Program Associate – Tobacco Treatment & Prevention (HCCA)

MCD Global Health•Hallowell, ME

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

MCD Global Health, in collaboration with Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA), is seeking a Program Associate – Tobacco Treatment & Prevention to support youth tobacco treatment services and community-level prevention initiatives throughout Kennebec County and across Maine. HCCA is a public health nonprofit organization focused on tobacco use prevention and control, substance misuse prevention, and healthy eating and active living. This hybrid remote position is based in Hallowell, Maine, and requires working in various locations, including 2-3 days per week in Kennebec County schools. The Program Associate will collaborate with schools, community partners, and statewide stakeholders to implement evidence-based tobacco treatment and prevention strategies, facilitate youth support programs, provide training and technical assistance, and contribute to policy, systems, and environmental change efforts. This position is grant-funded and offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on youth health and wellness across Maine. The role reports to the Program Manager and is responsible for delivering school-based commercial tobacco treatment, engaging with the Maine Prevention Network, and partnering with schools to deliver youth-focused tobacco treatment services. This includes providing one-on-one and group counseling, supporting data collection and evaluation, and implementing Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) strategies. The position also implements the 'It's Worth The Try' (IWTT) curriculum, facilitates a statewide advisory council, provides technical assistance, recruits and trains facilitators, and collaborates with evaluators. Strong relationship-building, facilitation, communication, and organizational skills are essential.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in health-related field is preferred; however, equivalent related work experience may be considered.
Experience working in a non-profit setting and with grant-funded projects is a plus.
Training in counseling and/or social work is also a plus.
Ability to work collaboratively with varied project partners, consumers, community partners, and providers of health and behavioral health care.
Comfort and ability to present to, facilitate, and engage diverse audiences, including youth and older adults.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to communicate professionally both verbally and in writing.
Knowledge and skill in the management of data-driven projects.
Ability to monitor and provide oversight of external local partners' progress towards deliverables.
Ability to plan, coordinate, implement, and manage multiple activities at once.
Ability to gather, synthesize, and summarize a variety of information from many sources.
Experience developing error-free, audience-specific communication materials and messages including flyers, brochures, booklets, social media, etc.
Understanding of coalition-building strategies.
Experience using Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace.
Valid Maine driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Knowledge of evidence-based tobacco use prevention and treatment strategies is a plus.
Knowledge and comfort navigating public schools is a plus.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a non-profit setting and with grant-funded projects.
Training in counseling and/or social work.
Knowledge of evidence-based tobacco use prevention and treatment strategies.
Knowledge and comfort navigating public schools.

Responsibilities

Deliver evidence-based youth tobacco treatment strategies in Kennebec County high schools and other settings statewide.
Work closely with school staff and leadership to recruit and refer youth for tobacco treatment services.
Conduct focus groups with youth and key informant interviews with adults.
Facilitate and lead a quarterly advisory council.
Provide ongoing technical assistance and support for local and statewide project partners.
Recruit and train partners on the tobacco treatment support curriculum.
Facilitate in-person and/or virtual youth tobacco quit support groups.
Assist evaluation efforts for the tobacco quit support curriculum.
Provide technical assistance to community partners to develop model tobacco use prevention policies that support smoke- and vape-free environments, and that align with state tobacco- and smoke-free laws.
Develop and advocate for policies that promote smoke-free and tobacco-free environments.
Provide presentations and training (in person and virtually), and promote via relevant communication channels, to relevant partners and interest holders on evidence-based best practice strategies for tobacco treatment to increase knowledge of and access to the Maine QuitLink, My Life, My Quit, and other available tobacco treatment options and strategies.
Collaborate with school partners to implement systems changes that integrate tobacco treatment and restorative responses to behavioral health challenges.
Serve as a spokesperson for tobacco use and exposure prevention, and HCCA by providing education through webinars and in-person presentations to schools and youth-serving organizations on tobacco-related public health issues and the evidence-based best practice strategies to address these issues.
Attend required meetings and training sessions.
Participate in appropriate professional development opportunities, such as MaineHealth’s Center for Tobacco Independence’s (CTI) basic skills and intensive skills training, and motivational interviewing.
Attain Tobacco Treatment Specialist certification.
Attain Certified Prevention Specialist certification.
Track workplan activities and ensure required data is collected and entered in online and other required reporting systems in a timely manner.
Utilize written and electronic media for a variety of community awareness strategies.
Protect confidential information about program participants.
Assure the required data is collected and entered in online and other other required reporting systems.
Assist with grant reporting requirements for reports to be accurate and submitted on time.
Work closely with the HCCA Program Manager and Finance Manager to ensure project activity meets budgetary expectations.
Promote positive relationships between and among HCCA and all potential collaborating partners by meeting with various community interest holders (schools, youth-serving organizations, age-friendly community groups, etc.) and finding opportunities to network and establish new relationships with potential partners to expand or enhance HCCA’s tobacco treatment and prevention program.
Be a member of HCCA’s team of public health professionals working collaboratively to implement primary prevention programming and supporting the organization’s broad public health goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.