OD2A Substance Use Navigator (Transportation)

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Time Type:

Full time

Department:

East Boston Recovery Services

All Locations:

1601 Washington Street, East Boston

Position Summary:

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Substance Use Navigator (SUN) for an exciting new role funded by the OD2A (Overdose Data to Action) grant through the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). This position focuses on harm reduction, community outreach, and building partnerships to enhance access to care for individuals affected by substance use. The SUN will play a vital role in connecting patients to community services and support during high-risk transitions, such as hospital discharges or releases from criminal justice settings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Grant Deliverables: Ensure compliance with all OD2A grant requirements, including maintaining professional communication with BPHC, attending meetings, and completing data reporting.
• Community Engagement: Actively participate in expanding evidence-based interventions within the health center and surrounding communities to reduce overdose incidents, using data to guide efforts.
• Collaboration: Work alongside city government and community partners to enhance substance use navigation services, establishing effective referral pathways for patients.
• Patient Support: Facilitate referrals to medical, behavioral health, and human services providers, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care including primary care and substance use treatment.
• Trend Response: Collaborate with BPHC and Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to address emerging substance use trends and implement preventative measures.
• Warm Referrals: Provide warm referrals to community healthcare and social service providers, including transportation support as needed.
• Care Retention: Support patients in maintaining engagement in care and managing long-term recovery through regular follow-ups and tracking.
• Overdose Prevention: Distribute overdose prevention supplies (e.g., naloxone, fentanyl test strips) within the health center and at community events.
• Miscellaneous: Maintain excellent punctuality and attendance, exhibit outstanding customer service skills, and adhere to all organizational policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Experience in substance use recovery or related fields, particularly with communities impacted by systemic inequities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build trust and rapport with patients and community partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits:

• Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Education Reimbursement: Up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement for eligible staff.
• Financial Benefits: Life and disability insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan with company match, and flexible spending and transportation accounts.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid holidays, vacation days, sick leave, and personal time off.
• Professional Growth: Generous staff development opportunities to support career advancement.
• Additional Perks: Excellent malpractice coverage, pet insurance, and various other benefits to promote overall well-being.

Compensation:

• Starting pay ranges from $19.55 to $29.33, commensurate with experience.

Join Us: If you are committed to making a positive impact in the community and helping individuals navigate the challenges of substance use recovery, we encourage you to apply for this meaningful position!

Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

Educational Requirements

• A High School diploma or GED required, Associate's Degree or higher preferred.
• Preference of minimum 1-year experience in SUD treatment

Experience Requirements

• Knowledge of the standard of practice of SUD treatment and harm reduction
• Ability to use data to evaluate outcomes related to grant.
• Working knowledge and experience with the Epic electronic medical record systems, performance dashboards, database products, and analysis tools preferred
• 2 years' experience in community work or health and human service, desired.
• Knowledge of community, neighborhoods served by EBNHC /SECHC desired
• Must work independently, have excellent interpersonal, communication and teaching skills.
• Bilingual preferred
• Demonstrate cultural competency working with the OD2A priority populations (homeless/unhoused, Black and Latinx, people who are incarcerated or transitioning out of incarceration)

SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Strong advocacy skills along with knowledge of community-based services, resources, and local recovery community
• Empathic understanding of patients, including the ability to assess multicultural needs, sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity, values, beliefs, and behaviors.
• Demonstrated flexibility with client's priorities, evolving needs, and goals.
• Organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, e-mail, and the internet; requires the ability to research community resources independently and to access and enter data
• Bilingual in Spanish and English strongly preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the community