Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Navigator

Who We Are:

Since 1985, BHCHP's mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community's most vulnerable-and most resilient-citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Job summary:

Hours: Full-time, Monday- Friday, 8:30am- 5:00pm

Union: Yes

Union Name: 1199SEIU

Patient Facing: Yes

We are looking to hire a PrEP/OEND Navigator (PN). As the PN, you will assist with the implementation and expansion of low threshold HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Program at BHCHP tailored for homeless people who inject drugs, and other vulnerable populations at high risk for HIV transmission. You will also provide high intensity care coordination, patient navigation and accompaniment as well as management of PrEP patient database for both quality improvement initiatives and panel management. Additionally, you will provide overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution (OEND) to vulnerable populations at high risk for experiencing or witnessing an overdose. This position is funded until the end of June 2026 with the possibility for renewal. If this funding is not renewed, this position will end June 30, 2028.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct outreach in a variety of settings (street, shelters, treatment programs) to educate patients about PrEP, identify PrEP candidates and link them into PrEP services, conduct initial PrEP assessments for PrEP eligibility, coordinate intake laboratory testing, facilitate and coordinate PrEP nursing and provider follow ups visits.
• Assist with insurance barriers, referral for benefits, transportation, provide reminder calls for visits, and proactively contact patients to remind them about appointments and lab work; Visit patients at their place of residence (street, shelter, etc.) to accompany them to appointments, reconnect them to care, and/or provide medical case management.
• Provide adherence counseling, coordinate PrEP refills with pharmacy staff, and assist with medication delivery, as well as work with partner agencies on medication storage.
• Assist clients identify health-related social service needs, help them access related resources, and support the successful utilization of these resources.
• Provide patients with health promotion, behavioral risk reduction, and prevention of communicable disease acquisition or transmission by offering health education and promotional materials and conducting health educational groups in a variety of outreach settings.
• Document each patient encounter in the electronic medical record; Keep accurate statistics of work done and assist in report preparation, including managing HCV team tracking document
• Participate in research activities related to PrEP program activities
• Work with partner agencies to facilitate PrEP services access, medication storage (when feasible) and provide PrEP educational materials.
• Provide HIV counseling and testing as well as phlebotomy for HIV, HCV and syphilis serologies, as well as for PrEP intake laboratory testing; Link patients with positive test results to appropriate clinical services
• Provide overdose prevention education to clients in outreach and off-site settings, in individual or group education encounters; Distribute naloxone to clients in accordance with OEND data record keeping and reporting requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree (social service or related field preferred).
• Bilingual Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Phlebotomy skills must be demonstrated within 60 days after onsite training. Additional compensation of 3% will be added to the hourly base once proficiency has been demonstrated.
• Understanding of Harm Reduction approaches; Knowledge of HIV prevention strategies.
• Facility with database management.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The compensation increases based on years of experience and ranges from $22.25 - $35.60 hourly.
• BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off program, health dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan, pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount, additional compensation for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and more. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.

As an equal opportunity employer, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Covid-19 Vaccination: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.

Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.