Job Title: Public Health Education Specialist
Department: Health and Human Services Agency
Pay Grade: 66
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
AGENCY MISSION, YOUR MISSION
Haywood County Health and Human Services’ mission is to enhance the health, safety, and full potential of our community. In the Public Health Services Division, you would serve as an advocate for the public’s health and help shape positive health outcomes for all Haywood County residents. All members of our team must uphold the confidentiality of Haywood County's citizens, safeguarding their privacy and dignity at all times.
JOB SUMMARY
The Public health Education Unit provides leadership in Haywood County that will assist individuals in making healthy lifestyle choices. This program area also works to expand community capacity to initiate interventions for improved health status. This program section has the responsibility to work with the community to carry out a community health assessment and develop an action plan on a biennial basis as mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Public Health Education Specialist position will provide support to the Haywood County Health Coalition- Healthy Haywood. Responsibility includes offering on-going support and assistance to this community involvement/mobilization effort. This may involve helping lead, facilitate, and coordinate activities and projects of the Healthy Haywood Coalition. This person may also assist in the recruitment of coalition members. Providing on-going communication with various subcommittees/task forces regarding coalition activities is vital to the coalition development. In consultation with coalition members, this person helps select health priorities. This position will provide support for community assessments and action plan development. Ensuring the coalition’s visibility in the community and communicating the coalition’s goals to Haywood County residents are important aspects of the position.
Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 1 hour for lunch, however an alternate work schedule (40 hours per week) may be considered upon request . Other hours may be set or required per the County policy. Perform duties in times of emergency, including but not limited to, those that may be related to a Public Health Emergency or mass sheltering, as the agency is a mandated shelter for the county, and performs such duties as assigned, and the hours worked in emergency response could vary from hours worked in the office.
This position must be flexible to meet the needs of the coalition members and planned projects of the coalition.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Coordination of Coalition Activities
a. Ensures and maintains community involvement in developing Healthy Haywood goals by recruiting coalition members from diverse sectors of the community to serve on committees and task forces of the Coalition.
b. Builds capacity of coalition by creating opportunities for coalition members to develop leadership skills and increase personal resources through networking with each other.
c. Attends scheduled meetings of the coalition and subcommittees to share information regarding epidemiological trends in public health and activities being performed in the community in an effort to minimize duplication of efforts and to maximize collaboration among service providers.
d. Works with coalition to assess the county’s public health needs and develop goals to address those needs. Work with Health and Human Services Agency staff to prepare documents and reports required by NC DHHS.
e. Provides technical assistance to the coalition in the development of strategic plans that will mobilize and organize community efforts for action to meet Healthy Haywood goals.
f. Works with volunteers and coalition members to maintain on-going projects of the coalition by recruiting new groups/individuals for participation through presentations and other outreach/awareness efforts. Establishes sub-committees/task forces and assists task force chairs with projects throughout the year.
g. Works with coalition members in planning and implementation of special events and community projects to inform and educate the public about Healthy Haywood goals.
h. Through meeting reports and consultation with coalition committee/task force, this position assists in reviewing and evaluating progress of the coalition’s projects and redirects as needed to establish and meet goals.
i. Researches and identifies funding sources for the coalition through grant writing, community presentations, and planning special fund-raising activities in an effort to begin/continue services/projects of the coalition.
j. Provides support for grants awarded to Healthy Haywood for which Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency is the fiscal agent. Provides grant reports as requested by grantors.
k. Ensures documentation of coalition activities and prepares and distributes administrative reports on the task forces of the coalition in an effort to monitor progress and enhance collaborative communication among coalition members.
l. Works with coalition to maintain community and state leaders’ awareness of the coalition’s efforts.
a. Educates the public and private sectors concerning importance of community health priorities and the role of Healthy Haywood in developing strategies to promote and achieve goals.
b. Represents the coalition on various committees and boards of related organizations/agencies in the community and assists in their efforts that support the goals of the coalition by interpreting coalition services, offering collaboration on community activities and sharing expertise on community mobilization and outreach.
c. Prepares and disseminates news releases, public service announcements, and feature stories to the local press to inform the public of coalition activities and to educate on related public health issues.
d. Serves as the HHSA lead for employee wellness.
e. Serves as a local resource and consultant on Healthy Carolinian-related issues.
a. Monitors, records, and submits monthly reports and statistical data to supervisor regarding community involvement, educational activities, media contacts, and activities of the coalition.
b. Collects and maintains evaluation information on coalition projects. This information is presented to coalition members and community groups to promote the coalition and generate on-going support for projects/activities.
c. Reviews trends in public health related statistics. Disseminates this information in concise reports to coalition members and Health and Human Services Agency staff to facilitate planning/evaluation efforts.
- Employees are required to maintain compliance with all State and Federal laws and program requirements including but not limited to confidentiality laws (HIPAA, Juvenile Code, PII, etc.). Employees are expected to adhere to Agency, Countywide and Departmental policies and procedures regarding information security and confidentiality, and to report any suspected unauthorized disclosure or loss of information immediately. Employees must ensure security of all County data, equipment, and information in both electronic and paper form that is accessed as part of job duties to minimize risk of improper disclosure or data breach.
- Emergency Response, including but not limited to support of the Federally mandated and State statutory responsibilities including, but not limited to Public Health and Mass Care duties.
Performs other duties as assigned.
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:
- Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in health education; or graduation from a four-year college or university and completion of one year of on-the-job training as a public health educator.
- Must participate in Respiratory Protection Plan and be Fit Tested Annually.
Valid state driver’s license. Must have no more than three (3) points showing on current DMV records in order to operate county vehicles.
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Additional Training/Experience :
- Participates in professional organizations, conferences, and training opportunities to enhance professional knowledge base and to network with others in the field.
- ICS training based on statutory requirements and duties of the job.
Infection Control Regulatory Practices /OSHA Infection Training required by state.
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KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of county ordinances, policies, and procedures.
- Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
- Skilled in the use of computers and applicable software programs.
- Ability to work effectively with people on all educational levels and to maintain effective working relationships with local health departments, community agencies and the public.
Knowledge of methods and techniques used in preparing and disseminating educational information to the public. Knowledge of the techniques involved in preparing and displaying posters, exhibits, and other educational visual aids.
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PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Requires sedentary work that involves sitting or standing virtually all of the time and may involve a moderate to heavy amount of lifting and carrying items from location to location. Considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving repetitive motions and the use of standard office equipment.
The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking abilities, depth and texture perception, and color perception. Must possess ability to ambulate without assistance.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The office of this position is located at the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency. The working conditions of this position are that of a typical office environment. This position requires a significant amount of travel throughout the county and within the region.
EMPLOYER BENEFITS PACKAGE:
- Employer paid Health & Dental Coverage
- Participation in the NC Retirement System
- 401(k) and 457(b) plans available
- Employer paid Life Insurance
- Competitive Vision Insurance
- Annual Performance Pay Increases
- Vacation, Personal, and Sick Leave
- Free Employee Assistance Network
- Free Employee Wellness Clinic
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Paid Holidays
Longevity Pay
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To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Haywood County has the right to revise this position description at any time and does not represent in any way a contract of employment.
Haywood County is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
