Prison Linkage Specialist - Philadelphia Fight

Hours: M-F 9:00 to 5:00

Department: Institute for Community Justice

Location: 1207 Chestnut Street 2nd Floor

Reports to: Director of the Institute for Community Justice

Full-Time, 40 hours per week, Non -Exempt

Job Summary

Philadelphia FIGHT's Institute for Community Justice (ICJ) works with people returning to the community from prison or jail. We are a community center for individuals impacted by imprisonment, and our programs include a reentry center, local jail 'in-reach' services, educational programming, therapeutic recreation and comprehensive reentry support. The Prison Linkage Specialist is to respond to referrals from the Philadelphia Prison System, and support a case load of clients living with HIV throughout their incarceration and after their release. Responsibilities include discharge planning with an emphasis on HIV continuity of care and linkage and retention to care in the community. The Prison Linkage Specialist will also be responsible for supporting the HepC Prison Linkage Specialist with individuals in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP). The Prison Linkage Specialist represents Philadelphia FIGHT both on site and in the community, in a courteous, efficient manner that reflects the high level of integrity and customer service mandated by Philadelphia FIGHT

Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Respond to referrals, which are filtered through the Prison Linkages Program Manager, and arrange to visit incarcerated individuals to make linkage with HIV related services and medical care upon release.
2. Upon contact with client, perform psychosocial assessment. Develop action plan to address client's needs and barriers to meeting those needs.
3. Ensure appropriate access to medical, mental health and other services during a client's incarceration, coordinating with case managers and prison medical and mental health providers to meet clients' needs.
4. Responsible for travel in the community in locating clients lost to care
5. Develop discharge plan for incarcerated clients, ensuring their linkage to medical care and case management services and other services and resources as appropriate.
6. Coordinate discharge plan with other social service agencies, Public Defenders' Office, the Adult Probation and Parole Office and the courts as necessary.

Record Keeping

• Enter data into CAREWare and Evaluation Web as required by program funders.
• Maintain files for individual clients that meet standards required by program funders.
• Maintain accurate record keeping according to program standards, and maintain internal recordkeeping as developed by ICJ.

Ongoing Requirements

• Attend case conference meetings with case management and linkages staff.
• Meet bi-weekly with Prison Linkages Program Manager for supervision and case review.
• Attend monthly Linkage Team Meeting.
• Attend weekly ICJ all staff meeting.
• Support the efforts of the Prison Reentry and Healthcare Summit, including but not limited to attending meetings, developing content and volunteering at the Summit events.
• Ongoing communication with Lead Prison Linkage Specialist about case load
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience working with diverse, underserved, and stigmatized populations.
• Knowledgeable of local resources and services.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and essential office computer applications.
• Sensitive to cultural, economic, gender, and sexual orientation differences.

Demonstrated experience working with high-risk populations; excellent communications.

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting of 10-20 lbs. and pushing of 5-20 lbs.
• Sitting approximately 80% of the time
• Normal accessibility and mobility required
• Ability to work at a computer screen for long periods of time

The Prison Linkage Specialist will spend 1-2 days inside the jails and 2-3 days in the office, 1 day in community.

Initial Probationary Period is 90 Days.

Philadelphia FIGHT is an equal opportunity employer.