Early Intervention Specialist, Congreso

Posted by Congreso de Latinos Unidos on February 8, 2016

Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc. is currently seeking a full-time Early Intervention Specialist within Congreso’s Health Promotion and Wellness division. This position is responsible for providing counseling, crisis intervention, education and advocacy for clients throughout the process of testing for HIV infection. The Early Intervention Specialist will link newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals to medical care and case management services, conduct outreach in the community and provide advocacy and interpretation services as needed. Candidates for this position should have a valid driver’s license and a good record to operate the mobile testing van. This position reports directly to the HIV Prevention Coordinator and participates in department activities as necessary.

About Congreso
Congreso is a multiservice nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen Latino communities through social, economic, education, and health services; leadership development and advocacy. Founded in Philadelphia in 1977, Congreso has grown into a national thought leader on nonprofit performance management with an expert focus on the Latino community. Congreso is anchored by its innovative Primary Client Model (PCM™), and provides direct services to residents of the Philadelphia region while providing consult to other nonprofits and government systems nationally.

Essential Responsibilities
 Educates clients on HIV, AIDS and STD’s and their implications via the program’s policies
 Obtain and maintain certification to conduct HIV rapid tests
 Conduct a risk assessment with clients and thoroughly explain the implications of risk behaviors
 Provide information on the pros and cons of HIV testing and explain the testing process
 Refer all HIV positive clients and those at high risk of HIV infection for proper medical follow-up
 Maintain accurate up-to-date client records and submit proper documentation to supervisor
 Submit monthly statistical narrative reports as required by the program supervisor for review
 Conducting community outreach including: canvassing certain neighborhoods, bars, clubs, public housing locations, churches, and government services offices
 Keep abreast of all updated HIV/AIDS and STD public health information
 Provide basic translation and interpretation services for Spanish speaking clients
 Properly store and dispose of all biohazardous materials as dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health
 Successfully meet work-plan goals; this position will be charged with reaching very high risk populations and entails the development and implementation of outreach strategies
 Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications
 One or more years of experience providing direct services to clients and/or clients with HIV/AIDS
 Experience working with the Latino population; familiarity with AIDS and its impact on the Puerto Rican/Latino community
 High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Qualifications
 Bilingual (Spanish/English) highly preferred

Certification/License: certified training in medical technology, nursing assistant, etc. with venipuncture training; valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record; must be certified and possess and active counselor identification number to conduct HIV testing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

A Career with Congreso: Your talent and passion + our mission = outcomes

Come grow our reputation. Employees come to Congreso because they hear the positive things our clients, employees, and supporters say about us. Congreso has served the neighborhoods of eastern North Philadelphia since 1977. We have built our reputation on trust and high-quality human service delivery. And now our expertise in client-centered, outcomes-informed service delivery is extending our reputation beyond local borders to regional and national renown.

Come serve the community. Employees come to Congreso because of their passion to work directly with members of a vibrant and diverse community towards greater self-sufficiency. We have grassroots in Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community and a commitment to strengthen all who live in the communities we serve. Our campus is located in the heart of the Eastern North Philadelphia neighborhoods we serve and includes a charter school that houses college courses at night.

Come celebrate culture. Employees come to Congreso because of the diversity of our employees, clients, and community we serve. We seek to serve all clients through practices that show inclusion, empathy and understanding regardless of cultural identities.

Come be part of our “familia.” Employees come to Congreso for a working culture that reflects our family-centered service approach and our commitment to balance work and family. Our “mi casa es su casa” welcome extends to employees and all who seek services from us. Our employees value the feeling of being “like family” and the close and supportive relationships they have with co-workers.

Come grow professionally. Employees come to Congreso to gain experience, learn new skills, and grow professionally. Our Primary Client Model™ provides employees with continuous education and professional development in client-centered, data-informed, and culturally appreciative service delivery. We recognize supervisors as leaders and an essential link between retention and service quality. All supervisors engage in regular professional development and organizational strategy conversations with Congreso’s President/CEO. Congreso has a reputation for leadership development, with many former employees now in leadership positions at the local, regional and national level.

To Apply
To apply for this position please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements here. For more information about Congreso and other career opportunities pleas go to http://www.congreso.net.

EEOC
Congreso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Congreso is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and all applicants for employment. All employment decisions at Congreso are made without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability or military/veteran status, or any other protected class as set forth under applicable State, Local and Federal Civil Rights Laws.