Job Announcement: Outreach Associate
The African American Office of Gay Concerns provides HIV/AIDS prevention services to the population of gay-identified and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and Male-to-Female (FTM) Transgenders in the Greater Newark area, through outreach, education and compassionate care. With funding through the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), the AAOGC addresses issues that are directly and indirectly related to HIV risk, using peer-based, scientifically effective HIV interventions.
Position Description
The Outreach Associate is an entry-level position assisting in the implementation of NJDOH Grants, which include the B.R.O.T.H.E.R. Project and the T.G.I.F. Peer Advocacy Project. The successful candidate will work alongside the Project Coordinators with the recruitment and retention of participants for the interventions Many Men Many Voices (3MV), and SISTA-T. This person must exemplify the diverse community the AAOGC serves, and must be comfortable with working within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) population, as well as working in various settings, including but not limited to workshops, health fairs, and selected street-level outreach opportunities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist in developing outreach strategies, including identifying outreach locations where members of the targeted population(s) live and/or congregate.
- Active identify, engage and recruit members form the target population(s) to participate in AAOGC programs by conducting individual-level street and community outreach activities.
- Ensure accurate understanding of the AAOGC programs and services to prospective clients and providers.
- Develop and facilitate groups/presentations that provide current and accurate health education, risk reduction, HIV/STI Prevention and Treatment information.
- Create and maintain linkages and working relationships with community gatekeepers, stakeholders and service providers to promote program services and facilitate referrals.
- Provide necessary referrals to appropriate medical and social services (i.e. HIV counseling and testing, STI screenings, medical care, shelters and food banks) in order to maintain and/or improve mental and physical well-being. Act as liaison between client and agency to ensure linkage to medical/social service, including follow-up.
- Establish, maintain and update client-level data/charts and other process documentation (sign-in sheets, data forms, etc.) using approved agency forms and procedures while ensuring the utmost confidentiality of all data collected.
- Prepare and submit monthly reports in a timely manner utilizing approved agency forms and procedures.
- Other assigned duties as deemed necessary.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a high school or general equivalency (GED) diploma. A six-month history of providing health education-related services in a community-based setting or working with sexual minority youth and/or young adults preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral presentation, reading comprehension and written communication skills.
- Creative, motivated, able to work well independently and have strong teamwork skills.
- Ability to multi-task and excel under pressure.
- Demonstrated understanding and familiarity of the culture within the young African-American/Latino gay, transgender and questioning community and the factors that place this community at increased risk for the acquisition and transmission of HIV.
- Successful applicant must agree to complete the required HIV Prevention Counseling Courses, capacity Building Courses, and Effective Behavioral Interventions (EBIs) courses conducted by the HIV Prevention CPSDI and the Prevention and Education division of the NJDOH.
No phone calls please. Interested candidates should direct inquiries or submit resumes to Karla Barnett, Program Director, at brother@aaogc.org, or via fax to 973-639-9722.
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