Trauma Informed Care Peer Navigator at Damian Family Care Centers Inc – Bronx, New York

The Peer Navigator’s role is to provide support in implementing Trauma Informed Care (TIC) services and engaging/retaining patients in services. Peer Navigators will assist in strengthening the clinic’s capacity to integrate trauma informed care into the current workflow, culture, environment and delivery of HIV care and supportive services. Peer Navigator will assist patients in navigating the medical system to complete a medical evaluation and initiate ART and/or hepatitis C treatment. The Peer Navigator reinforces health promotion education with the patients and provides support to the patient throughout the process. The Peer Navigator attends and schedules clinic visits with the patients and assists the clinical providers with managing the patients and clinic sessions. The Peer Navigator is responsible for assisting with meeting data entry and reporting requirements for grant funding agencies.

The Trauma Informed Care Peer Navigator will work at Third Avenue Family Health Center, the largest and one of the fourteen health centers under the umbrella of Damian Family Care Centers. The Mission of Damian

Family Care Centers, Inc. is to improve the health status of our patients, provide staff who are culturally sensitive and appropriately credentialed to diagnose and treat our patients, provide care to the underserved populations, and provide safe quality primary and specialty care services regardless of language, culture barriers or the ability to pay. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. participates in the federal medical professional liability program known as the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Explains to patients what to expect from medical and other service appointments
Explains to patients what to expect from TIC screening, Brief education, and psychoeducation
Advocates to patients the advantages of obtaining full range of appropriate TIC services
Describes the benefits of the screening and brief education session
Describe the benefits of psychoeducation classes
Describes the role of Trauma Informed Care in self-management of chronic conditions

Educates patients on harm reduction and safer injection principles
Support the education of patients on laws regarding syringe exchange
Track Patient progress through TIC services, including follow-up with patients before, between, and after the individual or group psychoeducation classes
Attends case conferences and reports summaries of their work with the patient to the multi-disciplinary team
Identify barriers to care and/or to adherence and retention in care, including TIC services; work with the multidisciplinary team to address these barriers, including following up with patients who no shows for their appointment or with patients who are lost to care.
Assist patients on hepatitis C treatment by providing support for patients while on hepatitis C treatment, by providing assistance in managing side effects or other problems
Attend and assist in coordinating support group
Track prescriptions and refills

Assist with prior authorizations for referrals like nutrition or medications for HIV patients
Meet virtually with patients, as needed, to reconcile medications and answer questions/concerns
Assist and coordinate outreach events
Identify new individuals for testing and linkage to care and treatment
Promote services offered within the organization such as Mental Health, Health Home
Assist with the intake of new clients to program.
Coordinate with other service providers to ensure that patients are also receiving/being assisted with social services
Sets appointments, create appointment reminders, and reschedule appointments when needed
Follow up with patients for their no show appointments.
Outreach HIV/Hep C patients who have not visited the clinic for more than 3 months, schedule appointments and ensure these patients show up
Escorts patients to appointments within the agency, including TIC services
Escort or accompany patients to referral appointments in the community
Arrange transportation for patients

Peer Certification Preferred or initiate peer certification process within 30-45 days of hire
Must attend TIC related trainings, meetings and TIC projects including the review of P&P, work flows and program implementation and evaluation
Shared lived experience in HIV, Harm Reduction and/or Hepatitis C
Experience navigating systems for individuals with chronic illnesses
Bilingual – Spanish speaking a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Most work is completed in the office, with occasional work done in the community.

Subject to outside environmental conditions while performing tasks associated with job functions

Light work (lifting approximately 20 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects up to 10 pounds.

Frequent and/or extended walking and standing.

Seldom bending, climbing and lifting.

Uses computer for basic word processing and/or basic spreadsheet use.

Follows established policies and procedures.

Makes decisions within well-defined parameters for the completion of own tasks only.