Program Associate - Tobacco Treatment & Prevention (HCCA)

Our Vision & Mission We envision a world in which all people have access to high quality and enduring solutions to improve and maintain their health and well‑being. MCD Global Health aspires to be a premier partner of choice and a recognized leader, innovator, and trusted partner in healthcare and public health program development, implementation and evaluation. Our mission is to improve the health and well‑being of people worldwide through enduring, high‑quality, cost‑effective, and universally accessible public health solutions. MCD operates impactful programs both in the U.S.A. and internationally. 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. Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) is a public health nonprofit organization located in Hallowell, Maine. HCCA serves Kennebec County, the Central Public Health District, and other statewide and regional public health initiatives, with a focus on tobacco use prevention and control, substance misuse prevention, and healthy eating and active living. HCCA partners with MCD Global Health, Inc. (MCD) to provide recruitment and human resources services and to serve as HCCA’s employer of record. This hybrid remote position is based at HCCA’s offices at 105 Second Street, Suite 2B, Hallowell, ME. This position requires working in various locations to meet the needs of the population of focus. Specifically, the Tobacco Treatment & Prevention Program Associate will spend 2–3 days per week working 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 that promote tobacco‑ and vape‑free communities. This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. HCCA’s mission is to convene and support people, organizations, and communities to collaborate on quality of life and public health issues. This position is grant‑funded through the Maine CDC MainePrevention Network10‑year grant program (2023–2032) and offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on youth health and wellness across Maine. Salary offers may be higher or lower than the anticipated salary listed due to various factors, including the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. Program Associate – Tobacco Treatment & Prevention Grade Level: 3 Anticipated Salary: $52,000 - $56,000 Reporting Relationship: Program Manager Reporting to the Program Manager, the Program Associate – Tobacco Treatment & Prevention is a member of the HCCA team and works with other HCCA staff and community partners to implement Maine Prevention Network and Maine Cancer Foundation program objectives throughout Kennebec County, Maine, and statewide. This position is responsible for the delivery of a school‑based commercial tobacco treatment initiative in select schools throughout Kennebec County and actively engages with the Central District Maine Prevention Network Team to cultivate and strengthen prevention infrastructure within the Central Public Health District. The Program Associate partners with schools to deliver youth‑focused tobacco treatment services aimed at preventing tobacco‑related diseases. Working closely with school leadership and student support teams, the Program Associate plans and implements strategies that promote successful quit attempts among youth actively using commercial tobacco and nicotine products. The position provides one‑on‑one and group counseling to students, helping them understand nicotine dependence, develop quit plans, and connect with available tobacco treatment resources. The Program Associate also supports quality improvement efforts through data collection, tracking, and evaluation activities to ensure programming effectively meets the needs of participating youth. In addition, the position helps organize and implement Policy, Systems, and Environ­mental (PSE) strategies designed to reduce youth initiation of nicotine products, promote school and community engagement, and support positive youth outcomes. This position implements It’s Worth The Try (IWTT), a youth‑focused tobacco treatment curriculum that provides individual and group support for youth seeking to quit tobacco and nicotine product use. The Program Associate facilitates a statewide advisory council, provides technical assistance and support to project partners, recruits and trains facilitators, and collaborates with evaluators on activities such as focus groups, key informant interviews, and participant surveys. The successful candidate will possess strong relationship‑building, facilitation, communication, and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with schools, community organizations, and statewide partners to advance tobacco treatment and prevention efforts. LOCATION AND WORK ENVIRONMENT This position is hybrid remote and based in Hallowell, Maine. Regular travel throughout Kennebec County is required, including frequent work within local high schools and youth‑serving organizations. Occasional statewide travel may be required for meetings, trainings, conferences, and partner engagement activities. Experience 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. Skills 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 List of Job Duties 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 work‑plan 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 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr