Public Health Prevention Specialist I

Location: Cleburne, TX

About the Role

As a member of the Public Health Nursing Team, this position provides administrative support to the DSHS field office, including maintenance of local referral lists, confidential records, and client communication. The role involves scheduling appointments, managing vaccines as a trained Texas Vaccine for Children Provider, and participating in population-based public health initiatives. Certification as a Community Health Worker and Child Passenger Safety Technician is required within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Administrative Support (45%):
  • Serve as the initial contact for clients/customers and maintain a referral/resource list for services unavailable through DSHS.
  • Assist clients with completing required information for clinic services and maintain records/files per state and regional policies.
  • Support the implementation of the Case Management Investigation System (CMIS) for client scheduling and record-keeping.
  • Maintain confidentiality of clients based on HIPAA standards and communicate available programs and services.
  • Schedule eligible clients for vaccine administration, TB, and STD/HIV clinic services in collaboration with the Public Health Nurse.
  • Provide Directly Observed Therapy for TB clients under the direction of the PHN, when required.
  • Maintain clinic/office supply levels and submit monthly clinic activity reports.
• Population-Based Initiatives (30%):
  • Support regional population-based initiatives with clerical assistance and provide approved health messaging to clients and the community.
  • Participate in planning and conducting community events to promote public health programs and initiatives.
  • Collect data for planning and evaluation of public health education programs and maintain knowledge of community health status.
  • Obtain and maintain certification as a Community Health Worker and Child Passenger Safety Technician.
• Vaccine Management (15%):
  • Serve as a trained Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) provider, responding to inquiries and interpreting rules for stakeholders.
  • Complete required reports for vaccine management, including ordering, inventory, cold chain management, and reporting of vaccine utilization and loss.
• Regional Support and Disaster Response/Recovery (10%):
  • Participate in regional assignments, special initiatives, and public health emergencies, including disaster response and Continuity of Operations (COOP).
  • Complete ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 training and maintain compliance with DSHS policies and fleet operations standards.
  • Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License and meet travel demands associated with the position.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of administrative practices, Texas public health laws, and social/economic/public health issues.
• Skill in providing clerical support, using office equipment and software (e.g., Microsoft Suite, GoToMeeting, Teams), data entry, and customer service.
• Ability to work as part of a team, communicate effectively, maintain confidentiality, prioritize workload, and interpret public health laws and regulations.
• Must obtain certification as a Community Health Worker (CHW) and Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) within one year of hire.
• Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver’s license or equivalent from another state.
• Initial screening criteria: Certified Community Health Worker (CHW) or graduation from an accredited Associate’s degree program in public health/related field (preferred), or at least two years of experience in public health or a healthcare environment.

Benefits

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). For more details, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

Pay

Salary range: $3,095.33 - $3,850.00 per month.

Schedule

• Full-time, regular position.
• Shift: Day (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
• Travel: Up to 40%.
• Not eligible for telework.
• May require working outside normal business hours for public health emergencies.