Student Health Specialist, OSHW

Student Health Specialist - Personal Health and Safety and Sexual Health

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office of Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) aims to eliminate health-related barriers to learning and advance health equity in Chicago. CPS is committed to addressing barriers to student health and wellness and providing education, programs, and activities that help improve the quality of life for students attending our schools. OSHW also strives to decrease health disparities within the district through the coordination of school health programs and student health services.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Student Health and Wellness and supported by the Program Manager(s), the Student Health Specialist- Personal Health and Safety and Sexual Health will support the implementation of one or more programs/services related to school-based / school-linked health care and the District's programming with the Chicago Department of Public Health for access to the testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Student Health Specialist will work collaboratively on other benefits related to school-based/ school-linked health care, including but not limited to our School-Based Health Centers, partnering Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other non-profit healthcare providers for care coordination. The Specialist will also develop, implement, and evaluate programs designed to increase access to sexual health education and safe, supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Student Health Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate and collaborate with the Chicago Department of Public Health to create updated professional development opportunities and resources on how to provide and refer students to medical, behavioral health, and reproductive/sexual health services in alignment with local, state, and federal standards.
• Partner with and serve as a CPS liaison to agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Public Health, and other government entities/their subcontracted vendors, to implement a plan to provide school-based services related to their specialty, including coordination of CDPH school-based programming.
• Collaborate on one or more Healthy CPS initiatives, such as the School-based/School-linked health services, Advisory Committees, and School Designees to provide care coordination for sexual health- related treatment and vision-related referrals.
• Collaborate with OSHW Specialists regarding data surveillance, epidemiology, health education, and health insurance.
• Strengthen internal relationships with various departments within the Chicago Public Schools to implement program goals and objectives.
• Develop and maintain external relationships with parents/guardians, licensed healthcare providers, professional associations, and community health organizations, to facilitate care coordination for students in need of healthcare and to collaborate on contract management.
• Advise OSHW leadership on emerging issues and laws, regulatory changes, and requirements related to the Student Health Specialist's area of specialization, if applicable.
• Assist with the development of reports for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and other government entities related to the assigned programs/services.
• Assist in the evaluation of assigned programs/services and support measures, and develop procedures and processes in response to evaluation outcomes.
• Supervise one or more part-time/temporary School Health Assistant(s).
• Other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Student Health Specialist must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required
• Master's degree from an accredited university in Nursing, Social Work, Public Health or a related field preferred
• Clinical license or specialized certification preferred (i.e. health education specialist, case management, optometric technician, vision and hearing screening.)

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience working in public health programming, school-based/school-linked health services, social work services, or a pediatric setting is required, including:
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in project management concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience developing, implementing, or coordinating health services.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in analyzing data and using it to establish program improvements
• Experience working with urban public schools preferred
• Experience working with youth and adolescent populations preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of best practices in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to meet the needs of a diverse student population, including the use of data to design appropriate interventions
• Ability to manage multiple projects, while meeting regular deliverables and engaging in continuous improvement
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate with diverse groups of professionals across multiple departments and organizations to achieve unified, consistent practices
• Ability to collect, analyze, and present data to drive innovation and improvement
• Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - verbal, listening, and writing)
• Proficiency with computers and computer software, including but not limited to Google Suite, Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with the management of federal / state/ or city funding and reporting preferred
• Bilingual / Multilingual is preferred

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.