Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Substance Use Navigator
Reentry Initiatives for Support and Empowerment (RISE) Team - Boston, MA - Full Time
Who We Are:
Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.
From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.
Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.
Job Summary:
Hours: Full time; Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
Union: Yes
Union Name: SEIU
The Substance Use Navigator will be an integral part of a multidisciplinary team within our RISE (Reentry Initiatives for Support and Empowerment) program and will work closely with individuals experiencing housing instability who are currently incarcerated or have previously been incarcerated. BHCHP and the RISE team connect people to substance use services through multiple pathways, and the navigator will mirror this approach by working closely with BHCHP’s OBAT (Office Based Addiction Treatment) program and SPOT (Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment) program, as well as other resources within BHCHP and throughout the community.
BHCHP’s RISE team aims to engage incarcerated individuals prior to release, to connect with external Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) partners to improve transitions of care for these individuals upon release, and to improve outcomes related to drug use in this population who are at a particularly high-risk of fatal overdose upon release.
BHCHP’s OBAT program offers a robust set of services for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), with a particular focus on providing no-threshold access to buprenorphine. The OBAT program provides individualized MOUD treatment based on patients’ prior experiences and needs, rather than a one-size-fits all approach to care, including buprenorphine initiation and ongoing management.
BHCHP’s Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment (SPOT) is a unique low-threshold harm reduction drop-in program for monitoring people who have used drugs and are at imminent risk of overdose, presenting with severe sedation. Staff build relationships with patients who mistrust the medical system, offer education about overdose prevention and safer injection techniques, and connect people as possible to other services, including urgent care, primary care, and substance use disorder treatment. SPOT serves as a simple way for people who have used substances nearby to prevent fatal overdose, as well as a pathway to a myriad other health care services.
The navigator will join an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, a clinic/project director, therapists, care coordinators, recovery coaches and others working together to support individuals with a diagnosis of opioid use disorder and those at high risk of fatal overdose prior to release, on the day of release, and in the post-release period to provide the following:
Responsibilities:
Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.
From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.
Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.
Job Summary:
Hours: Full time; Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm
Union: Yes
Union Name: SEIU
The Substance Use Navigator will be an integral part of a multidisciplinary team within our RISE (Reentry Initiatives for Support and Empowerment) program and will work closely with individuals experiencing housing instability who are currently incarcerated or have previously been incarcerated. BHCHP and the RISE team connect people to substance use services through multiple pathways, and the navigator will mirror this approach by working closely with BHCHP’s OBAT (Office Based Addiction Treatment) program and SPOT (Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment) program, as well as other resources within BHCHP and throughout the community.
BHCHP’s RISE team aims to engage incarcerated individuals prior to release, to connect with external Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) partners to improve transitions of care for these individuals upon release, and to improve outcomes related to drug use in this population who are at a particularly high-risk of fatal overdose upon release.
BHCHP’s OBAT program offers a robust set of services for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), with a particular focus on providing no-threshold access to buprenorphine. The OBAT program provides individualized MOUD treatment based on patients’ prior experiences and needs, rather than a one-size-fits all approach to care, including buprenorphine initiation and ongoing management.
BHCHP’s Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment (SPOT) is a unique low-threshold harm reduction drop-in program for monitoring people who have used drugs and are at imminent risk of overdose, presenting with severe sedation. Staff build relationships with patients who mistrust the medical system, offer education about overdose prevention and safer injection techniques, and connect people as possible to other services, including urgent care, primary care, and substance use disorder treatment. SPOT serves as a simple way for people who have used substances nearby to prevent fatal overdose, as well as a pathway to a myriad other health care services.
The navigator will join an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, a clinic/project director, therapists, care coordinators, recovery coaches and others working together to support individuals with a diagnosis of opioid use disorder and those at high risk of fatal overdose prior to release, on the day of release, and in the post-release period to provide the following:
- Pre-release support includes Critical Time Intervention, case management, behavioral health services, psychiatry, recovery support groups, legal case management, MOUD evaluations, HIV and HCV screening and referrals, and recovery coaching. Services are provided directly in in-person at the jail when permitted, or by telehealth encounters.
- Support on day of release from jail or from court including in person visits to the jail or courthouse, transportation support, care coordination, accompanying individuals to medical appointments and to obtain prescriptions, naloxone provision and naloxone training for overdose reversal.
- Post-release support includes a continuation of pre-release support, as well as support with direct MAT provision, psychiatric treatment/medication bridging, individual therapy, and Hepatitis C (HCV) treatment.
Responsibilities:
- Meet with patients in jails to assess patients’ financial, housing, legal, addiction treatment, and other social service needs in the pre-release period; assist in developing comprehensive patient-centered care plans to address these needs and provide support and follow up.
- Work with program participants to ensure they are effectively bridged to community-based OUD treatment; provide Navigation support in the reentry period, identify community resources, and connect participants to medical and social services such as naloxone, and detox centers.
- Ensure program participants have scheduled appointments with recovery services in an accessible community – including cultural fit, language accessibility, and transportation; provide individual coaching on harm reduction skills to use in the recovery journey; co-facilitate groups focused on care coordination, overdose prevention, and recovery-related topics for individuals while they are pre – and post -incarcerated.
- Communicate regularly with RISE team members and BHCHP’s clinical team members regarding the status and needs of recovery services; clearly and effectively facilitate communication between the patient, physician, therapist, psychiatrist, recovery coach, and any external providers maintaining appropriate confidentiality procedures and professional boundaries.
- Document encounters in BHCHP’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
- Participate in required onboarding activities and OD2A (Overdose to Awareness) training, including a monthly learning community with other community health centers to share opportunities and best practices, engage in shared problem-solving, and listen to guest speakers and trainings.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish required; additional compensation for demonstrated verbal proficiency in Spanish and English
- An understanding of the criminal justice system and how it is rooted in racism and oppression; strong advocacy skills along with knowledge of community-based services, resources, and local recovery community; comfortable working in medical, criminal justice, and social service settings.
- Demonstrates interest and experience in working with vulnerable populations, including those with active substance use disorder, histories of incarceration, and/or homelessness; knowledge of healthy and appropriate boundaries when working with vulnerable populations; an aptitude for thinking creatively in the engagement and support of individuals as they navigate through the challenges of substance use and recovery.
- Knowledge and understanding of the harm reduction framework including strategies for opioid overdose prevention and response, safer injection techniques, or willingness to be trained to become expert in these topics; comfort with multiple pathways to recovery from SUD and willingness to embrace a patient-centered approach that recognizes an individual’s preferences and autonomy.
- Computer proficiency, effective use of the Internet and Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Outlook, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and familiarity with RedCap.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team; flexibility to adapt to unforeseen needs or circumstances; excels at problem solving and multi-tasking and is organized, efficient and goal directed.
- Ability to provide and receive accurate feedback without judgment or discomfort, ability to handle confidential information.
- Commitment to equitable and culturally appropriate care for a wide range of diverse populations, including (but not limited to) communities of color, LGBTQ communities, non-English speaking populations, people with histories of incarceration, people with substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges, and people experiencing homelessness.
- The compensation starts at $22.07 per hour and increases based on years of experience.
- BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of seven thousand five hundred added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers.
Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BHCHP pledges not to discriminate against and encourages those from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds to apply, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA identifying, first generation college students and adults without a college degree, Bilingual and Bicultural persons; and individuals from low economic backgrounds.
Covid-19 Vaccination: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.
Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.
