The Prevention Specialist will provide guidance, education, and leadership through prevention programs, including assisting with the Teen Court Program. The candidate will conduct these programs for professionals, parents, and youth based on best practices in substance use, mental health, and suicide prevention. This position requires extensive public speaking and engagement with the community and schools. The candidate will be responsible for grant administration and reporting, prevention marketing campaigns, and leading community outreach. Much of the work is off-site, and includes evening and weekend work as needed for meetings and presentations. The candidate must be flexible, an excellent communicator, and familiar with substance use prevention. They will need to be a self-starter while maintaining high standards of accountability, responsiveness, responsibility, and teamwork. Maintaining contacts with various County and State officials, as well as the public, is extensive, critical and important. The position reports to and is supervised by the Administrator of the Office of Drug Control Policy.
Examples of Duties
Promotes community awareness and offers technical assistance for the Office of Drug Control Policy programs through marketing, events, and community outreach.
An employee in this class develops, coordinates, and promotes substance use prevention programs and works with a network of community-based organizations and government agencies to address drug and alcohol abuse in the county.
Implement evidence-based strategies that include public/private partnerships to address issues related to substance use.
Consult with program administrators about upcoming events, campaigns, and initiatives.
Coordinates the Teen Court Program and manages all volunteers for the program.
Conducts workshops and training related to mental health education.
Provides technical assistance and resources for schools, churches, or community organizations developing a substance abuse prevention program.
Coordinates special projects promoting community involvement in substance use prevention.
Provides information and resources to the public as required.
Processes cases and provides reporting to various agencies.
Attend and participate in all webinars and meetings as required by the grant.
Assists in writing grants
Assists in the selection, implementation, and evaluation of prevention activities.
Drives to multiple locations to provide services.
Attends staff meetings, training, activities, and other meetings as required.
Evening and weekend work required.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
This position is considered essential.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Knowledge of concepts of substance use disorder;
Knowledge of existing public and private agencies and community resources;
Ability to mobilize community action in the development of effective prevention strategies;
Ability to compose promotional and educational literature relating to substance use and mental health, and the ability to present on these topics;
Working knowledge of personal computer operations;
Ability to prepare grant and fiscal reports;
Ability to organize and maintain records;
Ability to deal effectively with staff members, volunteers, and community groups while managing multiple projects;
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
Ability to plan, coordinate, budget, and direct programs and events;
Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, sit, or stand, and drive a County vehicle to carry out some work assignments.
EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree in public health, family studies, social work, psychology, criminal justice or related field from an accredited college or university Or Associate's degree and three (3) years' experience working in the behavioral health field Or Five (5) years' experience working in the behavioral health field and/or with youth. Additionally, ideal candidate's experience will include experience in public speaking.
LICENSE:
Possession of a valid Class "C" non-commercial driver's license with no more than three (3) points. Please be advised this position requires a valid driver's license. Your application will not be considered if you fail to include the full driver's license number on the electronic application.
SAFETY:
Must comply with all Federal (OSHA), State of Maryland (MOSH), safety regulations and applicable Harford County safety policies, procedures, or manual as required for this position.
Notes
Internships and volunteer work may be counted towards experience.
Experience may be considered in lieu of education on a year for year basis up to four (4) years.
FRINGE BENEFITS
(Effective July 1, 2023)
ANNUAL LEAVE - Begin accruing first day of employment and cannot be taken until successful completion of probationary period, EXCESS of 40 DAYS [320 hours] will be deposited into an 106 Premium Reimbursement Account.
0 months - 3 years 1 day per month (12 days per year)
4 years - 9 years 1 ¼ days per month (15 days per year)
10 years - 15 years 1 ¾ days per month (21 days per year)
Over 15 years 2 days per month (24 days per year)
* Please note that leave is prorated according to your status determined by actual hours worked*
SICK LEAVE - Begin accruing first day of employment (UMLIMITED ACCUMULATION)
1 day is allowed after first month of employment
1 ¼ days per month accumulation
PERSONAL LEAVE - For new employees, personal leave is prorated according to schedule below, for the first year only. Any employee on board as of December 31st of each year automatically receives 8 days as of January 1st the following year. (NOTE: Personal Leave may not be taken until successful completion of probationary period; personal leave will be lost if not taken before December 31st of each year.)
1/1 to 1/31 6 days 4/1 to 4/30 3 days
2/1 to 2/28 5 days 5/1 to 5/31 2 days
3/1 to 3/31 4 days 6/1 to 6/30 1 day
7/1 to 12/31 0 days
FAMILY LEAVE - Up to 12 weeks per year
FUNERAL LEAVE - 3 days + 1 day for extended travel
MILITARY LEAVE - 3 weeks per year with no loss in pay for Reserve or National Guard Training, Active Duty and serving during emergencies.
CIVIL LEAVE - No loss in pay while serving Jury Duty.
RETIREMENT - COUNTY EMPLOYEES: State Pension System 7% employee contribution LAW ENFORCEMENT (TO INCLUDE TEMPORARY DEPUTIES): LEOPS 7% Employee Contribution CORRECTIONS: SOPP 9% Employee Contribution
COUNTYFLEX - Provides the employee with a range of health care and other employee benefit options which gives employee the opportunity to design a benefit plan that best meets the employee's needs. Employee may use available credits to purchase the following:
HEALTH INSURANCE - CareFirst Triple Option and BlueChoice Opt-Out Plus Open Access and Kaiser Permanente (all plans include prescription drug coverage)
DENTAL INSURANCE - CareFirst Dental PPO Plus Plan and CareFirst Dental PPO Plan
VISION INSURANCE - Provided through BlueVision Plus
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Provided through American Fidelity. Employees may fund health and child care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
PRE-TAX - All deductions for health, dental, vision and flexible spending accounts are subject to deductions from paycheck before federal and state taxes are applied.
LIFE INSURANCE -
Provided through MetLife - $50,000 policy - NO COST TO EMPLOYEE
SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE (TERM/WHOLE/UNIVERSAL AND AD&D)
Provided through MetLife.
LONG TERM DISABILITY - Provided through MetLife.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION -
Lincoln Financial Group - Retirement Consultant David Weiland
Phone 410-236-2494 Email- Dave.Weiland@LFG.com
[Customer Service Representative 1-800-234-3500]
RETIREE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE BENEFITS-
Employees hired on or after 7/1/2010 will have an automatic Retirement Health Savings account made available as the primary retiree healthcare benefit. This 105(h) Universal Reimbursement Account will only be able to be accessed upon separation of service and/or retirement whichever applicable. These accounts are employer funded, tax free, & portable with 20 different Nationwide investment options.
These funds are solely for the use of offsetting your premium health care cost, prescriptions, co-pays and deductibles. Upon death funds are made available immediately to the surviving spouse or qualified dependents (as defined by the IRC 152 (a).
DEATH BENEFITS - PAID BY COUNTY
50% of accumulated sick leave
All accumulated annual leave
Personal leave (maximum of 2 days)
$50,000 life insurance
One (1) month's salary
PAID BY RETIREMENT
One year's pay (after 1 year's service) plus employee's contributions refunded with interest.
