Job Description

SUMMARY: The Friendship House Assoc. of American Indians (FH), in partnership with Native American Health Center, Inc. (NAHC), will conduct screening and testing for evidence of COVID-19 among primarily American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons in treatment and in community setting. The contact tracer is responsible for reaching out to Friendship House clients and the local American Indian community members and general population receiving treatment or services from FH who have been exposed to COVID-19 and providing health education and guidance to interrupt ongoing disease transmission. Dialogue with contacts will be guided by standard protocols to obtain any symptom history and other relevant health information, provide instructions for self-quarantine, and make appropriate referrals to testing, clinical services, and other essential support services. The contract tracers is required to follow all designated scripts and comply with policies and procedures provided by the Indian Health Services and the local San Francisco Department of Public Health regarding local health orders, guidance, and confidentiality and data security for the handling of sensitive client information and protected health information.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 and related health issues REQUIRED.
• Documented professional experience or education in field related to medical, health, social service or substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery REQUIRED
• Experience working with American Indians, local health agencies and resources, or San Francisco Bay Area American Indian community DESIREABLE.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. At the direction of the COVID-19 Project Coordinator and the Chief Program Officer, the Contact Tracer is responsible for reaching out to all persons who have come into close contact with a COVID-19 infected individual, providing information and guidance on ongoing transmission and reducing spread of the virus.

2. Initiate prompt communication with American Indian community members exposed to COVID- 19 (contacts) through text, phone calls, email, and other communication platforms as necessary. Contact tracer will make every effort to communicate with the contact telephone or video conference instead of in-person. For in-person interviews, guidance on recommended infection prevention and control practices at a home or non-home residential setting, contact tracer will follow the local SF Department of Public Health guidance as established by the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Health.

3. Contact tracer will utilize dynamic communication and interpersonal skills, cultural competency/sensitivity, tactful language, and empathetic interviewing skills to build rapport and maintain trust with FH clients and the local American Indian community members.

4. Verify the contact’s identity during initial communications and prior to disclosing confidential information. Assure confidentiality and carry out efforts to locate and communicate with clients and community members in a manner that preserves the confidentiality and privacy of all involved.

5. Notify the contact of their exposure to COVID-19, following a script or guidance to provide COVID-19 health education. Conduct notification of exposure in a manner that maintains the confidentiality of the patient (or person who was diagnosed with COVID-19) and ensures that the identity of the patient is NOT disclosed.

6. Obtain ad document relevant information including contact demographics, underlying medical conditions, and other risk factors.

7. Provide approved information and guidance on quarantine procedures ad what to do if symptoms develop.

8. Utilize a laptop computer, tablet, and/or cell phone with appropriate access to required applications, databases, and/or web-based platforms, daily.

9. Document pertinent information in COVID-19 contact tracing forms, and conduct data entry into FH electronic health record, IHS/SFDPH data/surveillance systems while adhering to protocols for completeness, timeliness, and frequency.

10. Participate in requisite trainings, regular project meetings and quality monitoring improvement activities in order to ensure and enhance the quality of contact notification activities and program outcomes.

11. Meets regularly with project team to report successes and concerns identified by the community.

12. Collaborates with other members of the FH COVID-19 Response Team, by attending weekly staff meeting, Clinical Meeting, and monthly project meetings.

13. At the direction of the Project Coordinator, work closely with FH clinical and other staff to implement the objectives of this COVID-19 grant project.

14. Accomplish timely submission of detailed data collection and reporting as required.

15. Other duties as assigned by the COVID-19 Project Coordinator, CPO, CFO, and CEO.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

1. At least 3 years documented professional experience or education in field related to medical, health, social service or substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery.

2. Experience working with the San Francisco Bay Area American Indian community and agencies, and local health agencies and resources highly desirable.

3. Current knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 and other health issues impacting the American Indian community required.

4. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

5. Proficiency with or ability to quickly learn webinar platforms (i.e., Zoom)

6. Excellent communication and presentation skills.

7. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability interact with individuals from variety of community- based organization, local American Indian community members, and local healthcare organizations.

8. Critical thinking and problem-solving, and the ability to use sound judgement in responding to client issues and concerns.

9. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team with initiative and enthusiasm required.

10. Knowledge, care and compassion when working with American Indian individuals in early recovery from substance abuse issues required.

11. Time management skills, professionalism and personal integrity required.

12. Basic computer skills, excellent writing skills and attention to detail required.

13. Must have valid California Driver’s License.

14. Must meet standards of character under PL 101-630, section 408, Character Investigation subsection (a) and PL 101-647, section 231, Requirement for Background Check, subsection (c) and agree that employer can contact the last two employers.

15. If in recovery, at least three (3) years of continuous sobriety required.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: Please __ be advised that a post job offer, pre-employment annual physical and TB test are required as a condition of employment. Additionally, a Department of Justice fingerprinting and/or Federal, State, County criminal justice background check clearance is contingent upon offer of employment. Criminal clearances are obtained to protect the welfare and safety of clients receiving services at The Friendship House Association of American Indians.

Company Description

The Friendship House Association of American Indians is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, established in 1963 to serve American Indians who were relocated from their reservations to the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1963, Friendship House has served more than 5,500 residential clients and hundreds of youth consumers and provided community-focused events for countless numbers of American Indians. As a cultural center with co-located services and community activities, Friendship House is uniquely poised in the San Francisco Bay area to serve American Indians. The overarching goal of Friendship House is to promote healing and wellness in the American Indian community by providing a continuum of services that build resiliency to substance abuse. And to strengthen connections to family and community to improve the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being of American Indians across the lifespan. Friendship House operates three program facilities: the Friendship House American Indian Healing Center, an 80- bed adult men and women residential substance abuse treatment facility located in San Francisco, California; the Friendship House American Indian Lodge, a 9-bed facility for women and their children located in Oakland, California; and the Friendship House Youth Program, an afterschool youth center, located in San Francisco, California. The Friendship House’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program was established to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among American Indians through services designed to strengthen the personal conditions which support a substance-free lifestyle. In addition to restoring clients to productive living individuals in their respective communities. Prayer, songs and drum circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, Walking the Red Road Medicine Way, and many other traditional methods are integral to the residential treatment program. While many best practices in the substance abuse treatment field have been proven to work effectively with substance abusers from many backgrounds, few evidence-based practices have been evaluated and proven to work with Native people. We know, based on more than 28 years of tracking our own performance, that American Indians have the best outcomes when Native culture and cultural practices are honored, as well as integrated into our service delivery efforts.