Clinical Assistant Intern – Black Health – $24

Organizational Summary 

San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) envisions a future where health justice is achieved for all people living with or at risk for HIV. Ultimately, we strive for a day when race is not a barrier to health and wellness, substance use is not stigmatized, HIV status does not determine quality of life, and HIV transmission is eliminated.

Our mission is to promote health, wellness, and social justice for communities most impacted by HIV through sexual health and substance use services, advocacy, and partnership.

Our strategic plan includes an articulation of its five key values, which are the foundation for its work and its employees:  Justice, Dignity, Courage, Leadership and Excellence. We need passionate agents of social change, vanguards of public health, and practitioners of racial justice to join our fight.

Rafiki Coalition (Rafiki) is a highly respected, African American-centered, community-based agency located in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. The organization was founded in 1986 as the Black Coalition on AIDS, a grassroots organization that responded to the urgent needs of African American communities that were being devastated by HIV/AIDS. For more than 33 years, Rafiki has served as a pioneer in providing health education, advocacy, and services to San Francisco’s Black communities and other underserved groups.

Rafiki’s mission is to eliminate inequalities in San Francisco’s Black and underserved communities through education, advocacy, and by providing holistic health and wellness services in a culturally affirming environment. Rafiki Coalition strives to achieve its goals by serving as a wellness hub in the Bayview providing culturally congruent services that include but are not limited to, health screenings, wellness navigation, a complementary medicine clinic, health and wellness classes and education, advocacy, transitional housing and case management services for People Living with HIV/AIDS, trauma resilience and mental health circles and many other activities.

Position Overview:

Rafiki Coalition and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation have partnered to develop a Health Access Point program that utilizes an African American-centered wellness perspective to foster self-determination, pride, self-esteem, collaboration, community involvement, and a prioritization of family and community wellness while addressing key underlying social determinants of health that continue to influence African American health disparities. This includes services that are informed by experiences of poverty, unemployment, mass incarceration, lack of affordable housing and homelessness, the failure of the healthcare system to address the needs of Black and African American communities, generational trauma, violence, and ongoing stigma in regard to intersecting issues such as HIV status, gender and sexual identity, and substance use.

The Clinical Assistant Intern will partake in a robust sexual health clinical training with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation Health Equity Training Academy. The training will provide an opportunity to work alongside holistic health practitioners, sexual health clinicians and volunteers, insurance and benefits navigators, and community programs staff, all who are experts in HIV prevention, treatment, and advocacy. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is excited to extend this opportunity to individuals to gain real-world experience and make a positive impact in community health.

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is an Equal Opportunity employer. We actively seek applicants from people of color, trans and gender non-binary people, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ folks,

This is a part-time, temporary position lasting 16-20 weeks with a target start date of Early December 2024 Clinical assistant interns are expected to work 3-5 half days per week for a total of 12 to 20 hours per week.

There is also a mandatory week-long HIV/ HEP-C Test Counselor training (date to be announced for 2025) for 8 hours, Monday-Friday.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Clinical Assistants will undergo training and apply learned techniques relating to the following:

• Harm reduction
• HIV test counseling
• Motivational interviewing
• Medical benefits navigation
• Community organizing to address health disparities
• Community-centered clinical administration
• Community Engagement programming
• State certification in HIV test counseling from the San Francisco Department of Public Health
• Hands-on experience delivering the full spectrum of client-centered care—from initial client intake to harm reduction counseling and health navigation
• Opportunities to learn about and develop evidence-based sexual health programs and services for underrepresented communities
• Mentorship and flexible training opportunities based on individual interests
• Career preparation and coaching
• Other tasks as assigned

Other Responsibilities:

Requirements For Clinical Assistant Program Certificate Of Completion:

• Completion of pre-training period (covering 12+ in-person trainings)
• Completion and attainment of HIV/HEP-C Test Counselor Training (SFDPH)
• Completion of (minimum) 40 hours of hand-on experience with programs
• Completion of (minimum) 40 hours of hand-on experience with Strut clinic
• Maintaining good standing and attendance with the program

Essential Qualifications:

• Availability for Training: Must be available for week long training in 2025 (date will be announced before onboarding date) (Monday-Friday) 9am-5:30pm for a mandatory state certified HIV/ HEP-C test counselor training.
• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Weekly Availability: Must have regular schedule availability to work 12 hours (min) – 20 hours (max) per week; must be available for at least three four-hour shifts during the day during the week.
• Professionalism around confidentiality: This position will have access to protected health information (PHI) and may only access, use or disclose the minimum information necessary to perform their designated role on behalf of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, regardless of the extent of access provided.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• African American Community Engagement: Extensive participation in the lived experiences and cultural contexts of African American communities, Queer and Transgender People of Color (QTPOC), and African American same-gender loving people.
• Judgment: Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; can clearly explain reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in work duties and organizational structure.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; works with others to solve complex problems.
• Customer Service: Ability to work comfortably with many different communities and stakeholders; practices cultural humility, exhibits sensitivity to issues concerning HIV. Responds efficiently and cordially to requests for service and assistance.
• Professionalism: Reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration; follows through on commitments.
• Dependability: Completes tasks on time; takes responsibility for own actions; reliable.
• Professional Expectations: Demonstrated ability to fulfill the Foundation’s professional expectations of accountability, active collaboration, commitment, communication, and professionalism. This position will have access to protected health information (PHI) and may only access, use or disclose the minimum information necessary to perform their designated role on behalf of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, regardless of the extent of access provided.

Supervision:

This position will not have any supervisorial responsibilities and will report to the Manager, Clinical Assistants-Black Health

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:

Skill in operating equipment such as a personal computer, copy machine and telephone system.  Ability to assist the Capacity Building Clinical Services team in moving testing/program materials and organizing sites for counseling, testing, and events. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The position may have exposure to blood borne pathogens and other infectious agents.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for personnel so classified.

Education and Experience: 

• High School diploma or equivalent.

This position will have access to protected health information (PHI) and may only access, use or disclose the minimum information necessary to perform their designated role on behalf of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, regardless of the extent of access provided.

Work Environment:

• This is a hybrid position, the position may choose to work remotely up to approximately 10% (for online trainings and some groups as outlined by some groups and preapproved activities) with occasional requirements to work on-site at our headquarters in San Francisco or travel to other locations as determined in the sole discretion of SFAF. 
• Travel expenses for commuting to SFAF offices are not reimbursable. 
• May require evening and weekend work.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for personnel so classified. 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is an Equal Opportunity employer. We actively seek applications from people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, women, LGBTQ individuals and people of color.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Application Process:

Please visit our careers page at:

http://www.sfaf.org/about-us/careers/

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE