Sex Worker Outreach Specialist

The Outreach Specialist utilizes a person-driven, harm-reduction approach in offering prevention, education, and respite services to individuals at risk for infectious disease and conditions associated with substance use and/or unstable housing. The position will specialize in outreach and harm reduction interventions for individuals engaged in sex work. The Outreach Specialist will engage with clients through street outreach, the Drop in Center, and other partnering locations.

Essential Functions:

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs’ Standards of Excellence & Philosophy Care at all times including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality and working from a strength based perspective using evidence base practices (MI, CBT, Harm Reduction etc.)
• Conduct street outreach offering harm reduction resources and navigation to individuals engaged in sex work who may be at risk for infectious disease, overdose, and conditions associated with substance use.
• Work with program leadership to identify appropriate networking and service collaboration opportunities to support clients engaged in sex work: e.g. intimate partner violence resources, bad date list, etc.
• Drive mobile outreach van to assigned locations to conduct mobile prevention services.
• Conduct HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI screening and linkage to care in the drop-in and mobile settings.
• Facilitate connection to low threshold housing and case management for clients who have experienced homeless.
• Facilitate verbal and written harm reduction support related to safer injection practice, wound care, overdose prevention, sexual health, vein and abscess care, and prevention of infectious disease transmission to clients.
• Provide syringe services, Narcan, and harm reduction supplies for individuals at risk for overdose of infectious disease transmission.   
• Provide supported referrals, navigation, and appointment accompaniment for clients seeking health or social service care linkage.
• Engage in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and conflict de-escalation as needed.
• Comply with agency protocols for data collection and record management.
• Attend weekly supervision, monthly staff meetings, and periodic professional development trainings and workshops as requested by supervisor.
• Adhere to the Victory Programs Confidentiality Policies and Procedures at all times and in the course of all interactions.

Assume general oversite of outreach van, including, but not limited to:

• Timely reporting to supervisor of any problems with the vehicle (i.e. leaks, oil, break flasher)
• Completing daily vehicle logs
• Performing general weekly inspection to ensure lights, appliances, etc. are properly functioning
• Ensure vehicles are sufficiently stocked with program supplies and paperwork on a daily basis

Qualifications:

Individuals with lived experience related to the scope of the work are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Previous experience working in human services or harm reduction/prevention services preferred.
• Experience working with individuals engaged in sex work preferred.
• Experience and competency in working with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status.
• Phlebotomy certification/experience or a willingness to be trained in phlebotomy.
• Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a diverse team.
• Ability to drive outreach van required.
  • To be able to drive agency vehicle, you must be 25 years of age and have a valid Massachusetts driver’s license with a safety driving points of 98, 99, 00, 01, 02 or 03.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including an ability to have open and affirming conversations about sex and substance use risk.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Outlook, Excel and the internet.
• Bilingual/bicultural candidates preferred.

Days/Schedule:

• Full-time position (40hrs/week) as scheduled

Rate: $18.49/hr

Victory Programs operates 19 innovative health, housing and prevention programs throughout Greater Boston, Cambridge and Topsfield. Every year we help more than 3,200 individuals and families break down barriers to a brighter future. Our programs serve people who are facing homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness or chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS and provide them with the tools needed to support healthy, self-sufficient lives.

The Mobile Prevention Team works with both internal and external clients and is divided into two projects: Drug User Health Project and Infectious Disease Project. Each project works to improve health outcomes, reduce mortality and enhance overall quality of life for all by seamlessly connecting clients to resources and knowledge through navigation, outreach and education. 

Our benefit program includes a 75% health and 25% dental employer premium contribution, 100% employer paid disability and life insurances, 19 days of earned time in your first year, sick time, personal days, tuition remission, and a retirement savings opportunity.