Bilingual Outreach Navigator (Spanish/English)

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Description

Reporting directly to the Sexual Health Program Manager, the Bilingual Outreach Navigator carries out the steps necessary to implement successful in-person and virtual community outreach and risk-reduction education for the Sexual Health Program at Fenway Health.

The Outreach Navigator works closely with program leadership and community partners to engage individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by HIV, Hepatitis C, and STIs and assist them in connecting with culturally competent prevention, testing, treatment, and care services at Fenway Health or partner organizations. The position has a particular focus on young adult Latinx gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

This is a hybrid community and clinical support position. Approximately 50% of the role is dedicated to community and digital outreach and approximately 50% is dedicated to health navigation and Sexual Health Clinic support, including HIV/STI/viral hepatitis testing, appointment scheduling, linkage to care, and follow-up.

A significant component of the outreach role involves engaging community members through Fenway Health-approved digital platforms, including Grindr profiles. The Outreach Navigator will use these platforms to initiate and maintain professional conversations about sexual health, HIV/STI prevention and testing, PrEP, nPEP, safer sex, and available Fenway Health services. The Navigator will assist individuals in scheduling appropriate appointments and navigating them into care.

Primary Responsibilities:

Community & Digital Outreach - Approximately 50%

• Plan, implement, and evaluate in-person and virtual community outreach initiatives, screening events, and engagement strategies in collaboration with the Sexual Health Program Manager and program team.
• Spend substantial time in the field engaging community members in neighborhoods, health fairs, community events, bars, nightclubs, and other appropriate venues.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with young adult Latinx communities and LGBTQIA+ communities, with particular focus on young Latinx gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
• Use culturally responsive, sex-positive, nonjudgmental, and trauma-informed approaches when engaging community members about sexual health.
• Provide HIV, STI, Hepatitis C, substance use prevention, harm reduction, PrEP, nPEP, and general sexual health education in community, virtual, digital, and one-on-one settings.
• Conduct HIV/STI risk assessments and identify appropriate prevention, testing, treatment, and care options based on the individual's needs.
• Use Fenway Health-approved digital outreach platforms, including a Grindr profile, as an intentional component of community outreach and sexual health promotion.
• Engage individuals through the Fenway Health Grindr profile and other approved digital platforms to discuss sexual health, HIV/STI testing, PrEP, nPEP, safer sex, and available Fenway Health services.
• Respond to questions and outreach interactions on approved digital platforms in a professional, respectful, confidential, and nonjudgmental manner.
• Assist individuals contacted through digital outreach in determining appropriate services, scheduling appointments, and connecting with Fenway Health or community-based care.
• Follow established organizational policies and procedures regarding the use of social media, digital communication, confidentiality, professional boundaries, and patient privacy.
• Support venue-based, virtual, social media, and other outreach strategies designed to increase awareness of and access to sexual health services.
• Gather feedback from community members, key opinion leaders, and community partners to inform outreach strategies, programming, and educational materials.
• Assist with the development, adaptation, and editing of English- and Spanish-language outreach and educational materials.
• Develop and maintain referral relationships with Fenway Health providers and community organizations serving LGBTQIA+ and Latinx communities.
• Assist with developing and improving protocols and workflows for in-person and virtual outreach.

Health Navigation & Sexual Health Clinic Support - Approximately 50%

• Provide health navigation and linkage to care for community members and clinic clients, including referrals to primary care, PrEP, nPEP, HIV care, STI care, Hepatitis C services, substance use services, and other appropriate resources.
• Navigate clients from initial outreach contact through appointment scheduling and connection to care, including identifying appropriate services, scheduling appointments, addressing barriers, and following up after referral.
• Assist individuals who express interest in HIV/STI testing or sexual health services through outreach or digital platforms in scheduling timely appointments at Fenway Health or connecting with appropriate partner organizations.
• Follow up with clients who are referred or linked to services to assess whether the connection was successful, identify barriers to care, and determine whether additional services or support are needed.
• Support the Sexual Health Clinic by conducting routine HIV, STI, and viral hepatitis testing appointments, generally 1-2 clinic sessions per week or as determined by program needs.
• Screen and triage callers and walk-in clients by assessing risk for HIV, STI, and viral hepatitis exposure and identifying appropriate next steps.
• Provide pre- and post-test counseling and prevention education within the scope of the role and established clinical protocols.
• Conduct HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI testing using rapid tests, phlebotomy, and/or self-collection methods, as appropriate and within established protocols.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation associated with testing appointments, health navigation, referrals, appointment scheduling, and client follow-up.
• Coordinate with clinical providers and Sexual Health Program staff to support efficient client flow, timely access to care, and a positive patient experience.
• Support improvements to access to care and client flow across outreach and clinic settings as directed by the Sexual Health Program Manager.

Collaboration, Quality & Professional Responsibilities

• Report directly to and receive supervision from the Sexual Health Program Manager.
• Collaborate effectively with Sexual Health Program staff, clinical providers, internal departments, community organizations, patients, clients, and external partners.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation in accordance with agency and departmental requirements.
• Maintain patient and client confidentiality and adhere to all applicable privacy, safety, infection-control, and agency policies and procedures.
• Follow established guidelines for professional communication and appropriate boundaries when interacting with clients through digital platforms, including Grindr and other social media or messaging platforms used for organizational outreach.
• Attend staff meetings, individual supervision, trainings, in-services, and seminars to maintain current knowledge of HIV, STI, Hepatitis C, substance use prevention, harm reduction, PrEP, nPEP, and sexual health.
• Participate in quality improvement and program evaluation activities as requested.
• Work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, when needed to meet community outreach and program needs.
• Identify and address potential safety concerns in community and clinical settings and follow established safety procedures.

Perform related duties as required

Requirements

• Proficiency in both English and Spanish, with strong verbal and written communication skills in both languages.
• Minimum of two years of relevant experience in community outreach, health navigation, sexual health, HIV/STI prevention, or a related field. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field plus one year of relevant experience may substitute for the two-year experience requirement.
• Demonstrated lived and/or professional experience working with LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Latinx, MSM, transgender, and/or other communities disproportionately impacted by HIV and STIs.
• Foundational understanding of sex positivity and the ability to use a culturally responsive, nonjudgmental, and affirming approach to sexual health.
• Ability to comfortably discuss sensitive social and sexual health topics with monolingual Spanish-speaking clients.
• Substantial knowledge of young adult Latinx communities and networks in Greater Boston, particularly communities of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
• Experience with HIV/STI prevention, health education, harm reduction, health navigation, or related community-based services.
• Comfort and ability to communicate professionally with community members through in-person, telephone, and approved digital outreach platforms, including Grindr.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality while engaging community members through digital and social media platforms.
• Experience with phlebotomy is preferred but not required. Candidates must be willing and able to learn phlebotomy and successfully complete required training.
• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.
• Willingness to contribute towards Fenway's efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience planning, coordinating, implementing, or evaluating community-based projects or initiatives.
• Established relationships within Boston's LGBTQIA+ and/or Latinx communities.
• Experience using social media or digital platforms for community engagement, sexual health promotion, or health education.
• Experience providing HIV, STI, viral hepatitis, sexual health, PrEP, nPEP, or harm reduction education.
• Experience working with communities that may face barriers to care, including people who are foreign-born, unstably housed, or affected by substance use.
• Experience with appointment scheduling, patient navigation, linkage to care, or care coordination

Physical Requirements:

Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Travel to community events and outreach venues, including neighborhoods, health fairs, bars, and nightclubs.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends as required by outreach activities.
• Stand for extended periods during outreach events.
• Sit at a computer and use a keyboard for extended periods.
• Handle average-weight objects up to approximately 15-20 pounds.
• Work in environments where exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials may occur and complete required OSHA, infection-control, and safety training.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow established safety precautions when performing testing and other clinical support activities

This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more. LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$23.74 - $26.10