Position Title: Outreach Specialist
Position Location: Harnett County
Salary Range: $42,000-$46,000 per year
Position Description: The Outreach Specialist plays a critical role in connecting individuals impacted by substance use to timely, low-barrier services while supporting diversion and deflection initiatives, including the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program and post-overdose response (PORT) efforts in Harnett County. This position integrates public health, harm reduction, and criminal justice approaches to reduce overdose risk, improve engagement with healthcare services, and support successful recovery & diversion from the justice system.
The specialist works closely with law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), community organizations, and social service providers to ensure overdose survivors and eligible clients are linked to appropriate care such as detox, EMS-facilitated MOUD initiation, local medication-assisted treatment (MAT), primary care, mental health services, housing, employment, and community-based resources. The position also supports future LEO-requested overdose prevention/follow-up initiatives and prepares the community for potential LEAD expansion.
The primary duties encompass:
- Conduct post-overdose follow-ups with individuals identified by Harnett County EMS PORT, including in-person, phone, or virtual outreach.
- Provide warm handoffs and facilitated linkages to healthcare, substance use treatment, harm reduction services, mental health care, housing, and social services.
- Support law enforcement-initiated overdose follow-ups and LEO-based PORT efforts, ensuring survivor-directed and trauma-informed engagement.
- Collaborate with law enforcement, EMS, social service providers, and community partners to coordinate care and deflection/diversion strategies.
- Serve as a liaison between clients, service providers, and criminal justice entities to reduce legal risk while connecting clients to supports.
- Maintain regular client contact to monitor engagement, assess barriers, and adjust service plans.
- In collaboration with NCHRC’s Eastern Regional Coordinator and LEAD/Diversion specialist, support the planning and development of a law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD) program in Harnett County.
- Participate in interagency case conferencing to discuss follow-up needs, service engagement, and ongoing support for clients.
- Provide training and education to law enforcement, EMS, and community partners on harm reduction, overdose prevention, and available resources.
- Maintain accurate and confidential records of outreach activities, referrals, and client outcomes in accordance with HIPAA and agency policies.
- Utilize harm reduction, trauma-informed, and social justice approaches in all interactions.
Skills & abilities required:
- Must be at ease with harm reduction framework, and be aligned with NCHRCs mission and vision. Must be at ease discussing social, sexual, drug-related, and other harm reduction issues and experiences in a professional and non-judgmental manner with both individuals and groups.
- Experience with delivering harm reduction services
- Experience working with marginalized communities.
- Computer proficiency, including proficiency with basic Microsoft Word and Google Drive functions; willingness to learn new applications.
- Familiarity with acting as representative of an organization to establish cooperative relationships with clients and service providers, along with external stakeholders.
- Capability to manage sensitive information with prudence and honesty.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with law enforcement, service providers, and community partners.
- Ability to work independently and in a wide range of settings
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously.
- Knowledge of local resources for housing, mental health, substance use treatment, and other social services.
- Comfort and proficiency with harm reduction principles, trauma-informed care, and social justice frameworks.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
- Commitment to social justice and equity-focused approaches.
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to: https://forms.gle/vekTqt3Ah7sEhKk67
NCHRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, from the LGBTQI community, and individuals who have lived experience with drug use, sex work, HIV, HCV and incarceration are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are comfortable, please include information about your lived experience in the cover letter.
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Organizational Overview
The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) is a statewide, grassroots organization dedicated to implementing harm reduction interventions, advancing public health strategies, transforming drug policy, and supporting justice reform across North Carolina.
NCHRC engages in direct services, advocacy, coalition building, and education for communities impacted by drug use, incarceration, sex work, overdose, gender identity, HIV and hepatitis, and for the first responders who serve them.