Overdose Prevention Champion - AmeriCorps Member

Healthy Communities is CHC’s Public Health AmeriCorps program designed to create cohesion in vulnerable communities and to promote healthcare and support services through outreach, awareness, linkage to care and support. Healthy Communities also serves to identify the unique and integral needs of our communities and neighborhoods and to establish strategic plans to address them. Service delivery will directly address the public health crisis in vulnerable communities and make healthcare and support services accessible through flexible delivery of services. AmeriCorps members will conduct community outreach, education, patient engagement, and link patients to CHCI care and referrals to community based assistance. Additionally, AmeriCorps members will participate in statewide and local activities which promote awareness of health and health services.

This is an AmeriCorps Member role – Overdose Prevention Champion – that serves within the Center for Key Populations’ Substance Use Health Program based in Middletown, but may supports activities at other CHC sites.

Terms & Program Benefits:

• One-year service term from September 3, 2024 thru August 31, 2025
• Serve a minimum of 32 hours a week for a total of 1700 hours during service year
• $22,000 stipend over the course of one year, paid bi-weekly
• An education award of $7,395 at the end of successful service term completion
• This is not a staff or volunteer position.

This is the opportunity for you if you:

• Possess a positive energetic attitude
• Possess a genuine desire to work with and help others
• Works well with persons in vulnerable communities
• Have a strong interest in substance use health promotion (awareness and prevention)
• Thrive in a fast paced environment
• Can take initiative and work independently as well as part of a team

As an Overdose Prevention Champion for the Community Health Center, Inc., you will:

• Conduct monthly patient health education workshops; monitor the completion of pre-post surveys by workshop participants; and complete data entry for workshops and surveys.
• Track and document all completed patient engagement activities in patient’s electronic health record.
• Plan and implement community events that promote harm reduction education and training.
• Create presentations and educational pamphlets about harm reduction.
• Conduct harm reduction trainings with staff, community providers, and patients.
• Participate in various outreach events to demonstrate how to use different harm reduction tools such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips.
• Develop statewide community resource list that provides patients in high risk categories enhanced resources for harm reduction tools and substance use treatment.

Qualifications:

• High school or equivalent required
• Proficiency in Microsoft office and internet-related applications
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written skills
• Sound judgment and decision making skills
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and remain calm during a crisis
• Successful clearance of all required criminal history checks (NSCHC)
• Able to travel between CHC sites and in state

Preferred:

• Associate’s degree in public health, social work related field
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Understanding of and ability to access community resources
• Ability to work collaboratively, building relationships and teams
• Experience in providing crisis intervention, coordination of services, advocacy and community outreach in working with vulnerable populations