Prevention Specialist

Alleghany Highlands Community Services•Covington, VA

About The Position

The Prevention Specialist works in the community as part of Planning District One Behavioral Health Services’ Prevention Services program, under the supervision of the Prevention Services Coordinator. The role promotes and implements specialized substance abuse prevention programs, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention programs for young people and their families, and develops community support for those programs. The position benefits both individual participants and the wider community. The Specialist plans and implements substance use prevention and mental health promotion lessons and activities. This includes educational programs for elementary, middle, and high school students; youth leadership and life-skills activities; social media campaigns and awareness events; and support for coalition efforts. The Specialist works with the Alleghany Highlands Healthy Youth Coalition to assess community needs, identify service gaps, and coordinate with existing programs. The position also develops outreach and educational materials, delivers and coordinates prevention programs, trains professionals and community members, and tracks and reports program activity and outcomes. The Specialist works independently and collaboratively, with minimal supervision, and may manage and account for program expenditures. The position requires occasional evening and weekend hours and involves speaking to large groups and working with diverse populations, including children, teens, and adults.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field.
Must possess or obtain the highest level of licensure appropriate to the degree.
Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of public relations, mass communications, and marketing techniques.
Knowledge of educational principles, practices, and techniques.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Planning and organizing skills.
Ability to analyze, record, and assess data.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse community members, community-based agencies, and Frontier Health personnel.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to market prevention services, particularly ATOD prevention programs.
Ability to develop prevention promotion activities based on relevant community issues, trends, social conditions, and population groups.
Computer literacy, including the ability to create social media posts and advertising.
Comfort speaking to large groups and working with diverse populations, including children, teens, and adults.
Availability for occasional evening and weekend hours.

Nice To Haves

Experience in mental health and/or substance abuse is preferred.

Responsibilities

Work with the Alleghany Highlands Healthy Youth Coalition to assess community needs and identify ATOD awareness service gaps.
Coordinate and network with existing programs and account for factors such as literacy, education, culture, class, gender, race, ethnicity, and age.
Assist in planning community prevention events and activities consistent with the community prevention plan.
Develop informational flyers, brochures, audiovisual aids, presentation materials, and handouts for the community or specific populations.
Deliver and coordinate evidence-based and other ATOD programs, completing required implementation training from program developers.
Participate in health events by locating presenters, obtaining support materials and supplies, making announcements, handling registration, and resolving problems.
Serve as a resource for other existing intervention programs, including parenting education and staff development, where appropriate.
Train and educate professionals and community members on ATOD-related topics.
Coordinate and deliver educational sessions and presentations to community groups.
Plan and implement substance use prevention and mental health promotion lessons and activities for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Develop youth leadership and life-skills activities, social media campaigns, and awareness events, and support coalition efforts.
Maintain accurate reports of events, classes, and program activities and submit data promptly to funding sources, the coalition, stakeholders, and the Prevention Services Program Coordinator.
Monitor community and professional members’ participation and commitment in the Prevention Planning Group.
Manage and account for expenditures when expected.
Support the organization’s mission, vision, and values; control costs; maintain customer-service relationships; communicate effectively; organize and complete work; meet productivity requirements; demonstrate reliability and teamwork; represent the organization professionally; and seek continuous improvement.