School Age Systems Specialist

THE WORK UNIT:

The Prevention Services Division works with partners across Colorado to improve the health of all Coloradans. Division professionals develop, review, implement and evaluate public health interventions proven to promote healthy living, prevent chronic disease, protect against injury and ensure access to health care and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. The division strives to understand the needs of Colorado’s communities and encourages the contributions of stakeholders in identifying and solving public health problems. The division is committed to the professional development, collaborative effort, and sustained wellness of its workforce.

The Children, Youth and Families (CYF) branch is the organizational entity within the Prevention Services Division that plans, designs, implements, and evaluates public health interventions related to women, children and youth, including children and youth with special health care needs, to maximize the health and well-being of Colorado’s maternal and child health population. Special emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices, data-based decision-making, training, technical assistance, community partnerships, and integration of various branch program efforts to assure health outcomes are maximized. The branch consists of the following four sections: Maternal and Infant Wellness Section, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Section, Maternal and Child Health Section, and the Workforce Development Section. This position resides in the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) section.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:  School Age Systems Specialist
This School Age Systems Specialist serves as the department's Staff Authority for the integration of positive youth development approaches across CDPHE youth- and young adult-serving programs supported through the Seven Title V Maternal and Child Health priorities and represents CDPHE on the National Network of State Adolescent Health. 

The position establishes department-wide technical and programmatic frameworks, standards, and implementation guidance that shape how CDPHE programs design, deliver, and evaluate services for youth and young adults. The position is key to achieving national and state goals for improving the health and well-being of school-age children through timely identification, diagnosis, and intervention. The position serves as the department's technical authority on adolescent health and positive youth development and provides strategic consultation to internal and external partners, including the Department of Education, the Statewide Coordinator for School Health Services, the Department of Human Services, and the Prevention Services Division School-Based Health Center team, to support alignment with CDPHE program priorities and objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Designated Title V State Adolescent Health Coordinator advises program leadership

• Increase access to behavioral health services for school-age children and youth programs

• Provide leadership for the Social Connectedness Priority

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT:
This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

CLASS CODE & CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION: 

NOTE: An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications for this job in one of two ways: They may qualify through their work experience alone or through a combination of education and work experience.

A combination of related education and experience:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university in public health, psychology, sociology, social work, public policy, public administration, education, or a field of study closely related to the work assignment, and professional experience coordinating system-level change strategies that impacted school-age children. System-level change may include the implementation of policies or process improvements within or between organizations. Coordinating may include identifying, informing, implementing, or evaluating system-level changes that impact school-age children equal to Seven (7) years.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the successful candidate in this position will have the following highly desirable experience and competencies: 

• Trained in Positive Youth Development approach

• Broad knowledge of Health First Colorado’s Medicaid Systems

• Familiarity with Regional Accountability Entities' role and Responsibilities

• Understanding of the Behavioral Health System in Colorado

• Experience partnering with School Health and School-Based Health Centers

• Experience with Adolescent and Youth population health

• Ability to organize, motivate, and communicate with a large group to meet specified objectives

• Ability to navigate and establish strategic partnerships within the complex health, behavioral health, human services, and education systems;

• Experience with collaborative efforts at the state level and understanding of related public policy and systems efforts

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• A pre-employment background check will be conducted as part of the selection process.
• This position will have hybrid workplace options available, at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business needs. The employee will still be required to report to the agency address listed on this announcement.
• Travel: This position will travel 3-4 times per year, approximately quarterly. Travel is across the state, region, or nationally to provide technical support local partners, attend regional and national conferences.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

As an applicant who has been removed from consideration during the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board and/or request a review by the State Personnel Director. A standard appeal form is available on the State Personnel Board website, https://spb.colorado.gov/forms-and-filing. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within ten (10) days of your receipt of this notice: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. Email address: dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available at spb.colorado.gov.

A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET MUST INCLUDE:

• Completed State of Colorado application.

• If using education to qualify for this position a copy of your transcripts (unofficial acceptable) or diploma must be provided with application. Transcripts must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

• If you are a veteran, a copy of your DD214 must be attached to your colorado.gov/jobs application.

  
  

THE SELECTION PROCESS:

• All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications proceed to the next step.
• Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
  Part of, or all of, the comparative analysis for this position may be a structured application review, which involves a review of the information you submit in your application materials by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) against the preferred qualifications.
• A top group, up to six candidates, will be invited to schedule an interview with the hiring manager.
  
  

E-Verify:
CDPHE uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA ACCOMMODATIONS:

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at cdphe_benefits@state.co.us or call 303-692-2060, option 5.