Health Promotion Coordinator (Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator)

About the role

West Central District Health Department (WCDHD), in partnership with Community Connections, is seeking a motivated, collaborative, and community-minded professional to serve as our Substance Abuse Prevention System (SAPS) Coordinator/Health Promotion Program Coordinator. This is a unique shared position designed to bring together the strengths of two established community organizations with a common goal: preventing substance use, reducing overdose, and improving the health and well-being of our communities. The successful candidate will be a full-time employee of WCDHD and will work a 40-hour workweek from the Community Connections office. Approximately 32 hours each week will be dedicated to the Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention System (SAPS) Coalition and substance use prevention efforts in Lincoln County, with the remaining 8 hours dedicated to WCDHD overdose prevention and health promotion activities. The SAPS Coalition has been working to reduce and prevent substance misuse in Lincoln County since 2004 through community collaboration, evidence-based prevention strategies, and the Strategic Prevention Framework. This position will play an important role in continuing that work while helping connect prevention efforts across organizations and throughout the community.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Community Connections SAPS Coalition and strengthen the community-wide substance use prevention system.
• Bring together schools, healthcare organizations, law enforcement, businesses, community organizations, families, and other stakeholders to identify needs and implement strategies that prevent substance misuse before it begins.
• Coordinate coalition activities, facilitate meetings, maintain strong relationships with coalition members and community partners, and help partners identify opportunities to incorporate prevention into their own organizations and initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with coalition members to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive prevention plan based on community needs, available data, evidence-based strategies, and the Strategic Prevention Framework.
• Organize and support prevention initiatives, trainings, community events, educational campaigns, media outreach, and other activities designed to increase awareness and reduce substance misuse.
• Coordinate activities across multiple partners, keep projects moving forward, monitor progress, identify challenges, and adjust strategies when needed.
• Dedicate approximately eight hours each week to WCDHD's overdose prevention and related health promotion efforts, assisting with planning, implementing, promoting, evaluating, and reporting on overdose prevention activities and other assigned grant-funded initiatives.
• Assist with community education, outreach, partnership development, distribution or promotion of prevention resources, data collection, program evaluation, presentations, and coordination with organizations working to reduce overdose and substance-related harms.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with public and private organizations, schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, businesses, community leaders, families, and other partners.
• Facilitate conversations, build consensus, and help partners work toward shared goals.
• Develop educational materials, coordinate trainings and awareness activities, prepare presentations, support social media and other communication efforts, attend community events, and represent prevention initiatives at meetings and community activities.
• Ground communication in health literacy principles and emphasize hope, prevention, dignity, and the belief that individuals and communities can grow and thrive.
• Collect, maintain, analyze, and report program and community data; conduct surveys and evaluations; track program outcomes and deliverables; and use results and community feedback to strengthen prevention strategies.
• Prepare required reports and documentation for funders, stakeholders, organizational leadership, and appropriate government agencies.
• Help ensure activities meet applicable grant requirements, work plans, timelines, and deliverables.
• Maintain program documentation, assist with budgets and tracking program expenses, prepare grant reports, research funding opportunities, and assist with the development and submission of grants and other funding proposals.

How the partnership works

The individual selected for this position will officially be an employee of West Central District Health Department and will receive compensation and employee benefits through WCDHD. Community Connections will provide the primary workspace, day-to-day SAPS program supervision, training, and operational leadership. The Executive Directors of WCDHD and Community Connections will work collaboratively to support the position and the continued success of this shared staffing model. This partnership was intentionally developed around the organizations' longstanding relationship and shared commitment to substance use prevention, opioid prevention, and broader community health improvement.

Qualifications

• Natural relationship-builder who enjoys connecting people and organizations.
• Comfortable facilitating meetings and conversations with diverse groups.
• Organized and able to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and grant requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communicator.
• Able to work independently while also functioning as part of two collaborative teams.
• Comfortable speaking to groups and representing programs in the community.
• Able to review and interpret data, policies, grant guidance, and program requirements.
• Proactive, flexible, and solutions-oriented.
• Committed to treating all individuals with dignity, fairness, and respect.
• Passionate about prevention and improving the health of the community.
• Comfortable working with schools, families, healthcare organizations, law enforcement, businesses, media, community organizations, and other partners.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, social media, and other technology used for communication, reporting, and program management.
• A bachelor's degree and at least one year of experience in prevention, public health, health promotion, community engagement, coalition work, or a related field is preferred.
• Knowledge of Lincoln County and local community resources is also a plus.

Why this position is different

It isn't often that one position provides the opportunity to work alongside two organizations that bring different strengths to the same mission. Through Community Connections, this individual will help lead a well-established community coalition and prevention system. Through WCDHD, they will have the opportunity to contribute to public health and overdose prevention efforts that address substance use from another important perspective. For someone who is passionate about prevention, community partnerships, and making meaningful change, this position offers the opportunity to see how those pieces fit together, and to help make those connections even stronger. One position. Two strong community partners. One shared commitment to prevention and healthier communities.