Job Description
POSITION OVERVIEW
Texas Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA) seeks an Outreach Worker & Community Organizer to join our team. Applicants should align with the organization's core values, including racial justice and anti-racism and an understanding and commitment to the principles of harm reduction. This position is a unique role, combining outreach and service delivery with community organizing and advocacy for policy change.
This team member will work with the outreach staff to conduct drop-in and street-based outreach to people who inject drugs; educate individuals about the risks associated with injection drug use, including hepatitis, HIV and overdose; and build non-judgmental, supportive relationships with drug users and guide them to appropriate referral resources, and advocate for their care. This position will also work with the policy team to ensure that the recommendations that come out of the City of Austin’s Re-Imagining Public Safety Task Force include strategies that will improve the quality of life for people who inject drugs (PWID) in a meaningful way.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
● Contact and build relationships with participants during weekly street outreach
● Distribute harm reduction supplies and education materials
● Provide preventive health education around substance use and safer sex practices
● Refer clients into counseling, mental health and medical services, drug treatment and housing as appropriate
● Translate issues and concerns discussed in outreach conversations to actionable advocacy campaigns
● Attend meetings connected to the Re-Imagining Public Safety Task Force
● Organize listening sessions and other opportunities for the voices and perspectives of people who inject drugs to be included in the Re-Imagining Public Safety recommendations
● Train participants in community organizing for policy change
● Perform manual duties, such as cleaning, preparing snacks, unloading shipments, stocking of vehicles and supplies as needed
● Attend staff meetings, trainings and conferences as assigned
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
● A minimum of one (1) year of professional or volunteer experience in HIV prevention, harm reduction outreach or community organizing
● Must have ability to actively and compassionately seek out and engage people affected by drug use in informational, non-judgmental discussions about overdose, HIV, hepatitis and related health issues
● Personal knowledge or experience with drug use or extensive knowledge of issues facing drug users
● Must be passionate about changing policies and laws, and have an understanding of the systems of oppression that contribute to drug use and overdose, houselessness, arrest and incarceration
● Excellent verbal and written communication and listening skills including the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
● Must maintain strong confidentiality and appropriate boundaries
● Ability to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment as part of a team
● Must be able to complete data entry in our google app in a timely manner
● Must be streetwise and be able to solve practical problems
Strong Applicants also have:
● Bilingual: Spanish/English
● Experience or training in community organizing for system level change
More about the job:
This full-time, salaried position will be located in our Austin, Texas, office, at 1909 E. 38th1/2 St. Salary range for this position is $40,000 - $45,000 per year, based on experience, with benefits including health, dental, vision, vacation, sick leave and holidays. This position reports to leadership staff.
More about the organization:
The Texas Harm Reduction Alliance (THRA) emerged in early 2019 in response to unprecedented opioid overdose rates and apparent statewide need for harm reduction policy advocacy, education, and capacity-building for direct services with people impacted by substance use, overdose, HIV, hepatitis, and sex work. THRA is a resource for all community sectors and organizations seeking evidence-informed pathways to improvement of conditions and outcomes related to drug use and related activity. We operate a direct services program in the Austin area that provides overdose prevention education, naloxone, and linkage to same-day medicine-based treatment for opioid use disorders.
Texas Harm Reduction Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and does not to discriminate in employing staff, or selection of volunteers, on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, justice involvement or conviction, veteran status, financial status or HIV status.
How to Apply:
Please send to info@harmreductiontx.org with Outreach Worker & Community Organizer in subject line, in (.doc) or (.pdf) format:
● Letter of introduction including commitment to core values listed above
● Current resume/vitae
● Contact information and three professional references