40 hours per week

Compensation: $24 per hour, health benefits, retirement plan

Location: The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center, 252 Bryant Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 (also includes coverage area in 7 Counties of the Hudson Valley Region) This position is on-site.

AGENCY DESCRIPTION
Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1993, The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center provides a safe gathering place for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and supportive communities of Westchester County and the Hudson Valley region. The LOFT facilitates a wide range of educational, health, social service, and recreational programs, and advocates for improved services for the LGBTQ+ community. Our mission is to further the cause of inclusion, diversity, and pride through education, advocacy, and celebration.

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONS
The LOFT’s Trans Support of the Hudson Valley (TSHV) Program works with transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary individuals (TGNCNB), particularly in communities of color, to achieve their proudest sense of self by promoting health & well-being, working on personal goals, and strengthening connection to community in Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Westchester, and Sullivan counties.

The overall program goals are to:

•  Prevent new HIV/STD/HCV infections and increase screening services to inform the TGNCNB community on their HIV/STD/HCV status.
• Identify HIV/STD/HCV infected individuals and ensure access to early, high quality medical care and prevention services. - Increase access to comprehensive sexual health information.
•  Facilitate access to prevention services including PrEP/PEP linkage and support services.
• Facilitate access to essential supportive services.
• Increase social support, reduce social isolation, and increase self-esteem for TGNCNB individuals.

We are looking for candidates who are able to provide community-based case management, evidence-based health education, peer navigation, and PrEP support with a focus on expanding the creative coping strategies and resilience that TGNCNB individuals already have. Candidates should apply an anti-racist, anti-oppressive lens to the work that we do to help promote inclusive and equitable program design, monitoring, and evaluation structure.

Required staffing and duties (but not limited to):

• Manage a case load of 20-25 at any given time.
• Conduct multidisciplinary case conferences and coordinate services and referrals with providers that facilitate a client's engagement and retention in care.
• Address and remove barriers to enable client access to all necessary components of health care, including housing, education, mental health, harm reduction and substance use disorder services.
•  Negotiate and advocate on behalf of clients for services that support self‐sufficiency and self-management. - Identify needed and appropriate health education services for clients and facilitate those sessions.
• Work with the program’s Peer Navigator to engage clients in TSHV workshops/activities.
• Develop partnerships with regional service providers to make referrals for HIV/STD/HCV screenings, PrEP enrollment, and support services.
• Represent The LOFT at county and regional HIV/STD/HCV networks and coalitions.

Required qualifications:

• B.A. or B.S. with 2 years of experience working in the field of social services, particularly with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+, behavioral health, substance use disorder and/or other chronic illnesses.
•  Experience with trauma-informed practices, motivational interviewing, stages of change, or other evidence-based practices. - Familiarity with regional HIV primary care, prevention, confidentiality laws, risk assessment, HIV navigation services, LGBTQ+ services, PrEP, PEP, mental health, substance use disorder and other services and resources.
• Cultural competency sensitivities to the diverse characteristics of the LGBTQ+ communities and intersections of identity including gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, disability, and socio-economic status.
• Possess an understanding of community-level work and the importance of collaborating and coordinating with other organizations. - Must be able to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.
•  Must demonstrate sound judgment, initiative, discretion, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
•  Effective communication, computer, and documentation skills; proficient in Word, Excel, Google Workspace and electronic record keeping.
• Must be willing to work some evenings and occasional weekends.
• Must have valid driver’s license, reliable transportation
• Bilingual +++

HOW TO APPLY: Send resume and cover letter to: [email protected]