Start Date: August 18th, 2025

End Date: July 6th, 2025

About the Position: The Substance Use Navigator will help with quality improvement initiatives across Primary Care Addiction within SFDPH. They will help improve health outcomes for patients who use substances (opioids, stimulants, alcohol) by telephone outreach, behavioral health program implementations, qualitative and quantitative data extraction/analysis, and improvement of standard work flows. 

The NHC member will support high risk populations of patients (those with history of substance use) in accessing treatment options. Due to overlapping psycho-social stressors within this population, frequent direct patient outreach via telephone support helps reinforce connection to care in a manner not feasible in existing workflows by other staff.

About the Organization: The San Francisco Department of Public Health is a safety net healthcare organization that serves low income and vulnerable populations. Since the pandemic, the SFDPH has continued its efforts to slow the spread of viruses, protect vulnerable individuals, and prevent the healthcare system in the city from being overwhelmed.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) strives to achieve its mission of protecting the health and safety of all San Franciscans through the work of two Divisions - the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) and Population Health and Prevention. The SF Health Network is the City's health system and has locations throughout the City including San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, Laguna Honda Hospital and over 12 primary care clinics that provide care for 64,000 active patients. SFHN patients are all publicly insured or uninsured, most are low-income and may experience low health literacy. The member will be interacting with patients and staff of  different communities.

• Tracking, enrolling, and surveying patients for improvement

• Requesting medication refills for patients already enrolled

• Evaluating referral charts and obtaining reports

• Conducting outreach to patients via phone/letters

• Interacting with patients to complete quality reviews

• Lead Coordinator for Contingency Management Programs (Data Based Incentives) for People who Use Stimulants

• Patient Navigation for Buprenorphine (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) Starts and Refills

• Qualitative Research/Interviews on Controlled Medications and Substance Use to Capture Patient Voice around Treatment

• Detail-Oriented
• Research and analytical skills
• Able to review and synthesize information
• Able to build strong relationships
• Community engagement/outreach skills
• Interest in or lived experience regarding substance use

• Knowledge of AmeriCorps/Health Corps member requirements
• Skill with Microsoft Office or other software for a variety of data processing operations involving a range of problem solving, record keeping, correspondence, and service tracking options.

• The supervisor assigns service activities, advises on changes in procedures, and is available for assistance when required
• The supervisor assigns service activities in terms of project objectives and basic priorities and is available for consultation in resolving controversial issues.

• The service activities are reviewed for accuracy through spot checks, through complaints from customers, and through observation of the member at service.
• Completed projects are reviewed very generally to determine that objectives have been met and are in compliance with policies and regulations.

• Detailed guidelines exist, including regulations and directives, handbooks, precedents, industry standards, and files of previous projects
• Guidelines are generally applicable, but the member independently makes adaptations in dealing with problems and unusual situations

• The facts or conditions of the service position are clear cut, predictable, and apply directly to the assignment
• The member must develop new techniques, methods, or approaches to complete service position assignments