Department Information

Description of Job

The Work Unit:
The Office of STI/HIV/VH is committed to high-quality services, innovative public health practice and community partnerships. We work to ensure quality and medically accurate STI/HIV/VH related prevention, care, and treatment services for all people in Colorado. Functions include public health surveillance of STI/HIV/VH; follow-up of people newly diagnosed with a STI/HIV/VH to ensure adequate treatment and referrals to care; access to care, partner services, and treatment as appropriate; developing comprehensive prevention programs; and conducting program evaluation to enhance the use of STI/HIV/VH data to direct prevention and care activities. The Care and Services Program exists within the Office of STI/HIV/VH to provide access to health care, support for clients and linkage to care, and intensive case management among clients with needs related to HIV and STI. The Program has three units: Health Care Access, Linkage to Care, and Client Support. The Linkage to Care unit exists to prevent the spread of HIV and its complications by providing a bridge to HIV care and treatment for People Living with HIV (PLWH) not currently receiving HIV care. The Office of STI/HIV/VH is committed to disrupting inequities and operates on the belief that all people across the state should have equitable opportunities to live healthy lives.

About the Position
This position exists to prevent the spread of STI/HIV and their complications by providing a bridge to HIV care and treatment for People Living with HIV not currently receiving HIV care. The position utilizes Linkage to Care (LTC)knowledge to link client’s statewide to Infectious Disease Care. Follows up with clients to ensure adequate resources and referrals are provided and documents in PRISM the outcome of each case.

What You'll Be Doing:

• 
  Assists persons newly diagnosed with HIV, living with HIV.
• Maintains effective collaborations through clear communication and highly functioning relationships with provider agencies (local health agencies, health care providers, community based organizations (CBO).
• Case assignments from supervisor, DIS, providers, local health agencies and CBOs.
• Determines applicant eligibility and facilitates the enrollment process into healthcare coverage and into The State Drug Assistance Program and other applicable programs.
• Screening clients to identify needs for services
• Provides HIV risk reduction counseling, assists clients with the completion of financial screenings and enrollment in SDAP.
• Accompanies clients to their appointments as necessary to ensure they fully engage in care services.
• Identifies partners at risk and refers to field services (FS).
• Assists persons with a history of living with HIV, who are out of care for people living in Colorado.
• Responds to questions and requests for information from the general public concerning access to care and treatment for HIV.
• Focuses efforts on populations highly impacted by the health disparities and out of care statewide for women living with HIV of child bearing age.
• Acts as a consultant to management and advocates for HIV clients out of care.
• Conducting pre-case analysis, field investigations, interviews and counseling sessions for preidentified individuals to locate and determine appropriateness for re-engage activities and determine appropriateness for LTC activities.
• Determines appropriate risk reduction counseling method for each client
• Provides evaluation to determine reasons not in care
• Motivates client to make and keep appointments and to remain in care.
• Tracks client progress and analyzes clients barriers.
• Ensures all LTC activities include but are not limited to client progress, and case outcomes are well documented.
• Conducts field investigations to various locations to meet and/or locate clients or to access information, to provide LTC in accordance with STI/HIV/VH office standards.
• Links clients to medical homes and additional services to improve the success of linking clients and keeping clients engaged in medical HIV care and to remain in care practices.
• Acts as a consultant to the unit supervisor and advocates internally for clients living with HIV out of care,
• Closes cases in PRISM completely accurately and timely, consistent with established performance standards.
• Completion of confidential HIV related public health documents, client intake notes, client progress, case outcomes and client interactions via the PRISM database.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate that you meet one of the following options outlining the requirements needed for consideration: Your resume will not be accepted to qualify for the minimum qualifications.

OPTION 1
Five (5) years of professional experience providing direct services to clients in the STI/HIV or health or public health field, including client counseling, STI/HIV testing and counseling, health navigation street/community outreach, mental health, substance abuse and one-on-one health education providing disease intervention partner services/disease investigations.
OR
OPTION 2
One (1) year of professional experience providing direct services to clients in the STI/HIV or health or public health field, including client counseling, STI/HIV testing and counseling, health navigation street/community outreach, mental health, substance abuse and one-on-one health education providing disease intervention partner services/disease investigations.
AND
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in Public Health, Health Education, Health Care Administration, Social Work, or closely related field
OR
OPTION 3
An advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate) from an accredited college or university in Public Health, Health Education, Health Care Administration, Social Work, or closely related field may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree and the required work experience.

*** YOU MUST ATTACH A COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS TO YOUR APPLICATION****

Conditions of Employment:
Must be willing to:

• 
  A pre-employment background check
• Some travel throughout Colorado for meeting and field visits
• Be available in the event of an emergency, (e.g., bio-terrorist attack, chemical attack, disease outbreak or all hazards) and be required to report to work immediately at the regular or alternate location. During this time, travel restrictions may be in place.

Preferred Qualifications:
Relevant years of State service contribute to a candidates position-related knowledge, skill, ability, behavior or other posted competency should be considered as a preferred qualification and given weight under the process.

• Experience with at risk populations (Youth ages 14-24, Men who have sex with men, Latinos, African Americans)
• Experience working with confidential records
• Experience with STI/HIV and through sexual/social network tracking and mapping
• Development of effective protocols and interventions to halt the spread of reduced susceptibility antibiotic resistant gonorrhea infections.
• Cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with diverse individuals in multicultural settings.
• Counseling and negotiation skills
• Function in high-stress or emotionally charged situations.
• Experience social determinants that impact health outcomes.

APPEAL RIGHTS
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

Application packet must include:

• Complete application we do not accept a resume in leu of application.
• A cover letter that describes how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position,
• A copy of your transcripts if you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications (unofficial acceptable).
• If you are a veteran, attach a copy of your DD214 to your application.

The Selection Process:

• Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.

E-Verify: CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United Sta tes. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Daniel Mckenna at daniel.mckenna@state.co.us or call 303-692-6319 .

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first- ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.