Youth Prevention Specialist

Position Summary
The Youth Prevention Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing programs that promote youth mental wellness and prevent substance use across Clay, Platte, and Ray Counties in Missouri. The position includes delivering education to both youth and adults, reducing risk factors related to youth mental health and substance use, and building strong partnerships and collaborations to support youth well-being. The role also involves developing school and community wellness campaigns and coordinating prevention initiatives that foster resilience and protective factors among youth.
Under the oversight of the Supervisor of Youth Prevention Services, this position is responsible for project development, classroom and community presentations, campaign creation, mobilization with youth advisory clubs, grant and program budget management, outcome tracking, and comprehensive reporting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
• Assist in assessing needs, planning, implementing, and evaluating school-, college-, and community-based prevention and wellness programs addressing suicide, substance use, and mental health.
• Build collaborative relationships that work to reduce risk factors and build protective factors related to youth wellness.
• Coordinate and provide training and technical assistance to implement evidence-based prevention programs and strategies (e.g., Signs of Suicide, QPR, Trauma-Informed Care, PreVenture, Too Good for Drugs, etc.), including classroom, campus, and parent/staff workshops.
• Develop and deliver engaging and persuasive presentations to youth and adults on mental wellness, substance use prevention, coping skills, and resilience.
• Coordinate the agency's youth prevention initiatives (e.g., Youth With Vision, Northland Youth Leadership Summit, Jr. Hope Squad Conference, compliance surveys, community-school coalitions and campaigns) with other Youth Prevention Specialists.
• Oversee administrative responsibilities related to grants and programs, including fiscal tracking, deliverables, supplies, website updates, and timely reporting.
• Participate in community advisory/planning boards, providing technical assistance and support. Attends scheduled meetings, serves on committees for special projects.
• Assist with resource development and public relations activities for grant writing and fundraising, development and editing of prevention media campaigns.
• Maintain proficiency with technology (e.g., Outlook, Canva, Constant Contact) and coordinate youth prevention-related websites and social media.
• Exemplify prevention professional ethics to include role modeling healthy choices. (see Special Qualification)
• Represent the agency in a cooperative and professional manner and identify opportunities to improve prevention service delivery.
• Collaborate effectively with other Beacon Mental Health departments and community agencies.
• Other duties and/or responsibilities may be assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
Education/Certifications:
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or will consider 5 years of prior relevant experience.
• Missouri Prevention Specialist Credentialed (or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire).
• Valid Driver's License and minimum state-required auto insurance
• CPR/First Aid Certified (or obtained within first 3 months of hire)

Experience:
• Prior experience working with youth (ages 12-18).
• Experience developing and implementing programs, managing social media, and presenting to large groups preferred.
Required Knowledge :
• Understanding or willingness to learn youth substance use prevention, mental wellness promotion, grant administration, and youth development.
Skills/Abilities:
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency in designing and creating promotional materials and managing social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat).
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
Additional Requirements:
• Ability to travel locally and occasionally overnight for projects or training.
• Flexible schedule including some early mornings, evenings, and weekends, as needed.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATION

The primary responsibilities of a Prevention Specialist include giving presentations to community groups, youth and other members of the public regarding the use of nicotine, among other issues. In this respect, a Prevention Specialist is not only an educator regarding the dangers of nicotine use, but also a role model and advocate for a health-conscious lifestyle. The presentations given by a Prevention Specialist frequently take place in public or semi-public venues outside the premises of Beacon Mental Health, where interaction with target audiences before and after the presentations is common. It is also common for Prevention Specialists to reside in or near the same communities in which they fulfill their advocacy role. For all of these reasons, the use of products containing nicotine by a Prevention Specialist would interfere with the duties and performance of the position and the overall mission of Beacon Mental Health with respect to advocating and role modeling a healthy lifestyle. Accordingly, an additional qualification for the Prevention Specialist position is that the employee is not a current user of products containing nicotine.