Equal Opportunity Employer
The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services. Health equity is at the heart of all our work. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status. This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.
SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCITION DIVISION OVERVIEW
Many cities have been impacted by the overdose crisis, but Philadelphia has been hit especially hard. The City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health has responded by creating the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR), a division focused on improving the health and well-being of people who use drugs in Philadelphia. SUPHR has 10 teams: Bereavement (Philly HEALs), Communications, Community Engagement, Environmental Services, Epidemiology, Harm Reduction, Medical, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Philly LIFTS), Operations, and Overdose Fatality Review (OD Stat). The team's mission is to prevent overdoses and other health issues by offering services and shaping policies to promote the dignity, autonomy, and health of people who use drugs. To name just a few things, SUPHR offers overdose prevention training, support to families with babies born with NAS, and same day pay program focused on creating job opportunities while cleaning communities. Since so many Philadelphians have been touched by the overdose crisis, SUPHR also provides counseling to children and adults who have lost someone in their life to an overdose. Behind the scenes, SUPHR works with other City agencies, hospitals, and community groups to ensure that everyone is working together to combat stigma and encourage harm reduction efforts. SUPHR recognizes that many communities have been dealing with substance use for a long time, and SUPHR is invested in giving communities the tools they need to keep people who use drugs, their loved ones, and the larger community healthy and safe.
JOB SUMMARY
The street team will be tasked with increasing harm reduction resources and trainings in neighborhoods that have been most affected by the ongoing Drug War, particularly North and Southwest Philadelphia. There are two openings for individuals to form the street team staff. The people filling these positions will work in the field five days per week in ZIP codes 19132, 19139, 19140, 19141, and 19144 (subject to change based on data) to distribute harm reduction resources and educational material about the overdose crisis in the city. Street team staff will interact directly with people in active addiction, individuals who use substances recreationally, as well as individuals who may have a stigmatizing view of substance use. The Street Team Specialist is a core member of the Community Engagement team and will work extensively with the entire team. Persons from the ZIP codes of focus, as well as individuals with lived experience and/or returning citizens are highly encouraged to apply. Training will be provided.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Responsibilities/Duties
Under the supervision of the Community Engagement Manager, the Street Team Specialist will perform the following essential job functions:
- Engage in outreach efforts to contact community members, particularly in North and Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods, including working with local businesses, such as barber shops, salons, corner stores, and restaurants.
- Engage in outreach efforts to people who use drugs, as well as friends and family members of people who use drugs, providing them with naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other harm reduction supplies.
- Conduct street-side fentanyl test strip and overdose awareness and reversal trainings.
- Design appropriate training sessions specific to the needs of the audience.
Education and Experience
Completion of high school or equivalent degree and 6 months community organizing and/or harm reduction work.
Skills/Experience
- Knowledge of the philosophy and practice of harm reduction or willingness to learn.
- Knowledge of the War on Drugs and its effects on communities of color in Philadelphia.
- Sensitivity to and experience working with ethnically, culturally, socioeconomically, and sexually diverse individuals, communities, agencies, and organizations.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Ability problem solve.
- Ability to be diplomatic.
- Ability to adapt to changing needs of communities.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Driver’s license and willingness to drive a large vehicle is required.
- Ability to work as part of a team, to prioritize and handle multiple tasks, and to work independently.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons contacted in the course of work.
- Knowledge of neighborhoods in North and/or Southwest Philadelphia or adjacent neighborhoods highly preferred.
Work Environment: This position requires daily time in the field interacting with the public, occasionally in inclement weather.
Position Type and Work Schedule: Full time position, typical hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Due to the nature of this work, most days will be spent in the field. Occasional nights and weekends required. Flex schedule options available with supervisor’s approval. Office location will be one of two Philadelphia Department of Health Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction locations: 123 S. Broad St., 11th Floor in Center City or 1952 E. Allegheny Ave. in Kensington.
Travel: Local travel to multiple sites several times per week, as needed.
Physical Demands: Ability to transport materials on occasion; standing and walking for extended periods.
Salary and Benefits: Pay is $25/hour. Health Federation offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:
- Medical with vision benefits
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- Life, AD&D and long-term care insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan, with a company contribution
- Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
- Employee Assistance Program
Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy.
DISCLAIMER
The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals