Public Health and Prevention Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Laredo, TX

3d

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Office of Border Public Health (OBPH) Manager, this position formulates, develops and implements the program’s public health promotion activities. Develop goals, objectives, evaluations and expected outcomes for health promotion/education programs. Prepare bilingual (Spanish/English) training material and syllabuses for use in public health trainings and courses. Provide bilingual (Spanish/English) technical assistance, training and presentations utilizing audiovisual equipment to internal/external customers on environmental health, community sanitation, reportable diseases, chronic conditions and other public and preventive health issues. Develop and update bilingual (Spanish/English) health promotion materials, e.g. flyers, forms, presentations, press releases and other documents as needed utilizing computer software. Respond to requests for assistance and guidance from the public, or may support other regional programs on public health issues as assigned. Participate in the organization of meetings and conferences as assigned. Participate in community surveys/ studies as assigned by conducting surveys or reviews to determine compliance. Require individual planning, accuracy, and management of multiple tasks, organization, initiative and flexibility in carrying out duties. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Bilingual/Biliterate (English/Spanish) required.
• Knowledge of facilitation methods.
• Knowledge of educational and presentation techniques.
• Knowledge of Mexican public health systems and programs.
• Knowledge of departmental program, policies and procedures, of the relevant laws and pertinent techniques of management, evaluation and program monitoring.
• Knowledge of computers, hardware or peripherals, and software.
• Skill in operating audio-visual equipment.
• Skill in time management and organization.
• Skill in technical writing.
• Ability to follow regulations, procedures, policies and proper protocols of local, state and federal health departments/entities.
• Ability to translate complicated information into practical and useful reports.
• Ability to clearly present information orally and influence others in positive or negative circumstances.
• Ability to work effectively and productively with other professionals and individuals on both sides of the US/Mexico border.
• Ability to be resourceful and apply initiative to assigned projects and tasks and complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel away from headquarters and function effectively from these locations to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
• Ability to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures.
• Ability to create registry systems and spreadsheets.
• Ability to prepare concise reports.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and organize community meeting and conferences
• Ability to develop goals, objectives, evaluation tools and to measure expected outcomes
• Ability to work independently, managing multiple tasks and prioritizing assignments
• Ability to work well with others, exercising professional demeanor and team work
• NOTE: May require working hours other than 8-5, M-F
• Must comply with DSHS immunizations policy
• Community Health Worker Certification required
• Community Health Worker Instructor Certification required
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speak, read, and write required.
• Current Community Health Worker Certification in Texas and current Community Health Worker Instructor Certification in Texas or must be in the process of receiving CHW/CHW-I certification (certification must be completed and is required within 6 months of employment).
• Headquartered in Laredo and the ability to complete field work.
• Experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Available for an alternate work schedule including weekends and holidays.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in public health or related field, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Public Health and Prevention Specialist (PHPS) V with the following: (1) implementation and evaluation of community-based healthy border initiatives including the planning and development of annual work plans, goals and objectives and the completion and monitoring of efficiency procedures for those annual work plans to improve the health conditions and reduce community health hazards of border communities; (2) collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of border public health educational materials in response to public health information and report requests; (3) development of border public health training and educational curriculums for delivery to program staff, community health workers, and border communities and stakeholders; (4) creation and administration of initiative and training evaluation tools; (5) evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of border public health initiatives and training and education programs. Prepares bilingual (Spanish and English) training materials for presentations, including but not limited to flyers, slides, transparencies, press releases, public service announcements and other audiovisual aids utilizing computer software. Coordinates and participates in bilingual presentations and health fairs. Works with and speaks to community and professional groups to coordinate, improve, and stimulate interest in the program to secure for local public health programs.
• Provides assistance to the OBPH manager and OBPH Public Health and Prevention Specialist V in the planning and promotion of the OBPH Healthy Border 2030 initiative to federal, state and local/county agencies and groups. Provides assistance and guidance to the general public or other Health Service Regional programs on border public health issues. Assist the OBPH manager in the tracking of work plan deliverables, preparation of administrative reports, studies, and specialized research projects as well as, providing consultative services to plan, implement, and monitor effective border health programs.
• Assist the PHPS V with the following: (1) implementation of training needs assessments and environmental scans to understand the current capacity and knowledge of border community health workers and public health workforce to identify gaps in training and provide technical assistance where needed; (2) documentation of challenges and opportunities for partner collaborations; and, (3) identification of best practices for developing and deploying comprehensive curriculums. Conducts focus groups and/or group discussions related to community-based healthy border initiatives. Performs data analysis for the planning and coordination of border community-based healthy border initiatives to include development and implementation of techniques for evaluating border community-based healthy border initiatives. Collects, analyzes, and uses data to educate and mobilize border communities, develop priorities, garner resources, and plan actions to improve the border public's health to include systematically collecting and analyzing data to provide a basis on decision making of community-based healthy border initiatives. Collaborates with the Office of Border Public Health Epidemiologist to develop a list of health indicators and definitions available for border counties.
• Performs administrative duties to include: monitoring and tracking annual work plans, preparing program budgets reports; ordering and maintaining an organized adequate inventory to include educational materials and office supplies; and, submitting performance measures and other monthly and quarterly reports accurately and timely as required by the program.
• Other duties as assigned (marginal functions) include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees