PREVENTION SPECIALIST

Job Description

Job Description

ALAMO NAVAJO SCHOOL BOARD, INC.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Prevention Specialist                                    EMPLOYMENT TERM: 12 Month Full-Time

DIVISION: Health Services                                     DEPARTMENT: Behavioral Health Services  

EXEMPT/NON-EXEMPT: Non-Exempt               FUNDING SOURCE: IHS Contract

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High school diploma or equivalent (GED). Although not required, additional consideration will be given to candidates who possess a 2-year or 4-year college degree.
2. 20 or more hours of continuing education units in coursework related to substance abuse and human services; or one or more years of experience in the prevention field or in substance abuse treatment.
3. Must be a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) through the Albuquerque Area Inter-Tribal Council on Substance Abuse and the State of New Mexico, or obtain this certification within two years of employment in this position.
4. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
5. The ability to relate to professionals, paraprofessionals, and community people in a bicultural setting.
6. Experience in working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Native American clients. Although not required, additional consideration will be given to candidates who are fluent in the Navajo language.
7. If this person is recovering from substance dependence, he/she must have three years continuous sobriety prior to hiring.
8. Employees hired after November 30, 2011, must be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate and read at an 8.0 average grade level as documented by an overall Language Arts score on the TABE test or equivalent testing instrument unless possessing a Master's degree or above. For employees hired prior to November 30, 2011, who are not at this level as documented through the results of the TABE or equivalent testing instrument, shall enroll and maintain enrollment in the workplace literacy program through the Division of Community Services to bring these educational and skill levels up to an average of 8.0.   The employee shall demonstrate a gain of at least 9 months of progress each year towards attainment of the above competency level (8.0) within three (3) years of beginning the process.   Employee hired before November 30, 2011 are responsible for attaining a baseline test score and if below the 8.0 benchmark shall then enter the workplace literacy program no later than July 1, 2012.   Present employees identified as needing to enroll in the workplace literacy program shall have this included in their annual personnel performance evaluations.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: Preferential consideration for employees will be given to persons of documented Navajo, American Indian, or Alaska Native tribal membership, who meet the qualifications above, in accordance with the requirements of P.L. 93-638 and the Navajo Nation Tribal Code.

SUPERVISED BY: Child & Adolescent BHS Coordinator

SUPERVISES: none

PAY RANGE: with CPS and college degree: grade H; with CPS: grade G; without CPS: grade F

WORKING HOURS: Normal hours 8 AM – 5 PM, 40 hours per week

LUNCH HOUR: One hour

POSITION GOAL: To provide substance abuse prevention services and information on healthy lifestyles to children and adolescents of the Alamo community through a range of in-school and out-of-school activities that enable a young person to make responsible choices about substance use and lifestyle behaviors.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

1. Participates in a planned program of substance abuse prevention that is offered in the Alamo and Magdalena Schools, to include classroom presentations and activities for K-12 grades.
2. Meets on a regular basis with appropriate staff of Alamo and Magdalena Schools to insure that the substance abuse curriculums that are offered by the schools.
3. Participates in providing a comprehensive after school and summer recreation program for Alamo youth. This program combines fun, skill building and socialization opportunities with a variety of substance abuse prevention activities.  The recreation activities include, but not limited to:
4. individual and team sports
5. hiking and camping
6. participating in the ROPES course and rock climbing experiences
7. indoor games and crafts
8. films and videos
9. off-reservation trips to museums, sporting events, swimming, etc.
10. youth conferences of workshops that are focused on drug-free topics or activities
11. Provides age appropriate information and education to the Alamo community on sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS and their relationship to substance abuse.
12. Participates in planning and implementing local promotional events and media campaigns that emphasize substance abuse prevention and healthy lifestyles.
13. Carries out community wide substance abuse education activities for both adults and adolescents at the direction of the Child & Adolescent BHS Coordinator.
14. Provides preliminary screening of self-referred youth that are seeking help for substance abuse problems, or for emotional and behavioral problems that are related to their parents’ substance abuse, and refers them to the outpatient treatment counselors.
15. Maintains record keeping and documentation of client services that conforms to BHS record keeping requirements and funding source requirements.
16. Accepts professional responsibility for maintaining professional skills and knowledge through ongoing program of self-study and reading, as well as through formal training and education.
17. Pursues and maintains certification as a Prevention Specialist, and follows established professional standards for ethical conduct.
18. Supports and carries out responsibilities in accordance with ANSB, Inc. and Alamo Navajo Health Center policies and procedures.
19. Performs other duties as assigned.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

1. This is a child sensitive position subject by law to fingerprinting and a criminal/character background investigation.

Alamo Navajo Health Center documents and content are privileged and confidential information, including patient information protected by federal and state privacy laws.  As an employee, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or duplication of this information is strictly prohibited.

EVALUATION: Will be evaluated in accordance with the Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc. policies and procedures.

Board Approved: 10/22/2020