Assist HIV+ and high risk HIV minority populations, especially LGBTQ youth and young adults, in accessing and retaining medical care and provision of quality community services. Assist in ensuring that appropriate services, including health care, benefits assistance, etc. are actualized by the client. Responsible to meet patient needs to support self-care as the overall goal.

Primary Functions:

1. Assist high risk patients to reduce barriers that interfere in their medical care needs.
2. Assess needs and make appropriate referrals.
3. Connect to primary care services and take client to appointments as needed.
4. Link to Medical Case Manager and work together to assess barriers, risk assessment; psychosocial; care plan, monitoring of referrals; care acquisitions and attendance of medical appointments.
5. Connect with psycho educational support groups at community partner organizations.
6. Work with to facilitate access to appropriate referrals based on identified needs, available community resources, and financial status of client.
7. Accompany clients to community resources, such as medical appointments and applying for benefits, for enrollment and/or advocacy assistance as needed.
8. Coordinate through contact with client and service providers to insure optimal utilization of offered services and adequate provision of needed care.
9. Assist medical case managers in locating clients who are at high risk for “fall out” of the care system.
10. Establish and maintain up-to-date client records including demographics, progress notes, and signed consents.
11. Collect and submit data reports at designated intervals for program monitoring and evaluation.
12. Input and maintain client level data in computer.
13. Assist in developing and maintaining a friendly network referral system in the health care and social service community by becoming familiar with formal and informal services available to both clients/families, reporting new services or changes in established services, and identifying gaps in available community services.
14. Maintain a cooperative working relationship with other staff, physicians, other disciplines and the public by facilitating and enhancing communication, displaying honesty and respect, sensitivity and compassion.
15. Participate in multi-disciplinary case conference meetings.
16. Perform other duties as assigned.
17. Supports the mission of the Ruth Ellis Center, which is to provide short-term and long-term residential safe space and support services for runaway, homeless and at-risk gay, lesbian, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning youth in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan.

Qualifcations:

Employee must be able to exercise independent thinking and good judgment under all circumstances. Be able to operate a motor vehicle. Have ability to work in flexible environments including but not limited to Ruth Ellis Drop In Center, professional offices, community partner agencies and youth spaces. Position requires visual and auditory skills to complete accurate applications for the consumer. Must be able to lift 25 pounds. Must be physically able to complete Satori Alternatives to Managing Aggression (SAMA), CPR, First Aid and Defensive Driving training modules. Must have fine motor skills for legible writing and will need to drive motor vehicle while conducting business travel.

Associates degree in Human Service field from an accredited college or university or, a high school diploma or its equivalent and one (1) to two (2) years of experience working within the health system, a medical setting, Social Security Administration, DHS, or working with a Community Assistance Program is required. Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred. Minimum two years of experience in HIV, substance abuse, mental health, and/or medical field required. Experience with street outreach and recruitment techniques is required. The expectation for flexibility in work schedule is necessary.

The ideal candidate will be approachable/non-judgmental, organized, and have a dialectic approach with stake holders. The individual should have a strength-based view of youth and community, and understand youth driven work as maintaining structure/supportive accountability. Candidates should understand program data collection and reporting.

Ideal candidates will understand and support the Ruth Ellis Center’s Principles of work:Positive youth development, harm reduction, trauma informed care, restorative justice. And be able to apply the principles and power/oppression analysis all within the policies and regulations of the medical system.

Must have a good working knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel & the Internet. Must be able to work with little or no direct supervision. Must have excellent organizational skills to meet strict deadlines. Strong verbal and written communication and networking skills are required. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-attractional, Transgender, and Questioning) cultural and diversity competency is essential. Must have reliable transportation, a valid MI driver’s license, and have valid auto insurance with limits of 100k/300k/50k.