Linkage to Care Specialist

Linkage to Care Specialist

Linkage Services

Damien Center Values

Dignity-Collaboration-Accountability-Access-Quality-Innovation

Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization (ASO) and serves more than 8,000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to care and prevention. Our purpose is to be a trusted partner in providing services, education and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care. Our services include care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition. 

Position Summary:

The Linkage to Care Specialists supports Damien Center’s mission to empower communities and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS in Indiana. This role focuses on coordinating and managing strategies to link newly diagnosed and out-of-care HIV-positive individuals to essential medical and social services. The manager leads efforts in prevention, care coordination, and program development.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. 

• Provide outreach to PLWHIV who are not currently in medical care and link them to appropriate care and services.
• Complete and maintain Disease Intervention Specialist certification through the Indiana Department of Health Lost to Care program.
• Provide health navigation services to PLWHIV with high barriers to staying in care.
• Patient Advocacy: Serve as a compassionate advocate for clients, ensuring their needs are understood and met within the healthcare system.
• Care Navigation: Facilitate communication and collaboration between clients, case managers, healthcare providers, and community resources to ensure seamless access to medical care, treatment, and support services.
• Resource Navigation: Connect clients with a wide range of resources, including medical care, mental health services, housing assistance, financial support, and legal aid.
• Intervention: Implement a variety of evidence-based interventions including but not limited to motivational interviewing.
• Transportation: Accompany clients to appointments (both internal and external to Damien) as needed, using personal vehicle as transport. Deliver food pantry orders and active prescriptions to infirm clients on a monthly basis. 
• Education and Support: Provide clients with information and education on HIV/AIDS, treatment options, medication adherence, and preventive care. Offer emotional support and encouragement to clients facing challenges related to their health and well-being.
• Crisis Intervention: Triage client needs and connect clients with appropriate resources for assistance.
• Maintain accurate and confidential client records, documenting interactions, services provided, and outcomes achieved within 2 business days.
• Community Outreach: Participate in monthly outreach activities to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, promote testing and prevention services, and engage with community members to reduce stigma and discrimination.
• Attend periodic interdepartmental staff meetings with patient’s medical and non-medical resource teams.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent required. Experience with focus populations required. Experience in peer recovery preferred but not required. Bilingual in Spanish or Haitian creole and English, preferred but not required.   

*Work or lived experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess superior organizational and administrative skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Ability to work independently and achieve high standards of productivity, achieving deadlines and with superior product results. Strong calendaring, organizational, and document management skills required. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work. 

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands:  

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects. The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Remote work is on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the supervisor. 

• Office setting, with sustained use of a computer.
• Travel using your own transportation is required on a frequent basis.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Individuals should maintain personal and professional competency and work to create an environment of courtesy, respect, inclusion, and positivity in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.

FLSA Status: Hourly, Full-time, Non-Exempt               

Leader: Linkage to Care Program Manager

Salary: $21.79 hourly

Benefits: 

• 150 hours of PTO in the first year followed by 195 hours per year moving forward.
• 12 paid holidays
• Medical coverage options include a PPO plan or a HDHP. 
• Dental & Vision plans
• Health Saving Account or Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403b Retirement Account with 5% matching and 100% vesting after 90 days
• Life Insurance @ 2 times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life Insurance Plan including spouse and child coverage options
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Plans
• Premium Subscription to the CALM APP which assists with anxiety, stress & other mental health challenges
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Annual performance review that includes an annual performance-based salary increase

Protecting our team members, clients, volunteers, and community partners is an integral part of how we ensure our continued work with the clients we serve.  As a condition of employment, Damien Center requires team members to be vaccinated against influenza and receive a tuberculosis skin test (or chest x-ray) annually, barring an approved religious or medical exemption.    

Damien Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Damien Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, other legally protected status, or genetic (including family medical history) information.

Damien Center complies with applicable federal laws and with all state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which Damien Center has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please apply at www.damien.org/job-opportunities 

This position description does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee of any terms or conditions of employment.  Damien Center employees are employed on an at-will basis. Nothing in this position description restricts Damien Center’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.   

Powered by ExactHire: 199723