Job Description:

If hired for this position, you will be required to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to your start date, or have a valid religious or medical reason qualifying you for an exemption (that may or may not require accommodation).

SUMMARY

Heluna Health and RTI International seek a Senior Outreach Worker to participate in recruitment and retention of study participants for a 12-month, community-based research project involving data collection with people actively injecting drugs in Gastonia, North Carolina and surrounding counties.

The Senior Outreach Worker will be responsible for helping recruit participants in community and street-based settings to take a 45 minute survey 3 times over the course of 12 months. The Senior Outreach Worker will also be responsible for conducting recurring outreach to keep participants engaged with the study to ensure that people who take the first (baseline) survey take it again at 6 and 12 months after baseline. Some survey participants do not have transportation and are unable to travel to the research site to be reminded of their 6- and 12-month survey appointments. The role of the Senior Outreach Worker will be to help keep them engaged and reminded of their survey appointments and help ensure that they take the survey 3 times.
The Senior Outreach Worker will also provide an ongoing presence at the community research site and will work collaboratively with the Project Coordinator to manage participant flow, site security, and retention of study participants. Work will be conducted at local syringe access programs in Gaston County and adjacent towns that are impacted by high levels of poverty, illicit drug use, substance use disorders, and adverse health.

This is a part-time position (20 hours per week) with some hours on weekends and evenings. We are seeking a flexible and empathetic candidate who is familiar with the principles of harm reduction and has extensive experience doing outreach to marginalized populations in this region of North Carolina, specifically people who use illicit drugs.

This position is based in Gastonia, NC with travel to adjacent counties as needed.

Employment is provided by Heluna Health.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Conduct engagement with people who use illicit drugs in their social environment around 2 study sites
• Recruit and refer eligible study participants to the study field sites
• Contribute to security at the field sites
• Work collaboratively with Project Coordinator on participant flow and scheduling at field sites
• Maintain ongoing contact with participants for monthly check-in appointments to achieve an 80% return rate for follow-up survey appointments at 6- and 12-months
• Provide referrals to participants as requested
• Other duties as assigned

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience
• Minimum 1 year of experience conducting community-based outreach to marginalized populations, such as people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and sex workers (two or more years of experience preferred)
• Experience working on community-based research projects preferred
• Familiarity with practices and principles of Harm Reduction required
• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent preferred

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances
• A valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Background check clearance

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and good judgement
• Ability to de-escalate potentially volatile situations
• Familiarity with street/substance using social settings
• Ability to work in racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods
• Ability to manage time and workload

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stand Frequently
Walk Frequently
Sit Frequently
Handling / Fingering Occasionally
Reach Outward Occasionally
Reach Above Shoulder Occasionally
Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend Occasionally
Lift / Carry Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs
Push/Pull Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs
See Constantly
Taste/ Smell Not Applicable

Not Applicable Not required for essential functions
Occasionally (0 - 2 hrs/day)
Frequently (2 - 5 hrs/day)
Constantly (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work will primarily be conducted at local syringe services programs.

Heluna Health is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages minorities, women, veterans, and disabled to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

See job description

Salary: $15.00

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