Nutrition Health Educator at Alliance for Positive Health – Hudson, New York

Position Title: Nutrition Health Educator

Reports To: Program Manager

Job Summary: Work as a member of the RW Support Services team to engage HIV+ individuals who have unmet nutritional needs and/or who are at risk for nutrition deficits to improve medical outcomes through nutritional assistance in the form of food vouchers and/or home delivered meals. Conducting outreach activities to facilitate enrollments, tracking and documentation of client nutritional assistance and participation in Nutrition Health Education services, as well as coordinating with the Administration Assistant and Program Manager to fulfill purchase orders, track the FB/HDM budget, and spending on client nutrition assistance, attend all group nutrition education sessions to confer with clients to identify the resources necessary to meet their needs. Make referrals, verify access to services, and address barriers as needed.

Major Activities:

1. Incorporate best practices regarding confidentiality into all job duties and communications in accordance with Article 27-F, Alliance for Positive Health policies and procedures and other applicable regulations. Observe and abide by the HIV Confidentiality Law.
2. Work with the other members of an interdisciplinary team to engage clients in care, treatment and support services
3. Confer with each client at least monthly to ensure that client needs are identified, and the appropriate referrals are made.
4. Participate in case conferences.
5. Ensure clients receive a nutrition health education screening that identifies their reason for participation and establishes eligibility and verification for enrollment in the Nutrition. Provide support for food pantry distributions, grocery bags, and food gift card/voucher distribution services. Monitor and document food voucher usage and client grocery receipts to ensure purchases meet Ryan White standards. Provide feedback to the Program Manager as needed.
6. Create and maintain community connections and communicate frequently with registered dieticians, medical providers, and others serving mutual clients. Make and follow up on referrals.
7. Ensure client adherence to food policies and procedures and follow protocols for food voucher and food pantry bags.
8. Ensure timely completion of required program and agency documentation according to standards established in the policy and procedure manual.
9. Operate the agency’s nutrition van to conduct program activities and

outreach. Adhere to all policies and procedures associated with the nutrition van.

1. Conduct outreach and program promotion activities and implement strategies to identify and recruit people living with HIV/AIDS with a focus on those within

communities of color throughout the catchment area.

1. Incorporate the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, as applicable, into all aspects of programming.
2. Attend all group nutrition education sessions to confer with clients and identify resources necessary to meet their needs. Meet with each client at least monthly to ensure needs are identified and appropriate referrals are made. Complete referrals, verify access to services, and address any barriers as needed.
3. Perform other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BA or BS in Nutrition or related field such as Health Education or Family and Consumer Sciences, Master’s Degree in Nutrition preferred.
• Two years’ experience in developing and/or delivering nutrition or health education and two years’ experience working in the field of HIV/AIDS or in chronic illness.
• Bilingual preferred.
• Travel: Must have a valid, unrestricted driver’s license and have a vehicle to travel to designated appointment sites within a multi-county region.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds within a climate of mutual respect, inclusion, enrichment, and growth.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. Attention to detail necessary to maintain client files and ensure that documentation is kept up to date.
• Ability to recruit in the community to reach people living with HIV/AIDS, with a focus on those individuals within communities of color.

Employment Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt. 37.5 hours per week; flexibility required (occasional evenings).