Lowell Community Health Center
Job Description
Job Title Community Health Worker - Overdose Education Prevention Counselor
Department: Carino
Reports To: Operations Manager
FLSA Status: Non- Exempt
Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) is a community-based health care organization. Our programs have been recognized as national models. With a career at Lowell Community Health Center, you will be joining a dynamic team of passionate and talented people.
Summary:
Work with local hospitals, EMS, community partners, internal staff, and other stakeholders to target individuals and communities most at risk for overdose. Provide counseling, training, outreach education and medication for members of the Greater Lowell community in an effort to reduce risk of fatal opioid overdose.
Responsibilities:
Develop, maintain and evaluate an in-reach and outreach schedule.
Provide individual and group overdose prevention training.
Facilitate Narcan distribution both onsite, through outreach and secondary distribution with community stakeholders.
Targeted field outreach utilizing data and community feedback to community members who are at risk of overdose.
Provide harm reduction education and supported linkages.
Partner with Lowell CHC’s Care in Reach Mobile Health Unit to reach at risk individuals in the community
Demonstrate understanding of cultural impact on individuals living with substance use disorder.
Participation in MA Harm Reduction Monthly Check In.
Participation in regional meetings regarding substance abuse prevention
Provide HIV, STI, and HCV counseling and screening per the standards of MDPH/OHA.
Complete administrative duties as assigned.
Complete all required MDPH documentation.
Document patient encounters in EMR as needed.
Complete monthly service delivery report.
Participate in monthly individual administrative supervision.
Participate in monthly group clinical supervision.
Participate in training to develop and maintain skills.
Qualifications:
High School Diploma required
CPR/BLS required
Public Health Outreach Experience Preferred
Experience in addiction services preferred
Strong documentation and organizational skills
Ability to provide culturally competent care
Bilingual/bicultural candidates strongly preferred (Khmer, Spanish, Portuguese)
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses and other department staff. Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs. Occasional stress and pressure caused by multiple simultaneous demands. May be exposed to various body fluids and/or infectious diseases. Universal precautions and techniques are included in orientation and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.
About the company
Company website•Hospitals and Health Care
Founded in 1970, Lowell Community Health Center serves 50,000 people from Greater Lowell. Our mission is to provide caring, quality, and culturally competent health services to the people of Greater Lowell, regardless of their financial status; to reduce health disparities and enhance the health of the Greater Lowell community; and to empower each individual to maximize their overall well-being. No patient is denied health care services because of the inability to pay.
We derive 76% of our income through insurance reimbursements and other feesl, raising the rest through grants and gifts from generous donors
• More than 90% of Lowell CHC patients are low income, and 46% are best served in a language other than English.
• Since opening our new comprehensive facility in a renovated mill on Jackson Street in 2012, more than 15,000 additional patients have turned to Lowell CHC for a full range of primary care, including OB-GYN and behavioral health services for adults and children,, averaging over 600 visits per day.
• We also have a Pharmacy serving health center patients and others in the community. lab and radiology services onsite through Lowell General Hospital, and now offer eye care and dental services.
Lowell Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It employs without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, handicap or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran.
Additionally, it is the policy of the Health Center to maintain a work environment free from discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran/military status, marital status or other status protected by federal or state law, with regard to any term or condition of employment.