Community Health Specialist I, II or III DOQ

County of Mason•Mason County, WA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for conducting harm reduction outreach in a variety of settings with a small interdisciplinary team, with a goal to reduce risks associated with drug use and behavioral health challenges, including drug overdose and the spread of infectious disease, and to improve overall physical, mental and societal health by providing risk reduction strategies. Strategies include infectious disease testing and linkages to care, overdose prevention training and naloxone distribution, and referrals/care coordination and follow up related to drug use, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, and recovery supports. This position will assist with program development and implementation, overdose surveillance, data collection and analysis, dissemination of information and participation in local stakeholder meetings and the broader county-wide behavioral health system. This position will coordinate aspects of the competitive grant writing and award process for fund sources that include local sales and use tax revenues and local, state, and federal grants, as well as manage the associated contracts and/or subcontracts. Outreach activities include street-level and encampment outreach, home-based and fixed-site mobile services throughout Mason County, and supporting office-based and clinical services through the syringe service program. Responsibilities include conducting operations for outreach programming, like ordering and stocking supplies; providing harm reduction education and supplies throughout the county (safer injection supplies, naloxone, and hygiene and wound care supplies); care coordination for a variety of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services; and conducting and/or supporting HIV/STI/HCV testing and treatment programming. Additional activities include providing overdose prevention and response training to agencies and the community and participating in collaborative meetings with local providers. This position is primarily responsible for leading systemic countywide planning and strategic collaborations and implementing effective population-based policy, systems and environment change strategies to address the environmental, economic and social determinants of health and health inequities. Work assignments require individuals to work independently as each grant/program is broad in nature. Work involves coordination with many local individuals, community agencies and resources, as well as regional, state or national partners.

Requirements

Knowledge of: Social marketing, behavior change theory, asset-based community development principles and practices, trauma-informed/responsive practices, and health equity.
Maintains knowledge of current best practices for public health and the advances in the field within the focus area of work.
Local, state and national agencies and organizations that provide community and social services and other governmental assistance programs.
Grant program policies, procedures, and reporting standards for all sources of funding.
Principles and procedures for grant applications, administration, accounting, and records management.
Skilled in: Verbal and written communications (i.e. Presentations, reports, deliverable documentation, grant proposals or request for qualifications, infographics, etc.).
The use of Microsoft Office Suite for electronic communications and scheduling, creating professional documents, spreadsheets and charts using formulas, references, linking, and other advanced functions.
Understanding, interpreting and applying social and public health theory to local situations and determine best course of action.
Evaluating community needs and developing recommendations for short- and long-term prevention, policy, system, and or environmental strategies that address determinants of health.
Maintains strong interpersonal skills to nurture lasting relationships with community partners.
Ability to: Manage multiple priorities and prioritize tasks in order to ensure timeliness, quality and quantity of work.
Design new projects or programs, work plans, goals, objectives with measurable performance and financial impacts; track program effectiveness and make recommendations to management.
Use data, analytical skills, and systems thinking to assess and identify problems, develop effective, creative, and resourceful solutions.
Receive, process, and provide complex visual, verbal, and written information.
Ability to present complex ideas in understandable and approachable ways that result in high quality effective communication with all audiences.
Effectively respond to and reconcile competing interests of government entities, community organizations, service providers, contractors, public representatives, and consumers as they affect the planning and operation of programs.
Exercise skill and judgment in engaging effectively and respectfully with members of the public, community groups, co-workers, etc.; maintains excellent public relations in all situations, including unusual, complex, difficult or high-tension situations.
Work effectively with diverse individuals and community organizations.
Possess commitment to and demonstrate expertise in understanding root causes of health inequalities; advocate for equity related to age, disability, religious culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social class, indigenous background, national origin and gender.
Work effectively in a teamwork environment, as well as independently; coordinates work with other employees, supervisors, and managers as appropriate.
Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality when appropriate (such as resolving a problem with a contractor, etc.).
Maintain a respectful demeanor, interact effectively with others, and recognize and attend to self-care when job stress, heavy workload and stressful situations occur.
Community Health Specialist I - Entry-level position within Community Health.
Community Health Specialist II - Senior level position based on level of experience and the ability to work independently.
Community Health Specialist III - Senior level position based on level of experience and the ability to work independently.
Valid Washington State Driver's License.
This position is required to follow chapter 13 of the Mason County Personnel Policy.
If offered the position you must provide a Abstract Driving Record from the WA State DOL.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree is preferred for Community Health Specialist I.
Bachelor’s Degree –is preferred, and three or more years of public health experience in one or more programs for Community Health Specialist II. A Bachelor’s Degree may be substituted for four additional (7 years in total) years of experience.
Master’s Degree preferred and has three or more years of public health experience in one or more programs for Community Health Specialist III. A Master’s Degree may be substituted for two additional (9 years in total) years of experience.

Responsibilities

Lead community efforts and engage stakeholders in program planning, development of policy or initiatives, and/or evaluation that support population based public health and prevention efforts.
Lead processes to identify community priorities for planning or implementing population-based prevention and strategies that promote health equity and address the social determinants of health.
Ensure strategies are compliant with local, state, and federal requirements (grant requirements, RCWs, etc.).
Coordinate all aspects of a competitive grant writing and award process, including ensuring community, stakeholder and advisory board engagement as appropriate.
Draft contracts with grantees or sub-awardees; monitor contracts for compliance and ensure disbursement of grant funds.
Oversee community or program data collection and or provide technical assistance to grantees, sub-awardees, or partners as needed to ensure high quality data.
Conduct and/or oversee reporting processes, including reporting on outcomes and progress to a variety of diverse key stakeholders.
Liaise with local leaders to encourage coordination and strengthen partnerships among agencies and organizations that are addressing health and wellness related issues; facilitate effective, culturally responsive, and equitable planning and delivery of services across the county.
Organize, convene, facilitate and present at community meetings, events, public engagement, or programs that relate to public health improvement and county health priorities.
Review research, case studies, and examples from other counties, both in Washington and across the country, to bring information about evidence-based approaches or programs and innovative strategies to Mason County, or to design new programs.
Educating and encouraging population based prevention and health promotion policy, systems and environment changes.
Regular, reliable and punctual attendance.