Prevention Specialist

Community Prevention Specialist

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Utilize SAMSHA's Strategic Framework: Needs Assessment, Capacity Building, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Sustainability and Cultural Competence.
• Develop capability within the community to formulate and implement effective prevention programming.
• Organize communities to build coalitions and provides prevention training to individuals, agencies, or groups within the community.
• Mobilize community members to develop prevention policies within their community.
• Plan and implement individual community prevention programs.
• Provide technical assistance, consultation and information on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention and Suicide Prevention.
• Assist in conducting community needs assessment.
• Assist in evaluating effectiveness and outcomes of prevention programs.
• Identifies financial resources and provides technical assistance and information to secure funding for community prevention programs.
• Creates and maintains awareness of the need for prevention efforts through various marketing strategies.
• Collect, organize and maintain resources accessible to the community.
• Respond to community requests for information on alcohol and other drugs.
• Analyze content or informational materials and determines appropriateness for target audience.
• Operate electronic information system to respond to consumer requests or record data.
• Provide documentation via written reports for delivery of services.
• Participate in agency continuing quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Provide services based on ethical concepts, adhering to established standards of practice and engage in activities or behaviors that characterize professionalism.
• Ensure the accuracy, content and completeness of paperwork.
• Provide services within time requirement as set forth in Agency policy and procedures.
• Refrain from assuming any duty that is unrelated to and/or interferes with the responsibility of the position.
• Respond to emergency situations in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with other team members, as part of a multidisciplinary team, and independently, when necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Qualifications: Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited school. Submit to and pass successfully a criminal record check and drug screening test. Obtain Certified Prevention Specialist credential within 2 years from hire date.

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. Employee in this position must be able to work inconsistent hours on weekends and nights as needed. Other times may be required with the job or adjusted by your supervisor.

Required Job Skills:

• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Microsoft Office with emphasis on Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint Programs
• Interpersonal Skills
• Strong sense of commitment
• Ability to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact, diplomacy and compassion when problem solving, handling conflict or in a crisis situation.
• Ability to complete record keeping in a timely fashion
• Ability to formulate treatment objectives for the person served
• Ability to get along with diverse personalities and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to work well with people of all races, backgrounds and needs
• Knowledgeable of Behavioral Health Concepts and how to incorporate concepts into practical application.

Additional Responsibilities:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable the individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physically able to reach, push, pull, stoop, bend, stand, walk and lift up to 20 pounds to carry training materials or other informational materials to other sites.
• Frequent verbal communication by phone or face to face with individuals and groups in the community which requires hearing and speaking.
• Manual dexterity required for written communication and data entry
• Visual acuity necessary for preparation of handouts and materials.
• Frequent travel to provide services in our 8 county area and to obtain trainings and certifications.
• Possess a valid Driver's License and maintain a safe driving record if required for job performance.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations must be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee, out of necessity, may have to work in outside weather conditions, may be off-site from normal office location or placed at a Residential Program.

The noise level in the work environment is mild to moderate.

Environmental Data and Job Hazards:

• Hours of work are structured 7.5 or 8.0 hour blocks of time but may be subject to irregular and/or flexible hours based on needs or demands.
• Position may require duties to include routine or reasonable anticipated tasks or procedures where there is a degree of actual or potential exposure to blood or other infectious materials.
• All staff are required to participate in yearly trainings regarding infection control and safety in the environment including hazardous waste and blood borne pathogens.
• All new staff must attend training regarding handling physical, verbal threats, acts of violence or other escalating and potential dangerous situations including when police need to be summoned.

Required Job Performance:

• Successful Performance Evaluation rating of 3 or above. (See Attached Performance Outcome Evaluation) A Performance Improvement Plan will be initiated on all scores below a 3 rating. An employee will be terminated if the Performance Improvement Plan is viewed as unsuccessful after 2 attempts.