African American MSM Outreach and HIV Testing Specialist
OPENING DATE: 01/05/22
CLOSING DATE: 01/19/22 11:59 PM Central Time
JOB TYPE: Grant - Full-time (benefit earning)
LOCATION: Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota
DEPARTMENT: Human Services and Public Health
THE POSITION
Hennepin County Public Health Clinic’s Red Door Services is seeking for an African American MSM Outreach and HIV Testing Specialist to focus on serving African American men who have sex with men (MSM). The employee will engage with community members at risk for HIV and plan, implement, and monitor HIV testing services, assess and counsel on prevention options including Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) as well as make referrals to HIV Care, PrEP Coordination, and other supportive services. This position provides the opportunity to make a difference in communities by advancing health equity and being part of a department with the mission to strengthen communities by improving the well-being of individuals and families by reducing health disparities.
The Public Health Clinic (PHC) is a respected leader in providing sexual health services, comprehensive testing and 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.
New employees who are hired into remote or hybrid positions between January 2, 2022 to December 31, 2024, will receive $500 toward the cost of establishing consistent internet connectivity, payable upon completion of 6 months of employment.
Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the Public Health Clinic, which is located at 525 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415, and remote as job duties require. 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 may require working some evening hours when the clinic resumes evening hours on Mondays and Wednesdays until 7:30 p.m. County personnel will continually assess safety regarding COVID-19 to decide when the transition back to evening shifts will occur. Occasional night and evening work to accommodate intermittent outreach events. No overnight or holiday shifts are required.
About the position types:
This position is a full-time, grant-funded, benefit earning position.
Effective September 1, 2021, all new job offers are conditional based on the candidate being fully vaccinated for COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” means 14 days after receiving the second dose in a two-dose vaccination series approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a full or emergency-use basis, or 14 days after receiving a single-dose vaccine approved by the FDA on a full or emergency-use basis. After a conditional job offer is made, the candidate must show proof of full vaccination prior to their start date. A COVID-19 vaccination card from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a vaccination record from your doctor’s office or a personal digital vaccination record constitutes sufficient “proof.” The candidate must also attest they are vaccinated by completing a form on the first day of employment. Reasonable accommodations to this vaccination requirement will be considered upon request by a candidate for medical or religious reasons as required by applicable law.
In this position, you will:
- Seek out settings and find effective ways to listen to, engage with, educate, and get feedback from African American MSM and same gender loving men regarding HIV prevention both at the clinic and out in the community by one-on-one discussions, online social media campaigns, individual and group outreach, and HIV testing and referrals.
- Assist individuals in identifying their risk for HIV infection as well as coordinate and collaborate with other Red Door prevention programs providing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV Care Navigation, additional STI testing and treatment at the clinic, or syringe exchange and naloxone services.
- Collect, track, evaluate, and report program data and service delivery outcomes to demonstrate the program’s progress towards our grant-contracted client service goals as well as to inform the direction of future programming.
- Perform blood draws and conduct blood tests for clients at risk of HIV; promptly chart medical test results and encounter information in an electronic medical record.
- Serve as a liaison with related African American MSM and HIV prevention-focused community groups, HIV service organizations, and other health care professionals.
- Provide health education specific to African American MSM through discussion and presentations.
Need to have:
- One of the following:
- Bachelor's degree or higher in public health, nursing, behavioral/social science, or an approved related field.
- Four or more years of related professional experience providing HIV testing, prevention and health education, sexual health counseling, outreach, and referral services to African American same gender loving MSM.
- A valid driver's license and daily access to reliable transportation to attend meetings and visit community sites throughout Hennepin County.
- Work occasional nights and weekends to accommodate outreach events.
- Lift and carry up to 25 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
Nice to have:
- Experience:
- Providing HIV testing, health and STI education, counseling, outreach, and referral services to African American same gender loving MSM.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, community agencies, and culturally/socioeconomically diverse clients.
- Conducting group facilitation.
- Assisting with writing, managing, and monitoring grants.
- Providing phlebotomy.
- Knowledge of:
- Harm reduction and trauma-informed approach.
- HIV related community resources.
- HIV/STI prevention theory, techniques, and practices.
- Current public health practices/principles and education/training methods.
- Motivational interviewing technique.
- Ability to:
- Interview individuals to assess their sexual risk and need for services.
- 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.
Qualified candidates with lived experience of the community served through this position are encouraged to apply.
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.
These positions are internally classified as a Community Health Specialist
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.