SUD/HCV Care Navigator (SUD Linkage to Care Specialist)

Equal Opportunity Employer

The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY

The SUD/HCV Care Navigator (SUD Linkage to Care Specialist) is in the PDPH Division of Disease Control’s Viral Hepatitis Program. They will support people diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) utilizing hepatitis C virus (HCV) surveillance data by providing direct linkage to clinical settings that provide integrated SUD and hepatitis C treatment. The SUD/HCV Care Navigator (SUD Linkage to Care Specialist) assists clients by navigating through the entire continuum of care. Services that individuals are connected to include drug treatment, hepatitis C treatment, medical care and wound care, harm reduction education, and social services such as housing and job placement. Navigators also coordinate the mailing of naloxone and fentanyl and/or xylazine test strips to clients. This individual will be familiar with the local public health landscape and work directly with individuals with opioid use disorder and/or SUD to ensure they have the tools to address barriers to seeking care and support people accessing treatment and retention (and reengagement if necessary) in SUD treatment and care, as well as support access to other services, such as harm reduction and social supports.

The SUD/HCV Care Navigator (SUD Linkage to Care Specialist) position conducts full-time participant linkage to SUD and hepatitis C treatment and the necessary wraparound services to ease the barriers faced by priority populations.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties

• Engage individuals who are at risk for or living with SUD and HCV through community outreach, partner referrals, and screenings.
• Conduct initial assessments to understand participant needs, barriers to care, and readiness for treatment.
• Provide direct support to navigate healthcare systems, including scheduling appointments and addressing barriers to access (i.e., insurance, transportation, paperwork).
• Maintain consistent communication with participants to ensure continuity of care and address any barriers to treatment adherence.
• Educate participants on SUD treatment and harm reduction, and about HCV transmission, prevention and treatment options, integrating harm reduction principles.
• Link participants to harm reduction resources, including wound care, syringe services programs, naloxone, and access to drug testing strips (such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips).
• Develop trust and rapport with participants, offering non-judgmental support tailored to their individuals’ needs and readiness for change.
• Coordinate with harm reduction teams, healthcare providers, and behavioral health organizations to streamline referrals and service delivery.
• Participate in case conferencing and team meetings with healthcare providers to ensure collaborative, client-centered care planning as needed
• Build relationships with providers and develop referral processes with local treatment programs, clinics, and community-based organizations to increase access to SUD and HCV care.
• Advocate for participants within healthcare and social services systems to reduce stigma and address health inequities.
• Empower participants to make informed decisions regarding their health, encouraging treatment adherence and harm reduction strategies.
• Track participant progress towards milestones, including screenings, referrals, treatment initiation, and outcomes for SUD and HCV.
• Document barriers and challenges to accessing SUD and HCV services, used to directly inform provider linkage, clinic education, print materials.
• Maintain accurate documentation and timely data entry in electronic systems tracking project deliverables.
• Document feedback from program participants to inform and improve linkage activities.
• Support broad program activities through close work with the Viral Hepatitis and Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction teams.
• Participate in emergency preparedness exercises and real response activities at the discretion of the Viral Hepatitis Program Manager and Division Director.

Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy. 

DISCLAIMER

The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.