Grand Traverse County is a team of passionate and incredible people who are committed to providing responsive, effective quality service to our up-north community. We strive to be a leader in innovative, effective, collaborative, and sustainable county government. We offer stable work environments and competitive salaries to both full- time and part-time employees. Understanding the many challenges facing today's professionals and families, we offer a competitive compensation package including an impressive list of benefits and time off.
Job Description:
Position Summary
The Public Health Educator organizes and conducts health promotion and education programs to maximize health outcomes for individuals and communities according to an established plan and objectives. The Health Educator delivers community outreach and education that supports Health Department programs and initiatives, focusing on social, mental, and physical health. This role engages diverse populations to address public health priorities and health disparities. The Health Educator supports evidence-based interventions and serves as a trusted resource for community members and organizations. Employees in this position work under general supervision and collaborate with internal teams and have regular contact with community partners. This position requires flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends as program needs arise.
Employees must meet the minimum requirements, conditions of employment, and be able to perform successfully all essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. Normal business hours, some additional hours outside of normal business hours may be required.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but are not limited to the following)
* Under general supervision, the Public Health Educator uses advanced skills gained through training and experience to provide specialized educational counseling services within an assigned functional area:
* Organizes, coordinates, and conducts assigned health promotion programs in a variety of settings to address issues and barriers that influence health, within established objectives and defined parameters.
* Create educational/program marketing materials targeted toward assigned program including brochures, flyers, and social media content.
* Develops, evaluates and distributes health information through multiple media venues and community/public information activities.
* Maintains health educational resources and materials for use by community groups, schools and internal health department programs.
* Promotes and participates in public health education and disease prevention.
* Identifies community health needs and assets through primary and secondary data sources.
* Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and makes referrals to community agencies.
* Provide advocacy and information regarding assigned program objectives to clients
* May assist and enroll clients in programs, services and benefits offered and referring clients in need of other services outside the scope of the area.
* Serves as a liaison between community resources, family, person's served, and hospital- or clinic-based providers of care.
* May participate in community coalitions to support identified health improvement programming; may provide staffing support to county level or topic-specific community workgroup or coalition.
* Embraces opportunities to progress to higher levels of professional competency and operate more independently.
* Demonstrates decision making and problem solving, using critical thinking skills, regarding public health issues.
* Promotes immunization recommendations and other evidence based public health practices.
* Assists clients regardless of race, gender identity, ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic status.
* Prepares, updates, and maintains records to ensure accuracy and completeness.
* Participates in policy, procedure, guideline and protocol review and makes recommendations for changes needed to reflect operational effectiveness.
* Complies with privacy and security laws (HIPAA), Federal, State, and Agency policies, and procedures.
* Complies with all job safety requirements, including OSHA standards and quality control requirements.
* Demonstrates excellent written, oral, and public speaking communication skills
* Participates in continuing education programs and self-directed education to keep skills and knowledge current.
* Demonstrates appropriate communication skills in addressing co-workers, community members and partners, and clients.
* Demonstrates basic computer skills and willingness to adapt to new software programs as indicated.
EDUCATION, FORMAL TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE (minimum requirements)
* Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Human Services or related field
* Professional certification (CHES, CPS CHW) preferred
* Previous Public Health experience preferred
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES (minimum requirements)
* CPR certification may be required depending on the program assigned.
* Requires a valid driver's license and personal vehicle insurance and must maintain eligibility to drive as per the County's Vehicle policy.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (minimum qualification - legal or contractual pre-employment obligations and/or requirements, such as drug testing, background check, etc.)
A background check may be required initially and periodically for an individual hired, transferred, reclassified, promoted, or currently working in this job. Appointment to or continued employment in this job is contingent upon a satisfactory background check which may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of a persons' identity; review of criminal conviction records; verification of educational degree, license, or certificate required for the position; review of Department of Motor Vehicles records; Department of Justice fingerprint scan; and/or drug and alcohol testing as required and allowable by law. A satisfactory background check is defined as the absence of a criminal history record which bears a demonstrable relationship to the applicant's or employee's suitability to perform the required duties and responsibilities of the position.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Knowledge of:
* Community resources including social services agencies and crisis intervention providers
* Processes, rules and regulations of various services and funding agencies surrounding the eligibility and maintenance of the services being received
Skill in:
* Communicating effectively, verbally, in writing, and through public presentations
* Instructing others on how to do a task
* Operating standard office equipment and using required software applications for program area and other applications, including Microsoft Office, social media platforms
* Developing educational materials and delivering health information across diverse audiences
Ability to:
* Organize and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines
* Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with individuals of various education levels
* Work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
* Maintain confidentiality of agency and client information
PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
* May be required to climb or balance; reach with hands and arms; sit; stand; stoop, kneel, twist, or crouch; talk and hear; smell; use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
* Position occasionally works in an outdoor environment with exposure to weather-related heat and cold, rain, wind, and related elements.
* May be exposed to infectious diseases, criminal suspects or prison inmates.
* May occasionally be required to lift/move up to 50 pounds.
* Local travel may be required.
ORGANIZATIONAL KEY COMPETENCIES
All Grand Traverse County Health Department employees are expected to provide professional preventative health services in a compassionate, efficient, progressive, comprehensive, and holistic manner. Additionally, all Grand Traverse County employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the following values:
* Serve with Integrity
* Be Innovative
* Be Accountable
* Engage the Team
* Provide Service
* Be Transparent
COMPETENCIES
Position Specific Key Competencies for Public Health Professionals, also known as Core Competencies, are a consensus set of skills for the broad practice of public health, as defined by the 10 Essential Public Health Services:
Analytical/Assessment Skills
* Assesses and describes community health status and factors influencing the health of the community, including social determinants of health
* Develops and explains how community health assessments use information about health status, factors influencing health, assets, and resources
* Selects, uses, and interprets valid, reliable, and comparable quantitative and qualitative data
* Identifies gaps in data
* Identifies and uses assets and resources for improving the health of the community
* Describes how evidence (e.g., data, findings reported in peer-reviewed literature, evidenced based practices) is used in decision making
* Make evidence-based decisions using data and best practice strategies to promote community health
* Apply ethical principles on the use of data and information
* Advocate for the use of evidence using public health science skills
* Uses information technology in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining, and disseminating data and information
Policy Development/Program Planning Skills
* Contributes to community health improvement planning
* Contributes to implementation of organizational strategic plan
* Contributes to the development of program goals and objectives
* Identifies and describes implications of current trends and policies affecting the health of the community, with a focus on marginalized/disadvantaged population groups
* Implements policies, programs and services with an understanding of relevance to public health law
* Gathers information that can inform the development of and assists in developing options for policies, programs and services
* Explains the importance of and gathers information for evaluations to improve policies, programs, and services
* Applies strategies for and participates in continuous quality improvement
* Describes how public health informatics is used to develop, support, and improve policies, programs and services
Communication Skills
* Assesses and ensures that the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, and use health and other information; social media literacy) is reflected in the organization's policies, programs, and services
* Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency
* Solicits input from individuals and organizations for improving the health of a community
* Selects approaches for disseminating public health data and information
* Conveys data and information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches
* Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
* Communicates the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community
Cultural Competency Skills
* Describes the concept of diversity as it applies to individuals, populations, and the community served
* Recognizes the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and the health of the community
* Supports diverse perspectives and ensures the diversity in individuals and populations when developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
* Assesses the effects of policies, programs, and services on different populations in the community
Community Dimensions of Practice Skills
* Describes the programs and services provided by governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve the health of a community
* Recognizes, suggests, and supports relationships that affect and are needed to support health in the community
* Engages community members and uses community input for developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services
* Uses assets and resources to improve health in a community
* Advocates for and informs the public about policies, programs, and resources that improve health in a community
* Describes the importance of and may collaborate in community-based participatory research
Public Health Sciences Skills
* Describes the scientific foundation of and prominent events in public health
* Retrieves evidence-based data and practices from multiple sources to support decision making
* Recognizes limitations of evidence (e.g., validity, reliability, sample size, bias, generalizability)
* Describes evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services
* Develops partnerships that will increase the use of evidence in public health practice
Financial Planning and Management Skills
* Describes public health funding mechanisms and governmental agencies with authority to impact the health of a community
* Adheres to organizational policies and procedures
* Describes how teams achieve program performance standards and measures
* Motivates colleagues for the purpose of achieving program and organization goals
* Use evaluation results to improve program and organizational performance
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills
* Incorporates ethical standards of practice into all interactions
* Explains public health as part of a larger inter-related system of organizations working together or individually to impact the health of populations at local, national, and global levels
* Collaborates with individuals and organizations in developing a vision for a healthy community (e.g. emphasis on prevention, health equity for all, excellence, and innovation)
* Advocates for the role of public health in population health
* Participates in professional development opportunities Describes ways to improve individual and program performance
Compensation:
Salary: $56, $70,430.00
Grand Traverse County is a great place to live, work and play. Come join our team and experience what northern Michigan is all about, apply today
You really should see what we have to offer:
* Medical: The County offers employees a high-deductible plan through Priority Health. To help cover the cost of the deductible, Grand Traverse County will deposit a contribution amount up to $2,000 into an employee Health Savings Account every year. You may also direct deposit funds into this account every pay period.
* Vision: The County provides a no cost plan for employees. We also offer an enhanced plan through EyeMed.
* Dental: Our dental insurance provider is Delta Dental. You will pay no costs or premium for diagnostic and cleaning services.
* Wellness: Grand Traverse County is committed to creating a culture of health. We provide a variety of incentives and programs that allow you to live a healthy lifestyle.
* Employee Recognition: We highly value our employees, which we show by providing our employees awards and recognition throughout the year, and on anniversary dates.
* Tuition Reimbursement: Employees are reimbursed up to $5,250 annually for enrollment in courses at an accredited college, university, or trade school.
* Vacation: Grand Traverse County provides a generous amount of vacation days to benefitted employees so you can spend time with family and friends.
* Holidays: The County gives you 12 days a year to celebrate holidays. Beyond these 12 days, you will receive additional floating holidays to use at your discretion.
* Personal Leave: Employees receive up to 72 hours annually depending on contract, to use for appointments, take care of family needs and other personal reasons. Employees are paid every year for unused personal leave up to 40 hours.
* Parental Leave: Employees may take up to 6 months of leave to begin at birth or date of adoption of their child.
* Retirement: Grand Traverse County offers a defined contribution through MERS. The plan includes a generous match that fully vests after 6 years of employment. We also offer a deferred compensation 457b Plan.
* Life Insurance: Benefitted employees automatically receive life insurance.
* Short Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays two thirds of your salary or wages for a maximum of 182 days.
* Long Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays 60 percent of your salary or wages for a maximum of 24 months.