Sexual Health Counselor

Position Description

The Sexual Health Counselor will perform daily activities of Harlem United’s community-based testing program for clients interested in sexual health services. 

The Sexual Health Counselor will discuss a wide range of sexual health topics with clients using a sex-positive approach, providing services through the lenses of trauma-informed care and harm reduction. They will take sexual health history information, discuss options for prevention and care, and link clients to additional services as needed.

As part of comprehensive sexual health services, The Sexual Health Counselor will conduct rapid HIV/HCV testing and STI screenings on-site at Harlem United locations, at community-based settings, and on the Harlem United mobile van, throughout East/Central Harlem and the Bronx, as well as other targeted locations throughout NYC. The Sexual Health Counselor will conduct PCRS and refer to NYCDOHMH CNAP as needed.

The Sexual Health Counselor is responsible for obtaining venipuncture and capillary specimens for STI screenings, HIV and HCV confirmatory testing, and labs for additional treatment and prevention services. They are responsible for processing specimens according to laboratory protocols, as required. The Sexual Health Counselor will be responsible to draw blood according to established phlebotomy collection procedures and instruct patients on proper collection of urine and other self-collected specimens. 

Essential Job Functions

The following duties are mandatory requirements of the job:

Sexual Health Counseling and Testing Services

• • Conduct targeted outreach and offer low-threshold sexual health services to residents of East and Central Harlem and targeted venues throughout NYC, largely focused in reaching communities where individuals experience the impact of social determinants of health. 
  • Discuss sexual health with clients through a sex-positive approach, creating a safe environment for people to discuss their sexual health goals without judgment. 
  • Provide up-to-date information on HIV, HCV, and STIs to ensure understanding of testing, treatment, and prevention options.
  • Screen for recent potential HIV exposure to ensure clients can access PEP if needed.
  • Discuss PrEP with all clients who are receiving sexual health counseling and testing.
  • Provide rapid HIV testing and conduct confirmatory testing of individuals testing preliminary positive. Ensure clients receive confirmatory test results through follow-up and outreach, providing opportunities for clients to meet at field or office locations.
  • Counsel all HIV-positive individuals on partner notification. Refer client to PCRS as needed. Provide access to counseling for short-term crisis counseling on issues related to living with HIV, disclosure, care, etc. Provide referral to NYCDOHMH CNAP as required. 
  • Conduct HCV rapid testing and collect specimens for confirmatory testing for clients who test preliminary positive. 
  • Collect specimens for STI screenings (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Hepatitis B). 
  • Prepare patient and collection equipment according to established procedures for blood collection. Obtain venipunctures and capillary specimens, processing specimens for lab pick up, as required. 
  • Ensure clients receive all HIV or HCV confirmatory test results and STI test results through follow-up and outreach, providing opportunities for clients to meet at field or office locations as soon as possible.
  • Coordinate initial linkage to medical provider for all individuals with reactive HIV, HCV, STI test results, as well as all clients who are interested in PEP or PrEP.
  • Counsel all individuals who test positive for STIs on risk reduction practices, partner notification, and options for Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT). 
  • Available to work occasional evenings and weekends for special events.

Navigation and Care Coordination Services

• Navigate engaged clients to medical care for treatment and prevention needs, including iART as indicated. These services can include scheduling appointments, reminders, accompaniments, and other related activities to engage community members in medical care. Provide additional resources that ensure retention in care and services.
• Refer to medical benefits enrollment for ADAP, Medicaid, ACA insurance, and other needed benefits.
• Assist with referrals and navigation to additional social services, including general medical, case management, mental health, housing, treatment adherence, and other supportive services.
• Work in coordination with the medical and navigation team to deliver comprehensive outreach, care, and follow-up for all services delivered.
  
  

Administrative Responsibilities

• • Maintain appropriate, accurate, and clear documentation of all sexual health counseling and education, intakes, HIV, HCV, and STI screening services, navigation, follow-ups, and service coordination in client charts.
  • Input data entry for all services into eSHARE data entry system or AIRS data system upon service completion. Enter data and progress notes into HU eIcare database as required.

Other Responsibilities

The following duties are to be performed as assigned by the supervisor:

• • Participate in supervision sessions with manager.
  • Attend group clinical supervision and regular team meetings as required.
  • Participate in agency-wide events as assigned. 
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education and Certification 

Phlebotomy certification required. If candidate does not have phlebotomy certification, they must complete training and certification requirements within the first 90 days of employment.

Bachelor’s Degree with 2 year of related work experience. A high school diploma or GED equivalent with 2-3 years’ experience in HIV testing programs will substitute for a bachelor’s degree. 

Must have experience working with communities served by this program, including people who use drugs, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, migrant communities, and people who have experience in the criminal justice system.

Special Skills and Knowledge

In addition to the above-listed job responsibilities and educational requirements, the ideal candidate for this position possesses the following:

• • A current NYS Driver’s License required.
  • Must be knowledgeable about and committed to sex-positive approaches to testing and sexual health counseling. 
  • Must have a strong commitment to harm reduction and be comfortable discussing the intersection between sexual health and substance use.
  • Must be knowledgeable about PrEP and PEP.
  • Knowledgeable about HIV infection, transmission, and treatment; knowledgeable in local, state, and federal laws regarding HIV and the right to privacy and confidentiality.
  • Knowledgeable about HCV, including prevention and treatment.
  • Must possess active listening and good interpersonal skills.