:30 p.m. No overnight or holiday shifts are required.
About the position type:
This is a full time, benefit earning position.
In this position, you will:
- Provide individual, client-centered education to Hennepin County/Red Door clients who have tested positive for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and/or chlamydia to ensure the individual understands the nature of the infection(s), routes of transmission, and the importance of sexual/needle sharing partners receiving testing/treatment.
- Assess the client's relevant symptoms of infection, testing history, and exposure information to accurately establish a timeline of infection.
- Elicit partner names/information within the established timeline.
- Confidentially contact sex and needle sharing partners to inform of exposure, facilitate testing/linkage to treatment, provide education and referral to other services.
- Confidentially contact sexual/needle sharing partners via websites/web-based applications such as: Grindr, Jack’d, Scruff, BBRT, etc.
- Create and maintain proper documentation and reports so that investigations and cases are managed effectively and efficiently.
- Serve as a liaison to coordinate and collaborate with other prevention programs and services within the Public Health Clinic to better serve targeted populations and the community.
Need to have:
- One of the following:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in public health, human services, or an approved related field.
- Four or more years of related professional experience providing HIV testing, health education, counseling, outreach, and referral services with the LGBTQ community and other populations at risk for STD/HIV infection.
- A valid driver's license; daily access to reliable transportation to attend meetings, visit community sites, and conduct field visits throughout Hennepin County.
Nice to have:
- Experience:
- Providing direct client service and/or health education to clients living with or at risk of HIV/STDs.
- Providing HIV testing, health education, counseling, outreach, and referral services to the LGBTQ community.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, community agencies, and clients of diverse populations in race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
- Completion of CDC STD Prevention and Partner Services Training Courses.
- Knowledge of:
- HIV related community resources and the ability to interview individuals and assess their sexual risk and need for services.
- HIV/STD knowledge around prevention and harm reduction techniques/practices.
- Current public health practices/principles and education/training methods.
- The sex-seeking (hookup) websites/web-based applications such as: Grindr, Jack’d, Scruff, BBRT, etc.
- Competence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook), typing, and use of Internet.
- Ability to:
- Lift and carry up to 25 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Remain non-judgmental in working with clients from all sectors of the community.
- Exercise independent judgment and initiative in performing assigned duties.
- Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Work nights and weekends to accommodate evening and weekend outreach events.
About the department:
Public Health works to improve and protect the health of children, adolescents and adults who live, learn, work or play in Hennepin County. Our ultimate purpose is to promote physical and mental health, prevent illness and injury associated with communicable diseases and environmental conditions, reduce chronic diseases, and enhance the well-being of individuals affected by mental illnesses and serious emotional disturbances.
About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align to one or more of our overarching goals -- that Hennepin County residents are healthy, protected and safe, self-reliant, assured due process, and mobile.
Our employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at www.hennepin.us/employees.
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the reduction of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
Your future. Made here.
This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.
This position is internally classified as a Community Health Specialist.
Click here to view the job classification specification.
This position will have access to systems or other documentation that contains HIPAA data.
Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience.
Final candidates may be required to complete a drug test and/or background check.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Jessica Damm
jessica.damm@hennepin.us
Salary : $53,155 - $72,938
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