Outreach Program Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts

While opioid-related overdose fatalities have been declining overall in Massachusetts, BIPOC and Latinx communities are seeing dramatic surges in overdose fatalities. At the same time, many PWUD (people who use drugs) in areas disproportionately affected by this are often underserved by harm reduction services, unaware of these services, and/or do not view themselves as eligible or in need of them.

Fenway Health’s Department of Prevention aims to tackle this issue head-on through hiring a Bi-Lingual Outreach Specialist. The ideal candidate is one who can bring a breadth of cultural knowledge and diversity to better serve these communities through culturally competent street and mobile outreach for active injection drug users in high-need areas of the cities of Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. Under the supervision of the Program Manager, The Bi-Lingual Outreach Specialist will also conduct rapid HIV/HCV/STI testing, provide overdose prevention trainings with clients, community groups, and businesses, and will provide on-site health education duties as needed.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Conduct street and mobile outreach activities with active drug users in areas or neighborhoods identified as high-risk or high-need within program catchment areas. This catchment area includes, but is not limited to: East Somerville, the Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods of Boston, and Cambridge.
2. Distribute safer sex, overdose prevention, and injection supplies to people who use drugs (PWUD). Collect used syringes for safe disposal.
3. Provide written and verbal harm reduction information on safer injection strategies, vein and abscess care, overdose prevention and HIV, STD and Hepatitis transmission to program participants and area providers. Provide appropriate referrals.
4. Provide practical interventions relating to injection site issues, including advice for basic wound and/or abscess care.
5. Break down language barriers by providing these interventions in two languages when necessary (Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese).
6. Conduct rapid testing for HIV. Provide screening and risk reduction sessions, as well as education and referrals as necessary.
7. Provide training on overdose prevention and naloxone (Narcan) to active users, their allies, and other service providers.
8. Provide clients with easily accessible, low threshold services that operate within the harm reduction framework. This includes assisting clients with accessing support services such as primary care, drug treatment, homeless shelters and legal advocacy, as well as enrolling them in syringe exchange and overdose prevention services.
9. Participate in daily drop-in operations when needed including, opening and closing procedures to help ensure facilities are clean, safe and welcoming.
10. Conduct activities related to building and maintaining partnerships with community partners, and conduct community advocacy.
11. Assist Program Manager in program development and evaluation.
12. Assist program Manager in vehicle maintenance.
13. Respond to overdose and behavioral health crises as necessary.
14. Attend and participate in departmental, collaborator, and funder meetings and trainings.

Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution

• Under supervision of Program Manager, gain Overdose Prevention Master Trainer designation from funders.
• Assist Outreach Coordinator in training and certification of new staff to conduct overdose prevention trainings.
• Assist Outreach Coordinator in maintain Narcan distribution to community partners

Meet agency participatory expectations

• Adhere to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participate in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
• Adhere to the highest principles of client confidentiality
• Adhere to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; enforce agency’s policies and clinical procedures, including safety and crisis procedures.
• Attend all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities

Perform related duties and projects as assigned

• Minimum two-years relevant work experience. Note: A Bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience may substitute for the minimum work experience requirement.
• Knowledge of and commitment to practice harm reduction in all interactions with program participants and at all stages of program planning processes.
• Must have fluency in Spanish
• Experienced in conducting street and mobile outreach with at risk populations.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Previous experience with data collection and entry.
• Self-directed, motivated and flexible with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Significant knowledge of health-related issues faced by injection drug users, including awareness of injection drug user networks, norms and culture.
• Current valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and a minimum of 1 year driving experience required.
• Ability to provide rapid HIV testing using a finger-stick test and/or willingness to learn phlebotomy skills.
• Experience in crisis intervention
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. This includes engaging constructively with colleagues, patients, clients, and vendors in a manner that reflects professionalism, empathy, and cultural awareness, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics as defined by applicable law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience implementing support groups and trainings
• Familiarity with electronic databases.
• CPR certification or willingness to be trained.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:
• Travel to community events and venues such health fairs, neighborhoods, bars and nightclubs to perform outreach activities, including on late evenings and weekends
• Sit at a computer station and use a keyboard for extended periods of time.
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time
• Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds, and occasionally assisting patients
• May work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and require OSHA training
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment
• Ability to travel to community events and venues such as bars and nightclubs to perform outreach activities.

Keywords: Overdose prevention, safer injection strategies, community advocacy, overdose education, naloxone, PWUD services, HIV testing, syringe exchange, public health, client advocacy, harm reduction programs