HIV Peer Counselor

Position Overview

The HIV Peer Counselor is a community-facing member of the Springfield Urban League's Health Initiatives team responsible for engaging, educating, and supporting individuals who are disproportionately impacted by HIV, with a primary emphasis on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) men who have sex with men (MSM) throughout Central Illinois. The HIV Peer Counselor uses peer-based, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and stigma-free approaches to build trusted relationships with community members and increase access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and supportive services. The position participates in community outreach, the Springfield Urban League's NightReach Program, regional outreach activities, educational programming, HIV testing initiatives, and linkage-to-care efforts. The HIV Peer Counselor works collaboratively with Health Initiatives leadership, HIV program staff, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other partners to reduce barriers to care, increase HIV awareness, promote health equity, and improve health outcomes among populations at increased risk for or impacted by HIV.

Key Responsibilities

Community Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement

•  Identify, recruit, and engage BIPOC MSM and other priority populations who may benefit from HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and supportive services.
•  Develop and maintain trusted relationships with community members using culturally responsive, nonjudgmental, and stigma-free engagement strategies.
•  Conduct targeted outreach in locations and settings frequented by priority populations.
•  Participate in community events, health fairs, outreach initiatives, educational programs, and other Health Initiatives activities.
•  Assist with identifying emerging community needs, service gaps, barriers to care, and opportunities for expanded HIV prevention activities.
•  Support strategies designed to reach individuals who may not regularly access traditional healthcare or social service systems.

NightReach Program

•  Actively participate in the Springfield Urban League's NightReach Program.
•  Conduct evening and nighttime outreach in identified high-priority areas and community settings throughout Central Illinois.
•  Engage individuals who may be at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
•  Provide HIV prevention education and distribute approved prevention and harm-reduction materials during outreach.
•  Provide information regarding HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment, safer sexual practices, and available community resources.
•  Facilitate direct referrals and linkages to HIV testing, medical care, prevention services, and other appropriate resources.
•  Assist Health Initiatives leadership in identifying outreach locations and strategies based on community needs and engagement trends.

HIV Education, Prevention, HIV Testing and Counseling

•  Provide accurate, culturally appropriate HIV education to individuals and groups.
•  Conduct or assist with workshops, presentations, outreach sessions, and community education activities.
•  Educate community members regarding HIV transmission and prevention, routine testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment adherence, viral suppression, and safer sexual practices.
•  Promote awareness of available HIV prevention and treatment resources.
•  Address HIV-related misinformation, stigma, and barriers to accessing services through evidence-based education and peer engagement.
•  Distribute approved educational materials, safer-sex supplies, and other prevention resources.
•  Promote and facilitate access to confidential HIV testing.
•  Conduct HIV testing when appropriately trained, certified, and authorized under Springfield Urban League protocols and applicable program requirements.
•  Provide appropriate pre-test and post-test education and counseling within the employee's scope of training.
•  Ensure individuals with preliminary/reactive test results are appropriately connected to confirmatory testing and follow-up services.
•  Maintain confidentiality and follow all established testing, documentation, quality assurance, and infection-control procedures.
•  Assist with reducing fear, stigma, and other barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking HIV testing.

Navigation and Linkage to Care

•  Connect individuals living with HIV or at increased risk for HIV with appropriate healthcare providers, clinics, prevention programs, and community resources.
•  Provide direct referrals for HIV prevention services, PrEP and PEP services, confirmatory testing, HIV treatment, and other health services.
•  Conduct appropriate follow-up to support successful linkage to referred services.
•  Identify barriers that may prevent clients from accessing or remaining engaged in care.
•  Connect clients to supportive services addressing social determinants of health when appropriate, including behavioral health, housing, food, insurance, transportation, and other community resources.
•  Collaborate with internal and external partners to strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care.

Peer Support and Advocacy

•  Provide peer-based support to individuals living with or affected by HIV.
•  Serve as a trusted resource for individuals who may experience stigma, discrimination, fear, or other barriers related to HIV prevention and treatment.
•  Encourage individuals to remain engaged in appropriate prevention, testing, treatment, and supportive services.
•  Advocate for respectful, equitable, culturally responsive, and accessible services for priority populations.
•  Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing meaningful relationships with clients and community members.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

•  High school diploma or GED required; associate's or bachelor's degree in public health, social work, health education, human services, behavioral health, community health, or a related field preferred.
•  Demonstrated ability to effectively engage BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ populations, MSM communities, and/or other populations disproportionately impacted by HIV.
•  Knowledge of or willingness to develop competency in HIV prevention, testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment, sexual health, and linkage-to-care principles.
•  Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
•  Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, and gender identity backgrounds.
•  Valid driver's license and reliable transportation are required based on assigned responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

•  Previous experience in HIV prevention, sexual health, public health outreach, community health, peer navigation, case management, social services, or related community-based work.
•  Experience working directly with BIPOC MSM and LGBTQ+ communities.
•  Experience providing peer support or community navigation services.
•  Experience conducting street, nightlife, mobile, or nontraditional community outreach.
•  Knowledge of HIV-related health disparities and social determinants of health affecting communities of color.
•  Familiarity with healthcare, HIV prevention, behavioral health, and social service resources throughout Central Illinois.
•  HIV testing and counseling certification or previous HIV testing experience preferred; training may be provided based on program requirements.
•  Community Health Worker (CHW), Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), or other relevant credential

Skills and Competencies

•  Working knowledge of HIV prevention, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, treatment adherence, safer sexual practices, and linkage-to-care principles.
•  Knowledge of health disparities, social determinants of health, HIV-related stigma, and barriers to prevention and treatment affecting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, MSM, and other populations disproportionately impacted by HIV.
•  Strong community engagement and outreach skills, with the ability to recruit, engage, and build trusted relationships with individuals in community-based, nightlife, mobile outreach, and other nontraditional settings.
•  Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide HIV and sexual health education and discuss sensitive topics in a culturally responsive, nonjudgmental, and confidential manner.
•  Strong peer support and navigation skills, with the ability to connect individuals to HIV testing, PrEP/PEP services, healthcare providers, confirmatory testing, treatment, and appropriate social and supportive services.
•  Ability to conduct or support HIV testing and pre- and post-test counseling in accordance with applicable training, certification, Springfield Urban League protocols, and funder requirements.
•  Strong documentation and organizational skills, including the ability to accurately maintain outreach logs, participant engagement records, referrals, linkage outcomes, and other required program data and reports.
•  Ability to work collaboratively with Health Initiatives staff, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and other partners to coordinate outreach and strengthen referral pathways.
•  Cultural competency and experience applying trauma-informed, person-centered, LGBTQ+ affirming, and health equity-centered practices in community outreach and peer support.
•  Strong professional judgment, reliability, and ability to maintain appropriate boundaries and strict confidentiality when working with clients and community members.

Requirements

•  High school diploma or GED required; associate's or bachelor's degree in public health, community health, social work, human services, health education, behavioral health, or a related field preferred.
•  Valid Illinois driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of automobile insurance.
•  Ability and willingness to travel throughout Central Illinois for NightReach activities, regional outreach tours, community events, trainings, meetings, and other program activities.
•  Ability to work in office, mobile, community-based, nightlife, and outdoor settings and adapt to nontraditional outreach environments.
•  Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during outreach activities; lift and transport up to 25 pounds occasionally; and assist with the setup and breakdown of outreach materials and supplies.
•  Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with all Springfield Urban League policies and applicable federal, state, local, and funder requirements governing HIV prevention, testing, public health practice, and client information.
•  Successful completion and maintenance of required HIV prevention, HIV testing and counseling, confidentiality, cultural competency, safety, and other program-specific trainings or certifications as assigned.
•  Successful completion of background screening, fingerprinting, and any additional clearances required by Springfield Urban League or program funders.