The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) mobilizes communities to create equity and justice for people living with and vulnerable to HIV or chronic conditions. We envision a world in which people living with HIV or chronic conditions will thrive, and there will be no new HIV cases. Our work focuses on advancing health equity, preventing new cases of HIV, serving as a collaboration and knowledge center, being a bold voice for change and strengthening our organizational excellence.

We are seeking for an individual to serve as our Clinical Engagement Specialist. The Clinical Engagement Specialist is responsible for providing location and outreach, assessment, engagement and wraparound services for the Road to Health and Housing (R2H) program participants. Utilizing harm reduction, motivational interviewing and trauma informed service delivery approaches, the Clinical Engagement Specialist will provide housing navigation, case management and clinical services and work with Permanent Supportive Housing providers, Heartland Alliance Health and Legal Council for Health Justice to ensure that program participants living with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders are successfully housed, linked and engaged with needed primary care, behavioral health and disability advocacy services.

Principal functions and responsibilities of this position include the following:

Clinical Services

  • Collaborate with outreach teams, housing providers and skilled assessors to effectively provide outreach to and locate clients who have been matched to permanent supportive housing;
  • Interview and evaluate the behavioral health needs, including mental health and substance use, of homeless individuals to establish program eligibility and desire to engage in services;
  • Conduct bio-psycho-social assessments using a variety of assessment techniques and instruments;
  • Screen and assess behavioral health, housing and income needs of program participants;
  • Provide housing navigation services including gathering documentation of homeless status and disability paperwork relevant to housing program eligibility;
  • Assist clients with public benefits applications and maintenance of benefits including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Income (SSDI);
  • Coordinate referrals and act as a liaison to Heartland Alliance Health (HAH) primary and behavioral health care including substance use treatment services;
  • Coordinate referrals and act as a liaison to Legal Council for Health Justice (LCHJ) disability advocacy services;
  • Attend appointments with clients to ensure engagement in care and/or services;
  • Provide crisis intervention services to clients as needed;
  • Coordinate with housing providers, HAH and LCHJ to provide location and outreach services to re-engage clients disconnected from care and/or services;
  • Provide services to clients using Motivational Interviewing and trauma-informed approaches;
  • Conduct and document intakes, assessments, discharges, and referrals;
  • Schedule all client visits and make reminder calls;
  • Organize electronic and hard copy calendar.

Program Support

  • Implement Road to Health and Housing (R2H) program procedures and clinical forms;
  • Document assessment information and clinical encounters as required in client files;
  • Input information in management information systems and on paper charts;
  • Ensure quality of program files;
  • Maintain credentials and develop job knowledge by participating in training and educational opportunities, reading professional publications, and participating in professional organizations;
  • Protect organization’s value and manage risk by keeping information confidential.

Other

  • Assist with agency-wide activities as directed, including Annual Meeting, AIDS Run & Walk, and others;
  • Protect organization’s value and manage risk by keeping information confidential;
  • Perform other duties as assigned.