Mental Health/Substance Abuse Specialist (MS Degree) - AIDS Healthcare Foundation

AMAZING INDIVIDUALS WORKING FOR POSITIVE PEOPLE at AIDS Healthcare Foundation!

Does the idea of doing something that really makes a difference in people’s lives while being well-compensated intrigue you? Are you looking to work for an organization that encourages growth and success from each and every one of its employees?

If so, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the place for you!

Founded in 1987, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the nation. Our mission is to provide cutting edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay. Through our healthcare centers, pharmacies, health plan, research and other activities, AHF provides access to the latest HIV treatments for all who need them.

AHF’s core values are:

• Patient-Centered
• Value Employees
• Respect for Diversity
• Nimble
• Fight for What’s Right
 
STILL INTERESTED? Please continue!

The COSTA specialist is a clinically trained professional responsible for screening, providing motivational interviewing and using clinical skills to maintain patients engaged during 12 weeks of mobile therapy to HIV+ patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) who are using stimulants.  The COSTA specialist is an integrated member of the medical care team.  and will consult with the healthcare providers regarding the  appropriateness of engaging patients who are flagged as potentially eligible to participate in the study but who have not yet been referred to the study by them.

The COSTA specialist will reach out to the referred patients (via phone, e-mail, text or face-to-face) to perform a brief eligibility and substance use screening.

The COSTA Specialist will perform a brief Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based intervention to increase willingness to go into drug treatment and will present the COSTA study and its two available randomly assigned treatment options:  community-based outpatient or prescription mobile therapeutic based treatment. The COSTA specialist will explain the study and will obtain informed consent from the participants who express willingness to engage in drug treatment through the COSTA study. The COSTA specialist will schedule the first (baseline) assessment to be conducted by the research assistants. 

The COSTA Specialist will then implement the randomized arm: In the case of the community referral, s/he will work with the patient and a referral source to achieve a warm hand-off.  In the case of the mobile therapy, s/he will introduce the patient to the mobile intervention, will meet bi-weekly with the patient to conduct a virtual urine screen, provide a contingent reward to patients with negative urines, and use clinical skills to support the patient and maintain their engagement during the 12-week mobile intervention.

The COSTA Specialist works with members to remove barriers to HIV/AIDS medical care by facilitating a collaborative process that identifies members’ needs, a plan to address those needs, and continuous follow-up to ensure that members obtain the necessary services that help them to maintain adherence to substance use disorder treatment and medical care. The COSTA Specialist also coordinates with other service providers through a comprehensive and active referral process to link HIV+ individuals into appropriate stimulant use disorder treatment, medical services and care.  The COSTA specialist is also responsible for projecting and integrating the Mission and Core Values of the organization as well as AHF’s Management Philosophy.

Two years of clinical counseling experience post Masters is required.

We at AIDS Healthcare Foundation believe that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status or disability.  The right of equal employment opportunity extends to recruiting, hiring selection, transfer, promotion, training and all other conditions of employment.