Grand Traverse County is a team of passionate and incredible people who are committed to providing responsive, effective quality service to our up-north community. We strive to be a leader in innovative, effective, collaborative, and sustainable county government. We offer stable work environments and competitive salaries to both full- time and part-time employees. Understanding the many challenges facing today’s professionals and families, we offer a competitive compensation package including an impressive list of benefits and time off.

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Public Health Educator organizes and conducts health promotion and education programs to maximize health outcomes for individuals and communities according to an established plan and objectives. The Health Educator delivers community outreach and education that supports Health Department programs and initiatives, focusing on social, mental, and physical health. This role engages diverse populations to address public health priorities and health disparities. The Health Educator supports evidence-based interventions and serves as a trusted resource for community members and organizations. Employees in this position work under general supervision and collaborate with internal teams and have regular contact with community partners. This position requires flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends as program needs arise.

Employees must meet the minimum requirements, conditions of employment, and be able to perform successfully all essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. Normal business hours, some additional hours outside of normal business hours may be required.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but are not limited to the following)

Under general supervision, the Public Health Educator uses advanced skills gained through training and experience to provide specialized educational counseling services within an assigned functional area:
Organizes, coordinates, and conducts assigned health promotion programs in a variety of settings to address issues and barriers that influence health, within established objectives and defined parameters.
Create educational/program marketing materials targeted toward assigned program including brochures, flyers, and social media content.
Develops, evaluates and distributes health information through multiple media venues and community/public information activities.
Maintains health educational resources and materials for use by community groups, schools and internal health department programs.
Promotes and participates in public health education and disease prevention.
Identifies community health needs and assets through primary and secondary data sources.
Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and makes referrals to community agencies.
Provide advocacy and information regarding assigned program objectives to clients
May assist and enroll clients in programs, services and benefits offered and referring clients in need of other services outside the scope of the area.
Serves as a liaison between community resources, family, person’s served, and hospital- or clinic-based providers of care.
May participate in community coalitions to support identified health improvement programming; may provide staffing support to county level or topic-specific community workgroup or coalition.
Embraces opportunities to progress to higher levels of professional competency and operate more independently.
Demonstrates decision making and problem solving, using critical thinking skills, regarding public health issues.
Promotes immunization recommendations and other evidence based public health practices.
Assists clients regardless of race, gender identity, ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic status.
Prepares, updates, and maintains records to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Participates in policy, procedure, guideline and protocol review and makes recommendations for changes needed to reflect operational effectiveness.
Complies with privacy and security laws (HIPAA), Federal, State, and Agency policies, and procedures.
Complies with all job safety requirements, including OSHA standards and quality control requirements.
Demonstrates excellent written, oral, and public speaking communication skills
Participates in continuing education programs and self-directed education to keep skills and knowledge current.
Demonstrates appropriate communication skills in addressing co-workers, community members and partners, and clients.
Demonstrates basic computer skills and willingness to adapt to new software programs as indicated.

EDUCATION, FORMAL TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE (minimum requirements)

Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, Human Services or related field
Professional certification (CHES, CPS CHW) preferred
Previous Public Health experience preferred

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES (minimum requirements)

CPR certification may be required depending on the program assigned.
Requires a valid driver's license and personal vehicle insurance and must maintain eligibility to drive as per the County's Vehicle policy.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (minimum qualification - legal or contractual pre-employment obligations and/or requirements, such as drug testing, background check, etc.)

A background check may be required initially and periodically for an individual hired, transferred, reclassified, promoted, or currently working in this job. Appointment to or continued employment in this job is contingent upon a satisfactory background check which may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of a persons’ identity; review of criminal conviction records; verification of educational degree, license, or certificate required for the position; review of Department of Motor Vehicles records; Department of Justice fingerprint scan; and/or drug and alcohol testing as required and allowable by law. A satisfactory background check is defined as the absence of a criminal history record which bears a demonstrable relationship to the applicant's or employee's suitability to perform the required duties and responsibilities of the position.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Knowledge of:

Community resources including social services agencies and crisis intervention providers
Processes, rules and regulations of various services and funding agencies surrounding the eligibility and maintenance of the services being received

Skill in:

Communicating effectively, verbally, in writing, and through public presentations
Instructing others on how to do a task
Operating standard office equipment and using required software applications for program area and other applications, including Microsoft Office, social media platforms
Developing educational materials and delivering health information across diverse audiences

Ability to:

Organize and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with individuals of various education levels
Work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
Maintain confidentiality of agency and client information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

May be required to climb or balance; reach with hands and arms; sit; stand; stoop, kneel, twist, or crouch; talk and hear; smell; use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
Position occasionally works in an outdoor environment with exposure to weather-related heat and cold, rain, wind, and related elements.
May be exposed to infectious diseases, criminal suspects or prison inmates.
May occasionally be required to lift/move up to 50 pounds.
Local travel may be required.

ORGANIZATIONAL KEY COMPETENCIES

All Grand Traverse County Health Department employees are expected to provide professional preventative health services in a compassionate, efficient, progressive, comprehensive, and holistic manner. Additionally, all Grand Traverse County employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the following values:

Serve with Integrity
Be Innovative
Be Accountable
Engage the Team
Provide Service
Be Transparent

COMPETENCIES

Position Specific Key Competencies for Public Health Professionals, also known as Core Competencies, are a consensus set of skills for the broad practice of public health, as defined by the 10 Essential Public Health Services:

Analytical/Assessment Skills

Assesses and describes community health status and factors influencing the health of the community, including social determinants of health
Develops and explains how community health assessments use information about health status, factors influencing health, assets, and resources
Selects, uses, and interprets valid, reliable, and comparable quantitative and qualitative data
Identifies gaps in data
Identifies and uses assets and resources for improving the health of the community
Describes how evidence (e.g., data, findings reported in peer-reviewed literature, evidenced based practices) is used in decision making
Make evidence-based decisions using data and best practice strategies to promote community health
Apply ethical principles on the use of data and information
Advocate for the use of evidence using public health science skills
Uses information technology in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining, and disseminating data and information

Policy Development/Program Planning Skills

Contributes to community health improvement planning
Contributes to implementation of organizational strategic plan
Contributes to the development of program goals and objectives
Identifies and describes implications of current trends and policies affecting the health of the community, with a focus on marginalized/disadvantaged population groups
Implements policies, programs and services with an understanding of relevance to public health law
Gathers information that can inform the development of and assists in developing options for policies, programs and services
Explains the importance of and gathers information for evaluations to improve policies, programs, and services
Applies strategies for and participates in continuous quality improvement
Describes how public health informatics is used to develop, support, and improve policies, programs and services

Communication Skills

Assesses and ensures that the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, and use health and other information; social media literacy) is reflected in the organization’s policies, programs, and services
Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency
Solicits input from individuals and organizations for improving the health of a community
Selects approaches for disseminating public health data and information
Conveys data and information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches
Facilitates communication among individuals, groups, and organizations
Communicates the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community

Cultural Competency Skills

Describes the concept of diversity as it applies to individuals, populations, and the community served
Recognizes the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services, and the health of the community
Supports diverse perspectives and ensures the diversity in individuals and populations when developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
Assesses the effects of policies, programs, and services on different populations in the community

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills

Describes the programs and services provided by governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve the health of a community
Recognizes, suggests, and supports relationships that affect and are needed to support health in the community
Engages community members and uses community input for developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services
Uses assets and resources to improve health in a community
Advocates for and informs the public about policies, programs, and resources that improve health in a community
Describes the importance of and may collaborate in community-based participatory research

Public Health Sciences Skills

Describes the scientific foundation of and prominent events in public health
Retrieves evidence-based data and practices from multiple sources to support decision making
Recognizes limitations of evidence (e.g., validity, reliability, sample size, bias, generalizability)
Describes evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services
Develops partnerships that will increase the use of evidence in public health practice

Financial Planning and Management Skills

Describes public health funding mechanisms and governmental agencies with authority to impact the health of a community
Adheres to organizational policies and procedures
Describes how teams achieve program performance standards and measures
Motivates colleagues for the purpose of achieving program and organization goals
Use evaluation results to improve program and organizational performance

Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

Incorporates ethical standards of practice into all interactions
Explains public health as part of a larger inter-related system of organizations working together or individually to impact the health of populations at local, national, and global levels
Collaborates with individuals and organizations in developing a vision for a healthy community (e.g. emphasis on prevention, health equity for all, excellence, and innovation)
Advocates for the role of public health in population health
Participates in professional development opportunities Describes ways to improve individual and program performance

Compensation:

Salary: $56,362.00 - $70,430.00

Grand Traverse County is a great place to live, work and play. Come join our team and experience what northern Michigan is all about, apply today!

You really should see what we have to offer:

Medical: The County offers employees a high-deductible plan through Priority Health. To help cover the cost of the deductible, Grand Traverse County will deposit a contribution amount up to $2,000 into an employee Health Savings Account every year. You may also direct deposit funds into this account every pay period.
Vision: The County provides a no cost plan for employees. We also offer an enhanced plan through EyeMed.
Dental: Our dental insurance provider is Delta Dental. You will pay no costs or premium for diagnostic and cleaning services.
Wellness: Grand Traverse County is committed to creating a culture of health. We provide a variety of incentives and programs that allow you to live a healthy lifestyle.
Employee Recognition: We highly value our employees, which we show by providing our employees awards and recognition throughout the year, and on anniversary dates.
Tuition Reimbursement: Employees are reimbursed up to $5,250 annually for enrollment in courses at an accredited college, university, or trade school.
Vacation: Grand Traverse County provides a generous amount of vacation days to benefitted employees so you can spend time with family and friends.
Holidays: The County gives you 12 days a year to celebrate holidays. Beyond these 12 days, you will receive additional floating holidays to use at your discretion.
Personal Leave: Employees receive up to 72 hours annually depending on contract, to use for appointments, take care of family needs and other personal reasons. Employees are paid every year for unused personal leave up to 40 hours.
Parental Leave: Employees may take up to 6 months of leave to begin at birth or date of adoption of their child.
Retirement: Grand Traverse County offers a defined contribution through MERS. The plan includes a generous match that fully vests after 6 years of employment. We also offer a deferred compensation 457b Plan.
Life Insurance: Benefitted employees automatically receive life insurance.
Short Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays two thirds of your salary or wages for a maximum of 182 days.
Long Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays 60 percent of your salary or wages for a maximum of 24 months.

Public Health Educator

Benefits

Job Description