Position Summary:

CRCS (Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services) is a client-centered HIV prevention activity with a goal of promoting the adoption & maintenance of HIV risk-reduction behaviors by clients with multiple, complex problems and risk-reduction needs. The goal is to help individuals initiate and maintain behavior change to prevent the transmission of HIV while addressing competing needs which may make HIV prevention a lower priority.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Assess the psychosocial needs and HIV risks of clients and their families.
2. Provide intensive, on-going and individualized prevention counseling, crisis intervention and case management services in order to support prioritization of HIV prevention and brokerage of services and referrals
3. Inform clients of social services available to them; refer clients to necessary services and/or act as advocate for clients with social service agencies.
4. Use theoretically based behavior change interventions in culturally sensitive ways.
5. Work closely with interdisciplinary team to meet psychosocial and medical needs of both HIV positive clients
6. Participate in department and medical staff meetings, and other meetings and training as directed.
7. Conduct data collection as required and participate in evaluation activities as needed.
8.  Additional duties as assigned by Director.
9. The employee shall work well under pressure, meet multiple and sometimes competing deadlines.
10. The employee shall at all times demonstrate cooperative behavior with supervisors, subordinates, colleagues, and clients.

Qualifications:

1. BA required.
2. Knowledge of HIV supportive services located in San Francisco.
3. Must be able to be certified in HIV testing and provide those services to the community.
4. Experience working within substance abuse field, including harm reduction and abstinence modalities.
5. Experience working with low income, culturally diverse populations in a nonjudgmental manner.
6. Willingness to offer services outside of office/clinic setting.
7. Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to the unique cultural factors relevant to the delivery of services to Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.
8. Ability to function independently and as part of a team.
9. Must work well with fellow co-workers and clients.
10. Sense of humor and willingness to exude grace under pressure.

Native American Health Center values its people and rewards their performance.