This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Major Duties: Develops, implements, expands, and evaluates outcomes of harm reduction initiatives with a primary focus on Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND), Sterile Syringe Programs (SSP) and Fentanyl test strip distribution system. Identify vendors and sources to obtain harm reduction supplies, harm reduction opportunities, and community harm reduction organizations for possible Veteran referrals and collaboration. Ensures linkages to treatment for Veterans who receive harm reduction services at any VA or community partner location. Consult with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) District Counsel to determine if any SSP services/supplies are legally prohibited. Partner, collaborate, and consult with key facility service programs such as the HUD-VASH, Infectious Disease Clinic, Addiction Recovery Treatment Services, Mental Health Service, Pharmacy Service, Nursing Service, and Logistics Service in the development and expansion of harm reduction services. Participate in all relevant local, regional, and national workgroups. Work with key stakeholders to develop and maintain relevant facility policies and to expand Naloxone availability in VA parking garages, VA transportation vehicles and Veteran housing facilities. Monitor outcomes to ensure compliance with VA naloxone distribution goals. Utilize VA dashboards to identify harm reduction opportunities at the macro level and micro levels. Identify and act on opportunities to educate and advocate for program changes throughout the VAMC to enhance harm reduction services for Veterans. Direct patient care includes, but is not limited to provision of or referral for harm reduction education and supplies available as a prescription and via non-prescription sources. Referral for proper screening, testing, and treatment for drug-related infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); Outreach to Veterans about HIV PrEP; Substance use disorder (SUD) screening and referrals for MAT as appropriate. Provision of harm reduction group programming in relevant clinics that may include education, MI, CBT and any other EBPs with evidence for assisting in reducing SUD related harm in high-risk Veterans. Indirect patient care includes but is not limited to: Identifying patients who may benefit from programming focused on harm reduction through population health management reports and team huddles and conducting electronic consult (e-consult) medical record reviews and communicating recommendations to the care team. Collaborating with the national VA HIV/SSP Affinity Group to develop new SSP resources, including veteran and staff education resources, standardized harm reduction kits, and a standardized note template. Work with local colleagues to improve sexual and drug use history taking and linkage to appropriate harm reduction services. Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Actively participates on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, SUD Chief and/or SUD Program Lead; Keep their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility; Ensure professional growth through continuing education by complying with licensure requirements and continuing education as appropriate to the area of assignment. May provide orientation and mentoring of newly hired social workers. May serve as a field instructor for social work students. May participate in the rotation of on-call social workers, including modification of tour of duty to accommodate patient care needs during off tour hours. May be involved in responding to VISN level action plans, attending VISN meetings and presenting education or updates regarding harm reduction efforts to facility and VISN leadership. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program. 2. Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates. 3. Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges. 4. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G43 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Syracuse VA Medical Center 800 Irving Ave Syracuse, NY 13210 US
• Name: Rebekka Fandrey
• Phone: 0000000000
• Email: [email protected]