Position Summary:

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking highly motivated Contact Tracers (COVID-19) for the Center for Public Health Workforce Development (CPHWD) within the School of Public Health.

The Contact Tracers are responsible for reaching out to all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to learn more about patients' medical histories, the people who they have had close contact with, and provide them with information and guidance to stop the ongoing transmission / spread of COVID-19. The Contact Tracer will use a web-based platform and telephone to communicate with assigned contacts, obtain symptom information, refer contacts for testing, and provide instructions for quarantine.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Call individuals recently diagnosed with COVID-19, to communicate the importance of isolation, create a case record, and assure needs are being addressed during the required isolation period.

• Collect and record all information regarding symptoms and dates of onset, as well as contacts (individuals with whom the case may have been in direct face-to-face contact) of the individual, in secure database.

• Call contacts of newly diagnosed patients, to communicate their exposure risk, while maintaining utmost confidentiality of the case and details of exposure, and provide relevant guidance, resources, and support including, but not limited to approved information about New Jersey's quarantine procedures, testing locations, and/or other resources as instructed.

• Will be required to successfully complete approximately 12 hours of required on-line training.

• Adhere to strict policies on maintaining confidentiality and privacy of call cases, contacts, and information. Signed confidentiality agreements will be required.

• Assign risk category depending on the contact's underlying medical conditions, occupation, living situation and level of contact with case and understand protocol for each risk category.

• Maintain routine follow-up communication with cases throughout isolation to assure essential needs are being met, and with contacts as necessary to monitor symptoms. Note that some of this contact may occur electronically.

• Identify individual's needs and refer to local Resource Support staff as indicated. Communicate regularly with immediate liaison as established with the Department of Health.

• Participate in routine check-ins as required with assigned supervisor on Rutgers Training team and/or Health Department.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Social Work or a health-related field.

OR

• Current enrollment in a graduate program in Public Health, Social Work or a health-related field.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understanding of, and ability to explain, the medical terms associated with COVID-19 and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, types of tests used to diagnose infection, and available prevention and control interventions (e.g., isolation/quarantine, social distancing, environmental surface cleaning).

• Must have an understanding of when to refer individuals or situations to medical, social, or supervisory resources.

• Critical thinking skills; sound judgment and attention to detail.

• Basic skills of effective communication including active listening, empathy, cultural humility, and compassion are essential.

• The ability to confidently refer patients and contacts for further care, if needed.

• Proficiency in basic computing and ability to access and navigate various databases and software programs following training.

• Excellent interpersonal, cultural sensitivity, and interviewing skills such that they can build and maintain trust with patients and contacts.

• Must have excellent organizational skills, be detail-oriented, and able to communicate with culturally diverse community members clearly and with sensitivity to the challenging circumstances they may be experiencing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• New Jersey residents, with knowledge of NJ's municipalities/counties and general geography.

Equipment Utilized:

• Must use own computer and phone.

• PC with Windows 10, Antivirus Protection: Windows Defender and Windows Firewall; or Mac with Apple OS X 10.13, Antivirus Protection: Sophos; and personal mobile device to use for this job.

• A headset or earphones/air pods (essential for confidentiality).

• Stable and consistent broadband internet connection is essential to the role.

• Distraction-free, private work environment in order to use their own telephone, computer and electronic equipment; headset, earphones of air pods for phone highly recommended.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Lift or exert force up to 25 pounds.

Special Conditions:

• Contact Tracers will be required to complete foundational training on-line, on the basic activities associated with contact tracing. In addition to this online training, (which takes approximately 5 hours to complete), participation in 'live' training sessions (virtually) is also required.

• Contact Tracers will use a web-based platform to call all contacts of anyone who tested positive for COVID-19, so that one can document symptoms (if any), refer individuals for testing according to established protocols, and provide them with instructions for quarantine.

• Contact Tracers will be provided with basic scripts, but, will receive specific guidance from the local health department
  in which they are placed.

Salary: $25/hour

Posting Number: 20ST1804

Location: Off Campus