ADAPT Prevention Specialist

POSITION TITLE: ADAPT Prevention Specialist

REPORTS TO: ADAPT Senior Program Manager

BROAD FUNCTION: The ADAPT Prevention Specialist provides direct support to the ADAPT Senior Program Manager by assisting with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of countywide substance misuse prevention initiatives. This position focuses on community engagement with youth, college students, parents, older adults, and key stakeholders throughout Essex County, and supports the overall functioning of the ADAPT coalition.

I. CORE VALUES:

· Demonstrates cultural competence through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency’s clients’ and coworkers’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

· Committed to the value of a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a child and believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.

· Works from a strengths-based perspective.

· Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.

· Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures.

II. PROFESSIONALISM:

· Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.

· Respects others’ professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings.

· Able to give and receive constructive criticism.

III. SUPERVISION:

· Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.

· Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.

· Has insight about self (i.e., strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.

IV. POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Collaborate with the ADAPT Senior Program Manager and staff to implement countywide substance misuse prevention initiatives.

· Participate in community outreach efforts targeting youth, college students, parents, older adults, and general stakeholders.

· Build and maintain partnerships across multiple sectors, including but not limited to youth-serving organizations, law enforcement, local health departments, schools, businesses, media, and faith-based organizations.

· Plan, coordinate, and support coalition activities, meetings, evidence-based programs, and the development and delivery of trainings and workshops for community members and stakeholders throughout Essex County.

· Develop, manage, and implement prevention-focused public health campaigns and communications, including social media content, newsletters, educational presentations, trainings, and other media publications, informed by current public health data and trends and tailored to specific populations across Essex County.

· Support additional coalition functions, including participation in needs assessments, facilitation of ADAPT committees, and maintenance of the coalition member database.

· Assist with data collection, tracking, and analysis for reports, evaluations, and grant-related requirements, as requested.

· Attend required meetings, events, and trainings, both in-state and out-of-state, as necessary.

· Perform other duties as assigned by the ADAPT Senior Program Manager.

V. SPECIFICATIONS:

Education/Certification:

· Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Community Education, or a related field required.

· Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) preferred.

Experience:

· Demonstrated experience in substance misuse prevention, community organizing, advocacy, and team building.

· Experience with data collection, tracking, and basic analysis.

· Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

· Demonstrated cultural competency and experience working with diverse populations.

· Strong organizational, clerical, and computer skills.

· Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Creole) preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

· Ability to recruit, maintain, and engage a diverse coalition representing all required sectors (e.g., health, education, law enforcement, clergy, business, parents, and youth).

· Ability to assist with needs assessments, surveys, evaluation tools, and data collection.

· Ability to facilitate coalition meetings, trainings, and workshops.

· Ability to demonstrate professionalism and work respectfully with diverse populations.

· Ability to work evenings and some weekends, depending on coalition and partner programming.

· Ability to travel to various sites throughout Essex County, and occasionally to in-state and out-of-state meetings and trainings.

Professional Competencies:

· Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and respect in interactions with diverse individuals and groups.

· Practices active listening, self-awareness, and thoughtful communication.

· Upholds ethical standards and approaches work with creativity, organization, and flexibility.

· Receptive to feedback and demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

· Demonstrates patience, responsibility, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

· Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and committed to high-quality work.

· Willing to take on additional responsibilities and pursue ongoing professional development.

• Vacation: As a full-time employee working generally 35 hours per week, you will be eligible to participate in the Family Connections group benefit plans. Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, retirement plans, and additional supplementary benefits. Yes, you can elect to not enroll into these benefits. You will also be eligible to accrue vacation, personal, and sick days in addition to 12 paid holidays, and summer wellness Fridays.

• Benefits also include professional development assistance, referral program, internal/external trainings, Capella University partnership, 403b retirement plan with employer matching (3% max) (you can enroll in your 403b without a waiting period) , employer-paid life insurance, employer paid Long-term Disability (LTD) insurance, employer paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, etc.

Family Connections is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to excellence. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age veteran status, or sexual orientation or other protected classes under the State and Federal law.