Syringe Access Services & Outreach Navigator (SAS)
San Francisco
Programs – Harm Reduction /
Full-Time /
On-site
The Syringe Access Services & Outreach Navigator position provides support, outreach, and overdose prevention services to individuals with a history of substance use and co-occurring disorders who are in immediate need of harm reduction supplies, health services, overdose prevention and other support. The SAS & Outreach Navigator – provides supplies, information & education, including overdose information and naloxone, and support to overcome barriers, provide early-intervention, and linkage to care, detox, treatment, and other social services and health services. Though trained cross-functionally across harm reduction and navigation services, this position specifically supports on-site and street-based outreach, syringe access & overdose prevention services (these services provide clients with sterile supplies, naloxone, and equipment for people who use drugs—PWUDs,). Services are provided in person, at various community-based settings within the Tenderloin and SOMA, and on the streets to communities via street-based or venue- based outreach.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide harm reduction supplies, including safe sex and safe using supplies, and overdose prevention medications (naloxone) & education to community members via SAS desk and street-based or venue- based outreach.
- Promote and recruit clients for syringe access & overdose prevention services as well as HIV/Hep C and STI services.
- Assist SAS coordinator/ manager with all SAS data collection and preparation of monthly reports.
- Assist Community Engagement Coordinator with engaging community navigators during their training for and hours spent at the SAS desk. Includes providing street-based outreach with community navigators, volunteers and staff.
- Provide group education and organizational presentations, including trainings to prevent accidental overdose. Provide prevention education including safer sex, and safer injection drug use education for PWIDs, distribute condoms, dams, lubrication, hygiene kits, naloxone, and other harm reduction/prevention materials and supplies.
- Assist with GLIDE’s DOPE Program (Drug Overdose Prevention Education) and Narcan distribution to prevent opioid overdose.
- Provide services each week at our Friday evening syringe access site from 6 to 8 pm and work a modified schedule on Fridays to work the Friday evening Syringe Access Site.
- Assist with community outreach activities. Assist with coordinating Special Events to promote testing, overdose prevention, linkages to care, health and wellness, prevention education, etc.
- Preparing outreach materials & providing street-based & venue-based outreach regularly.
- Develop rapport and trust with clients, through motivational interviewing techniques, to ensure a smooth and successful transition to long-term services, including pre-treatment, detox and inpatient substance use treatment, housing and other health and social services.
- Develop and maintain an effective network, based on collaborative efforts, with other GLIDE service providers and appropriate community service agencies, to provide comprehensive services to clients.
- Document service contacts and other efforts program database and maintain accurate, current data, records and files, and documentation of clients’ progress.
- Apply strength-based, client-centered approach with adherence to cultural humility and trauma-informed service and harm reduction principles.
- Attends weekly individual supervision and other administrative meetings as directed by supervisor.
- Adhere to professional boundaries and standards, including requirements of HIPAA, best practices to maintain confidentiality, and reporting requirements (e.g., child reporting, adult abuse, etc.).
- Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits such as: collaborating with co-workers, meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, attending, and actively participating in staff and individual meetings, supervision, and in-service trainings.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Direct service experience with harm reduction services (syringe access, outreach, Naloxone trainings, overdose prevention, and health navigation or other social and health services) desired.
- Experience working with individuals that have faced chronic/long-term homelessness, severe or persistent mental illness, substance use disorder, chronic/complex trauma, and of marginalized communities (based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.).
- Experience with crisis management and ability to provide de-escalation in individual and group settings.
- Knowledge of strength-based and client-centered approaches as well as trauma-informed and harm reduction principles.
- Understands and accept differences in attitudes toward health problems.
- Ability to work professionally and ethically, including ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of persons, documents, data, and communications.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and show appropriate decision making while working to meet the demands and needs of a client-centered environment;
- Knowledge of human services, healthcare, and other resources in San Francisco and greater Bay Area.
- Understanding of systemic racism and other forms of discrimination as barriers to health, well-being, and self-sufficiency.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Works well under pressure and manages stress effectively in a demanding and fast paced environment;
- Ability to plan and implement outreach objectives and activities, collect data and prepare reports.
- Demonstrates cultural humility and can work effectively across cultures.
- Demonstrates a commitment to learning, communicating, and working respectfully with people different from themselves.
- Commitment to the mission, values, and philosophy of GLIDE.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- A minimum of 1-2 years harm reduction services, street outreach, case management, navigation, or advocacy experience working with socially and/or economically marginalized, multiply diagnosed populations.
- Knowledge of violence prevention and intervention techniques. Experience providing direct social services to homeless and/or very low-income clients who are dual diagnosed and/or have experienced domestic violence, and/or have been incarcerated;
- Knowledge of community resources for aiding clients.
- Demonstrated understanding of the psycho-social, cultural, and economic issues that may impact clients.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
- CA Rapid HIV/HCV Testing and/or Harm Reduction certification preferred;
- Current California Driving License;
- On the job training available
$24.20 - $27.90 an hour
