Disease Intervention Specialist

Job Summary: Native American Community Clinic (NACC) is seeking a Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) to work with our infectious disease team in delivering harm reduction-based care to patients who are diagnosed with or at risk for HIV, HCV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. This position will conduct highly sensitive disease investigation activities, counsel and educate cases about preventing transmission to others, and conduct interviews for partner elicitation. The position will work closely with NACC clinical staff to coordinate testing and treatment for patients. A primary focus on this position will be on individuals whose HIV status is unknown or who are out of medical care, who use injection drugs, and who are experiencing homelessness.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Investigating and interviewing persons diagnosed with syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or who are co-infected with these infections.
• Identifying and investigating persons exposed to HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea who are unaware of their exposure.
• Providing risk reduction counseling to persons interviewed.
• Linking persons newly diagnosed with HIV and other STIs to medical care.
• Re-engaging in HIV medical care persons who are presumed to be out of care.
• Creating and maintaining investigative and interview records and reports.
• Conducting assigned outbreak response activities.

• Working closely with clinic providers, nurses, and outreach staff to design and deliver treatment plans.
• Coordinating with external partners to engage or re-engage patients.
• Participating in outreach events to deliver services to target population.
• Collecting and maintaining data, tracking progress towards goals for relevant grants and community surveys, and providing accurate reporting on grant outcomes regularly.
• Co-facilitating regular clinical reviews with clinical staff.
• Participating in interdisciplinary clinic team meetings.
• Representing clinic at inter-organizational meetings.
• Assisting clinical staff in the development and disbursement of educational materials.
• Local travel will be required to conduct outreach at harm reduction events and to individuals of target population

Minimum qualifications:

Two years of related public health experience:

• providing services in one of the following areas: STI/HIV/HCV health education, harm reduction, counseling, outreach, testing, or referral services.
• providing services in one of the following communities: communities of color, people who inject drugs, people who are experiencing homelessness, or other populations at risk for STI/HIV/HCV infection.
• Ability to independently perform local travel as needed to perform job duties

Preferred Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in public health or related field.
• Experience in the Native American community.
• Experience as a Disease Intervention Specialist or Disease Investigator.
• Experience interviewing individuals who have a sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS, or their exposed contacts to obtain epidemiological information, analyze the information obtained, and provide client-centered prevention counseling.
• Experience providing HIV linkage and re-engagement to care services.
• Experience working in a healthcare environment or working with healthcare professionals.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse clientele.
• Ability to facilitate communication, decision making and problem solving.
• Ability to prioritize and be self-directed in performing multiple tasks.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Personal vehicle and valid driver's license to be used for work purposes--organization will reimburse for gas/mileage