Public Health Educator

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Wichita Falls, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Community Health Improvement Manager, performs moderately complex (journey-level) public health education and promotion work. Performs duties that support identified population-based regional issues, increasing local capacity to carry out public health essential functions and create or enhance the public health presence in rural counties with limited or non-existent public health resources. Responsible for assessing community needs, resources, and capacity; plan, implement, manage, and evaluate health education and promotion interventions and campaigns; and serve as health education and promotion subject matter expert. Collaborate with internal and external partners to offer a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to health education and promotion to address community health gaps and needs. Works under general supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position requires extensive travel including driving long distances and overnight stays on a regular basis. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions. Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for continuity of operations activation during public health emergency response and recovery. Must comply with HHS, DSHS, Texas Department of Public Safety applicable policies/procedures/standards. This position is office-based, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Work may require evenings and weekends.

Requirements

• KNOWLEDGE OF: Principles and practices of effective public health practice and health equity. Community health needs assessment processes. Continuous quality improvement. Concepts of health education and promotion including planning, development, implementation, management and evaluation of programs/interventions/campaigns. Public health best practices and evidence-based interventions. Collective Impact model. Texas laws and statutes related to public health.
• SKILL IN: Conducting community health needs assessments. Analyzing public health data. Planning, implementation, management and evaluation of public health education and promotion programs/interventions. Project management. Facilitating strategic planning and collaboration to achieve objectives. Development, delivery and/or coordination of health-related presentations and trainings. Oral and written communication that is culturally sensitive. Use of office equipment, desktop/laptop computer equipment and software (such as Microsoft Suite applications).
• ABILITY TO: Work independently and as part of a team. Gather, assemble, correlate and analyze data information from a variety of sources. Prepare programmatic reports. Devise solutions to problems. Complete required certifications (i.e., Community Health Worker, Child Passenger Safety Technician). Interpret policies and procedures. Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with employees, management, and general public. Prioritize work, plan assignments, and manage time effectively. Serve as health education and promotion subject matter expert by providing guidance to others. Meet travel demands associated with the position, which includes driving long distances and overnight stays on a regular basis. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions. To work in an office-based setting Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
• Required: Texas Driver's license or driver's license from another state with the intent to obtain a Texas driver's license.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university is required (coursework in public health, community health, health education and promotion, or related field preferred). Certification as a Community Health Worker and three years’ experience in public health, community health, or a healthcare environment may be substituted for degree.
• Must be able to independently travel 70% of the time throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions.
• At least one year of experience in public health, community health, health education and promotion, or related field.

Nice To Haves

• Community Health Worker certification preferred or must be able to obtain within 6-12 months of hire.
• Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician preferred or must be able to obtain within 6-12 months of hire.
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES or MCHES) or Certified in Public Health (CPH) preferred but not required.
• QPR Gatekeeper Instructor certification preferred or must be able to obtain within 6-12 months of hire.
• First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor certification preferred or must be able to obtain within 6-12 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• HEALTH EDUCATION: Prepares, delivers and/or coordinates Community Health Improvement (CHI) presentations and trainings to community organizations and stakeholders to provide education on identified health issues. Identifies CHI presentation and training needs; develops goals and objectives; develops evaluation plan; evaluates processes, techniques, and impact; and propose recommendations for improvement. Maintains professional health education competency in the essential public health services, community collaboration and development, CHI diseases/illnesses, and associated population-based priorities and interventions through trainings, conferences, webinars, and membership in professional organizations. Maintains certifications related to CHI program interventions. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions. (40%)
• SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEETINGS/ORGANIZATIONS: Facilitates and/or participates in community meetings, including but not limited to Child Fatality Review Teams (CFRT) and School Health Advisory Councils (SHAC) in assigned communities. Provides support, direction, training, and technical assistance to local community groups, teams, or organizations. Identifies and develops communication strategies and techniques for increased awareness of best practices and sustainable interventions that help address community needs identified during meetings or by groups, teams, or organizations. Facilitates communication with multidisciplinary, community partners to develop strategic plans identifying goals, objectives, and evaluation of interventions. Serves as health education and promotion subject matter expert to local community meeting, group, team, or organization leaders. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions. (35%)
• COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT: Plans, develops, and coordinates equitable population-centered evidence-based interventions addressing identified CHI priorities. Conducts assessment of communities by identifying existing resources that engage individuals and populations in health behaviors while examining quantitative and qualitative county-level, regional, state, and national health, social and economic data to identify CHI gaps and priorities. By identifying patterns and gaps in data and interventions, make recommendations for new health education programs and promotions. Collaborate with internal departments, organizations, community members and officials through workgroups, committees, and special projects to determine and/or facilitate course of action for development, implementation, management, evaluation, and sustainability of equitable population-centered services to meet identified health issues. Serves as health education and promotion subject matter expert through the provision and/or development of resources, training, consultation, implementation, management, and evaluation of strategic health education and promotion interventions and campaigns. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions. (20%)
• REGIONAL SUPPORT AND DISASTER RESPONSE/RECOVERY: Participates in regional assignments/duties/special initiatives. Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for continuity of operations activation during public health emergency response and recovery. Requires completion at minimum FEMA Incident Command System 100, 200, 700 and 800 courses. Required to work other than normal business hours, an alternate shift pattern and/or locations in order to respond to public health emergencies. Must be able to independently travel throughout the State of Texas to complete essential job functions. Maintains compliance with DSHS Policies and HHS Fleet Operations and Management Procedures and Standards, and a current valid Texas Driver's License. (5%)

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: Mid Level