Program Specialist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Knowledge of professional public health principles and practices including quality improvement methods and their application to the care of CYSHCN, child and young adults with disabilities, and their families.
• Knowledge of state and national performance measures related to children and youth with special health care needs.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and current trends relevant to CYSHCN and young adults with disabilities.
• Knowledge of needs assessment and strategic planning processes and their application in public health service delivery.
• Knowledge of state and federal program, contract, and grant monitoring, evaluation, and budgeting processes.
• Knowledge and experience in coordinating agency services and interagency planning to integrate service systems and improve healthcare quality.
• Skill in using computer software applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint) to process narrative and financial data into reports and presentations.
• Skill in verbal and written communication to share information clearly, concisely, and effectively.
• Skill in developing educational and training materials and presentations regarding public health topics.
• Skill in project development, planning, funding, management, and evaluation, including grant-writing.
• Skill in gathering, assembling, correlating, and analyzing large datasets and large amounts of policy information to draw conclusions and make decisions regarding program impact.
• Ability to quickly study and synthesize concepts relevant to CYSHCN and their families and integrate these concepts into program planning and service implementation.
• Ability to oversee program activities and establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to develop, organize, and prioritize assignments workloads and to address group or section needs.
• Ability to work effectively within teams and with diverse groups to organize and coordinate complex tasks.
• Ability to exercise judgment in evaluating situations, making decisions, and effectively resolving conflict.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in a relevant science or liberal arts field.
• At least two years of experience working in public health, maternal and child health, and/or health care policy development including CYSHCN programming and policy development is preferred.
• At least two years of experience developing, writing, and presenting program policy reports and communications.
• Experience developing and overseeing project coordination and completion.

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in public health or public administration is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the coordination and development of CYSHCN content for the federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant application. This position provides leadership to plan and coordinate the CYSHCN State Action Plan including developing objectives, strategies, and evidence-based measures. This position monitors staff and contractor activities and guides needs assessment efforts such as survey dissemination and stakeholder feedback sessions. Additionally, this position collects and analyzes data while collaborating with teams to provide block grant technical assistance.
• Generation of ideas and design methods for program quality improvement initiatives. This position identifies areas of change and recommends or implements techniques to evaluate and improve program and contractor activities. This position assesses and addresses staff CYSHCN educational needs. Additionally, this position develops and evaluates administrative policies and provides instruction and guidance to staff and contractors.
• Contributes to articles and develops and disseminates CYSHCN educational and outreach publications. This position confirms the accuracy of content on the group’s website. This position develops and delivers educational and training tools, presentations, and curricula regarding CYSHCN to providers, families, and staff. This position also confirms stakeholder involvement in the development and dissemination of all educational and training materials.
• Establishes effective CYSHCN partnerships and collaborative workgroups with state agencies, disability organizations, consumer groups, and internal DSHS partners. This position promotes awareness of CYSHCN and their families. This position collaboratively plans activities to address block grant CYSHCN performance measures.
• Represents the CYSHCN Systems Development Group, the Maternal and Child Health Section, and the Department of State Health Services at meetings, hearings, conferences, and seminars, and on boards, panels, and committees.
• Reviews, tracks, and prepares state and federal legislation analysis relevant to maternal and child health and CYSHCN. This position researches, prepares, and assists with the evaluation and development of grant opportunities, contracts, and fiscal impact reports. Additionally, this position coordinates special initiatives implementation.
• Other duties as assigned 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, Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, and/or serving on the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) team. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

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