Public Health Education Specialist-Harm Reduction

*NOTE: This position is a Provisional Position (up to 17 years) with benefits*

GENERAL OVERVIEW: This is advanced professional level work which incorporates all aspects of health education, including community assessment; program planning, implementation, and evaluation, including provision of technical assistance to other organizations. Position may be involved in the grant writing for the area of responsibility and are responsible for ensuring health education activities are documented and reported appropriately and are communicated through the agency management structure.

This position will coordinate harm reduction activities on behalf of the Durham County Department of Public Health, including running the department's Safer Syringe program, stocking naloxone vending machines across Durham County, and being the point of contact for naloxone education and distribution requests from community partners.  

This position reports to a Public Health Education Program Manager.  The position may coordinate the work of student interns, volunteers, and/or contract employees.  Some evening and weekend work required. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordinate Harm Reduction Activities: Plan, implement and evaluate opioid response activities, including but not limited to, safer syringe and naloxone services, intra and inter departmental support for substance use prevention services, and collaborating with community partners to operationalize harm reduction objectives outlined in the North Carolina Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan. 

Data collection and reporting: Develop and sustain a Durham County Opioid Overdose Prevention Data Dashboard, in coordination with the Durham County Department of Public Health Data Scientist, to improve data infrastructure and monitor emerging trends. Synthesize and analyze program data and drive quality improvement processes. Prepare periodic evaluation reports and presentations using state and local data in line with NC Opioid Settlement requirements and other reporting requirements.

Expand Syndemic Approaches: Address the syndemic of overdose, infectious disease, mental health, and the social determinants of health by advocating for policy changes, utilizing the collective impact framework, pursuing additional funding and support for substance use prevention work, including grant writing, and providing technical assistance, as requested.

Advance Durham County Department of Public Health priorities: Contribute to Departmental, Interagency, and Community activities that support the health and wellbeing of all Durham County residents and the Durham County Department of Public Health Strategic Plan.  Support efforts to advance racial equity and impact health disparities.  Document this work in accordance with NC Local Health Department Accreditation Board and the Public Health Accreditation Board. Attend all required Department, Division, and supervision meetings.  Respond to emergent public health needs.

Professional Development: Develop professional knowledge and skills by attending professional development training every year.  Attend required annual County Government and other departmental training.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of public health education.
• Knowledge of program planning, implementation, and evaluation principles and methodologies.
• Familiarity with the lived experiences of people who use drugs. 
• Good interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with humans of diverse gender identities, races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, and drug use patterns. 
• Strong knowledge of principals of harm reduction, overdose prevention and efforts to address stigma. 
• General knowledge of methods and techniques used in preparing and disseminating education information to the public.
• Capable of working with individuals to identify needs and priorities, and to facilitate any positive change that a client defines for themselves. 
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with individuals, groups, and communities, including departmental personnel, community organizations, and the public.
• Ability to write and speak effectively and to stimulate interest and cooperation among various groups in carrying out a program in public health education. Ability to contribute to grant development and reporting.  

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in health education and one year of experience in public health education or a related field; graduation from a four-year college or university and two years of experience in public health education; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certification as a NC Peer Support Specialist preferred. 

About Durham County Public Health

A Great Place to: Live. Work. Thrive. Durham County, North Carolina is one of the nation’s top ranked places to live, work and play! With its rich history and reputation Durham is a great place to call home. As one of the nation’s most prominent technology and research areas, Durham County is also an economic development leader among its peer counties both locally and in other regions. As the state’s 4th largest county, we are poised to continue our successes and our enviable quality of life.

Connections working at Durham County Public Health