Bilingual Peer Advocate

DESCRIPTION

Office: ASHwell Headquarters, 3208 Red River St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78705

About the Organization:

Our approach to sexual health and wellness is rooted in being proudly sex and kink positive, pro-sex worker, pro-harm reduction and anti-stigma. We are a growing organization looking for values-aligned, pro-sexual health and wellness people to join our team!

Position Overview:

The Peer Advocate works closely with both English-speaking and monolingual Spanish-speaking clients to minimize barriers to keeping appointments, maximize clients’ retention in care, and support success with medication regimens.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports individual client linkage to HIV medical care, medical and non-medical case management at ASHwell and other community partner agencies’ services.
• Conducts individual and community assessments, including assessments of client needs and development of care plans with clients’ input.
• Performs outreach to re-engage and relink clients lost to care.
• Culturally appropriate health education and information to improve treatment adherence.
• Care coordination, linkage to case management, and system navigation that support retention in care through client referrals for needed services.
• Cultural mediation to educate clients about care and treatment in order to increase linkage, retention, and treatment adherence.
• Supports clients in-person at ASHwell and other Austin-area Ryan White agencies.
• Coordinates medical transportation for clients where appropriate.
• Evaluation and research, including documentation of activities in electronic health records.
• Serves as a linkage coordinator to help client entering or re-entering care complete intake, go to their first few medical appointments, and get connected to a case manager or other most needed services after medical intake.
• Provide coaching and mentoring, including advice, social and emotional support, and encouragement, helping identify and address problems or barriers to care.
• Assist with demonstrating continued eligibility for Ryan White services, including ensuring they have all necessary documents and obtain six-month and annual recertification.
• Generates client case reviews and performance documentation to track each client’s progress.
• When working with clients with limited English proficiency (LEP) help with translating forms and interpreting with schedulers and other non-clinical staff and medical interpretation where appropriate.
• Report on their activities through entering information into electronic health records (EHR) system after proper training, participating in interdisciplinary team meetings to review client progress, and reporting to program supervisor.
• Collaborate closely with other members of the treatment team, including clinicians and other care providers such as case managers at ASHwell and other Austin-area Ryan White agencies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED. Bachelor’s degree preferred in public health, social work, psychology.
• Fluent in English and Spanish with proficient reading and writing skills, and knowledge of medical terminology in both languages.
• Lived experience with clients, such as, HIV serostatus, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, substance use history, mental health conditions, culture and language.
• A valid driver’s license and own transportation.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong communication and written skills, as well as a demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse staff and diverse client populations.
• Experience working or volunteering in HIV/STI prevention or other community health programs preferred.
• Spanish language written proficiency and speaking fluency.
• Experience working with electronic medical record platforms.
• TX DSHS Community Health Worker Certification.
• Knowledge of harm reduction models and Motivational Interviewing.
• At minimum one year’s professional experience as a peer support specialist.