Public Health Assistant

Cornell Human Ecology explores the complexity of human life. We bring together a range of perspectives to understand the full context of the human experience and improve lives at every scale, from cells to society. Our research and academic programs focus on the interaction of humans with their biological, economic, social, and physical environments. Using Cornell's far-reaching extension network and the college's translational research methods, we deliver our findings directly to communities and families, ensuring that our work reaches those who need it most.

The ACT for Youth Center for Community Action (ACT CCA) / Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Center of Excellence (ACT CYSHCN COE) is housed in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR), which is located within Cornell University's College of Human Ecology. The BCTR mission is to improve professional and public efforts to understand and deal with risk and protective factors in the lives of children, youth, families, and communities that affect family strength, child wellbeing, and youth development. Translational research, as defined by the College and the BCTR, is the systematic application of research findings into the development of innovative interventions, practices, and policies that may ultimately improve health and well-being. The knowledge derived from these interventions feeds future research.

ACT for Youth advances the well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults by connecting research to practice in the areas of positive youth development and health. As the ACT for Youth Center for Community Action, we primarily support adults who work with adolescents; as the ACT for Youth CYSHCN Program Center of Excellence we primarily support local New York State health departments, families, and children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). We do this work by creating, identifying, and disseminating research-informed resources; developing and providing trainings; and supporting continuous quality improvement through evaluation services and technical assistance.

What You Will Do
While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

The Public Health Assistant will provide support to the ACT for Youth Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Center of Excellence (ACT CYSHCN COE), an initiative funded by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). ACT for Youth works with communities, families, and youth-serving organizations across the state to promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents. The Public Health Assistant will work closely with the Director of the CYSHCN COE, the Training Coordinator, the Family Engagement Specialist, and the Evaluation Coordinator to support our work with local health departments and the NYS DOH to strengthen services to children and youth with special health care needs and their families. The successful candidate will work closely with the project team on program planning, implementation, and evaluation; database and information management; data synthesis; and creating educational and other translational research products. This role requires communication with collaborators both on and off campus. Duties will include assistance with developing new materials, program documentation, project reports, event scheduling and logistics, and reviewing and summarizing youth development research to related to current issues and best practices for serving the needs of young people. This position will involve some NYS travel for needs assessments, meetings, and listening sessions.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree and up to 2 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; have excellent organizational skills; demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team; and have strategies to ensure tasks are completed, including following up with team members, as needed.
• Must be attentive to detail, be able to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, handle the demands of deadlines, and seamlessly move between changing priorities.
• Must be able to initiate own work schedule and solve problems; must demonstrate initiative.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Must have experience with Windows Office applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; willingness to learn new technologies as needed.
• Must have experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting equity, access, inclusion and wellbeing.
• Must have experience working with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Must have experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, with respect to inclusion and belonging.
• Must be passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes equity, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Must have the ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and belonging working relationships with students, faculty, staff and community members.
• Must have and maintain a valid US driver's license; may be required to operate a motor vehicle (your own vehicle or Cornell-owned) to travel to/from job sites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social science, human services, or public health
• Experience in youth serving organizations

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with program planning, implementation and evaluation (30%)
• Prepare materials (print, presentation, webpages, etc.), including research summaries and materials for the public (30%)
• Engage with stakeholders, including Local Health Department staff and CYSHCN and their families (20%)
• Information management and reports (20%)
• Other position-related responsibilities (5%)

For consideration, applicants are required to submit the following materials online:

1. Resume.

2. Cover letter that describes previous experience and fit for the role.

This is a one-year, fixed-term, in-person position based in Ithaca, NY on Cornell University's campus. Annual renewal for 5 years (or more) is possible contingent on available funding, work, and successful performance.

No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance are provided for this position.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in US without sponsorship. Employment will end upon the expiration of work authorization in the US. Continued employment in this position is subject to eligibility to work in accordance with US immigration laws.

Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits:
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

Cornell University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator supporting Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans. Learn more at hr.cornell.edu/eeeo.

University Job Title:
Program/Extension Aide III

Job Family:
Academic Support

Level:
C

Pay Rate Type:
Hourly

Pay Range:
$24.30 - $26.79

Remote Option Availability:
Onsite

Company:
Contract College

Contact Name:
Sheri Spencer-Chrisjohn

Contact Email:
View email address on click.appcast.io

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Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

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EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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2026-07-29