Harm Reduction Coordinator

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham
 Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
 
Hiring Range: $57,616 - $87,505 --- Click HERE to apply
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday from 9a- 5p. This role will likely require the individual to be flexible with their time; the Harm Reduction Coordinator will be able to flex time to work some evenings and weekends

About us In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams)—to meet the needs of people in crisis with compassionate care and behavioral health expertise. (Interested applicants can visit our website and dashboard, watch this CNN clip, listen to this NPR segment, or read this piece from The Assembly to learn more about our department. 

Recently, DCSD received Opioid Settlement Funds to expand the scope of harm reduction supplies distributed by HEART and better identify and connect Neighbors to recovery services at key intervention points. These funds will support the hiring of Peer Support Specialist, who will serve as a “Harm Reduction Specialist.” This position will work seamlessly with Neighbors, community providers and DCSD to ensure that Neighbors can access lifesaving supplies and services for substance use whenever they encounter a HEART unit in the community. 

About our approach to harm reduction specialist candidates

We are looking for candidates who are knowledgeable and committed to Harm Reduction philosophy and practices, as well as the long, arduous work of systems change on behalf of all neighbors, especially those who use substances. We want folks who understand that Harm Reduction is not only a public health intervention for neighbors who use substances, but also a way of living that each one of us can embody. If you’re someone who enjoys meeting people where they’re at (literally and figuratively), who understands that everyone is owed autonomy, agency, and dignity (even when they’re making choices you don’t agree with), and who dreams of new worlds (even if they appear out of reach), then you’re the kind of person we want in our department.

How you’ll know if you’re a good match for our department generally

DCSD’s approach to work is flexible, highly collaborative, and evidence driven. Our departmental culture prizes equity, care, and the health and safety of our staff. If you resonate with the statements below, you’ll be a great match for our approach to work.

• You are committed to Harm Reduction and its core principles. You also understand the need for pragmatism in the long work of systems change.
• You love serving neighbors and walking alongside them through whatever journey they choose to embark on.
• You thrive in collaborative spaces – teamwork is at the core of your desired work-life.
• You enjoy a workplace that emphasizes learning and translating insight into real change—both in the workplace and in how we engage with the people we serve.
• You’re eager to learn—about people, about social systems, about new ways to approach care.
• You love caring for others and you know how to take care of your own needs, too.

To offer some further insight into the application screening and interview process, this presentation outlines what we are looking for at each stage. While we strive to communicate with applicants at each step of the process, due to the number of applicants, we may not always be able to communicate immediately if you are not selected to advance to a first-round interview. Please know that we do appreciate your interest and encourage you to reapply as new positions are posted.

Duties/Responsibilities

Direct Service Responsibilities (~60% of time)

• Safe Syringe Program Expansion
  • Work in close partnership with the County to integrate the Durham County Safe Syringe Program into DCSD. This will likely function in the following ways:
    • Integrate and operationalize mobile distribution of syringes (and other safer use supplies) into HEART units in close partnership with the Durham County Safe Syringe Program
    • Operate syringe delivery services in partnership with the Durham County Safe Syringe Program
    • Engage in direct outreach and distribution of safe use supplies in partnership with other local harm reduction programs 

• Recovery Support Services
  • Receive warm hand-offs from HEART units for Neighbors seeking immediate connection to recovery services
  • Support HEART Care Navigation teams in connecting Neighbors to recovery services
  • Connect Neighbors to the Community Paramedic’s Bridge to MAT program as appropriate 

Administrative, Training, and Engagement Responsibilities (~40% of time) 

• Administrative Tasks
  • Contribute to strategic planning activities and conversations regarding the departments future harm reduction efforts.
  • Manage the data collection and reporting processes for the Opioid Settlement Funds
  • Create and oversee the quality assurance process for the procurement and provision of harm reduction supplies
• Training and Community Engagement
  • Provide trainings on harm reduction philosophy and practices both internally as well as to external partners
  • Attend community events and meetings to provide harm reduction education and supplies
  • Cultivate partnerships with local organizations (e.g., NCHRC, Community Paramedics, et.c) engaged in harm reduction work

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in social work, psychology, or related human services field,
• Two years of peer counseling or related experience working with diverse constituencies (such as experience with substance use, mental illness, justice involvement and/or homelessness).  experience can included paid/unpaid volunteer experience or in related internship programs
• Completion of a mental health, peer support specialist, or equivalent certificate program
• A valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s license with a satisfactory driving records within 60 days of hire.
• Two years of peer counseling or related experience working with diverse constituencies.
• Knowledge of:
  • harm reduction philosophy and practices (as it relates to substance use, sexual health, and beyond)
  • the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation, etc.)
• A track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity.
• Must be able to travel to and from worksite and other locations within Durham.
• Basic computer knowledge and skills.
• Must be able to walk/stand up to 60% of work schedule. Note: The coordinator will use a van for outreach, distribution, and community engagements.
• A commitment to and interest in the mission of the department: to enhance public safety through community-centered approaches to prevention and intervention as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
• A commitment to equity, which could include having already attended racial equity trainings
   

Please note that for the educational equivalent we will accept the following:
Bachelors Degree and 2 years of related experience
Or
Associates Degree and 6 years of related experience
Or
High School Diploma with 10 years of related experience