Prevention and Care Outreach Case Manager, Prevention Point Philadelphia

Posted by on August 08, 2011

Prevention and Care Outreach Case Manager, Prevention Point Philadelphia

Posted on: July 22, 2011

Organizational Overview:

Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) is a multi-service public health organization dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of drug users and sex workers. PPP works to provide safe and humane alternatives to the war on drugs. PPP began in 1991 as a grassroots, volunteer organization conducting syringe exchange when it was still an illegal activity. Prevention Point has grown into a recognized, multi-service public health organization that works to minimize the adverse consequences of injection drug use and sex work, such as HIV or Hepatitis C. PPP meets drug users where they are, providing information and access to treatment with dignity and respect. Using a harm reduction approach, PPP offers low threshold, culturally sensitive, non-judgmental services to address the health and social service needs of drug and hormone users and sex workers in Philadelphia. PPP promotes harm reduction through sterile syringe exchange, mobile medical care, referrals to social services, and prevention case management services.

Prevention / Care Outreach Case Manager Position Overview:

PPP Prevention Case Managers implement Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services (CRCS), a client-centered, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved intervention for clients living with HIV/AIDS and those who are uninfected but are at very high risk of infection. The Case Manager provides a series of one-on-one harm reduction counseling for clients with multiple needs who may have difficulty initiating or sustaining practices that reduce their HIV transmission and re-infection risks. The Case Manager also works with clients in PPP’s STEP Clinic, a buprenorphine program that targets heroin users through PPP’s Syringe Exchange Program, some of whom are HIV-positive with co-occurring opioid dependence/addiction. PPP’s STEP is a low-threshold substance use treatment program aimed at helping the most vulnerable opiate dependent individuals who have unsuccessfully attempted other treatment options. In addition to working with clients in the Harm Reduction Services Center and STEP Clinic, the Case Manager will link current clients and other members of the target population to appropriate services including HIV services, primary care, case management, educational and support groups, sterile syringe exchange, detox, drug treatment, legal assistance and public benefits advocacy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Through internal referrals from other PPP programs, and through active recruitment on-site at the Syringe Exchange Program, recruit clients for Care Outreach Services and Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services (CRCS) at PPP’s Harm Reduction Services Drop-in Center, PPP’s weekly mobile outreach sites, the STEP Clinic, and cbo’s serving high-risk populations.
2. Conduct client interviews to screen client needs and work with client to develop an Individual Prevention Plan. If a client is appropriate for CRCS, provide a series of 4 to 10 individual counseling sessions.
3. Screen clients to determine the need for specialized psychiatric or medical care and make appropriate recommendations and referrals.
4. Coordinate client referrals to support groups, sterile syringe exchange, medical care, detox, drug treatment, legal assistance, public benefits and other supportive services. Coordinate referral to HIV primary care, HIV case management, and other HIV supports, and conduct HIV treatment and medication initiation and adherence discussions with clients at regularly scheduled sessions.
5. Assist clients in accessing services. This may include helping clients obtain ID, medical insurance, SSI, assisting with phone calls to other service providers, accompanying clients to appointments, etc.
6. Follow-up with clients and service providers to determine outcome of referrals.
7. Establish and maintain relationships with service providers, agencies, cbo’s, and community groups.
8. Provide one-on-one education on HIV/AIDS, risk behaviors, substance use and harm reduction and engage clients in meaningful and frank discussions about HIV and hepatitis transmission. Encourage clients to adopt safer sex and injecting behaviors.
9. Actively participate in supervision, team, and staff meetings.
10. Adhere to PPP’s harm reduction approach (meeting people where they are & withholding judgment about choices they make, etc.).
11. Keep accurate and comprehensive charts on clients-including information on client interviews, counseling sessions, referrals, and submit paperwork in a timely fashion. Perform data entry on a monthly basis using internal data bases and the Program Evaluation and Monitoring System (PEMS). Provide services in accordance with standards set by PPP, the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office.
12. Work in a past faced environment and assist with additional operational needs including drop-in center coverage and answering the agency telephone.
13. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Send a resume and cover letter to the following email address:

jobs@preventionpointphilly.org