Community Health Educator

Under direction, performs professional health assessment and education functions to members of the community both within the agency setting and cooperatively with other organizations.  Positions in this class work independently under general supervision and draw upon their education, training and experience in making determinations as to the most appropriate manner in which to conduct assessments and develop training and educational programs.  

Responsible for the quality and accuracy of their own work.   Work is performed independently under general supervision.  Responsibilities dependent on funding and grant goals and objectives.
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
   1. Frequently interacts with others in the work unit, the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;
   2. Interaction with the public, vendors/ community partners or across departments occasionally includes negotiations involving convincing the other party to do something to achieve a basic work related objective;
2. Responds to Public Health Emergencies.
   1. Has a working knowledge of the National Incident Management System for emergency preparedness and has completed the courses required for the job;
   2. Fulfills roles within the Department’s Emergency Operations Plan as determined by Emergency Preparedness and Management staff;
   3. During an actual emergency, is accessible 24/7 with an established family contingency plan in place.
3. Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
   1. Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
   2. Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
   3. When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
4. Coordinates health promotion and education programs for agency and community by developing and implementing program elements in conjunction with cooperative agencies and members of the community.
   1. Develops materials and programs for other agencies’ use;
   2. Researches, obtains, develops, and evaluates programs and materials;
   3. Delivers health education to various populations based on community needs;
   4. Follows up with groups and assesses value of programming to determine program success;
   5. Coordinates specialty grants as needed.
5. Represents the department on various committees at the local, state, and federal levels. 
6. Researches, identifies, and develops grant proposals under the direction of Administration. 
7. Reviews and evaluates research activities necessary to carry out assessment activities and program development, for specific projects that are assigned.
8. Maintains records/documentation of community health assessments and education activities specific to programs assigned.  
9. Works with interns and students providing direction, mentoring, and evaluating their performance.
10. Qualified to fulfill expectations of a certified community health worker in the state of North Dakota
11. Is a mandated reporter for abuse and neglect issues.
12. Performs other duties and activities assigned.

1. Works with local schools and communities to plan and implement a comprehensive tobacco control plan based on CDC guidelines.
2. Develops media campaigns in collaboration with community partners. 
3. Collaborates with healthcare partners to provide cessation services in accordance with CDC best practices.
4. In collaboration with community leaders, develops and implements tobacco free policies for Cass County.
5. Coordinates compliance checks along with local law enforcement according to ordinance and grant guidelines.
6. Works to expand the SAFE Coalition to align with the Drug Free Community Initiatives, (i.e. tobacco free parks)
7. Collaborates with youth oriented stakeholders on prevention of youth initiation of tobacco use.
8.  Works with multi-unit housing sites on smoke-free policies. 
9. Achieves Tobacco Treatment Specialist certification through Mayo Clinic and passes the national certifications for Tobacco Treatment Specialist.

1. Traffic Safety Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinates the Traffic Safety program working the coalition to develop goals and objectives.

1. Coordinates and participates in various committees.

1. Provides current content for the traffic safety website.

1. Works with media to promote Traffic Safety. 

1. Serves as liaison to city wide safety community.

1. Provides new employee safety orientation.

1. Coordinates Learning Management System for department.

1. Assists managers and directors with their department’s safety/emergency plans.

1. Roll out Parents Lead information to the general public.

1. Actively participate in the ND Action Committee for suicide prevention

1. Facilitate Mental Health First Aid to the departments of the City of Fargo.

1. Facilitate SAFE Talk sessions to the departments of the City of Fargo.

1. Promote the CredibleMind platform throughout the departments of the City of Fargo and communities Fargo Cass Public Health serves. 

1. Seek Mental Health grant opportunities that promote universal mental health skills.

The job requires a bachelor’s degree in community health education, nursing, social work, or a related field and two years experience working in a community health setting, and CHES Certification preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.   A valid driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required.
 
Knowledge, skills and abilities include:

• Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of performing community health assessment and research.  Knowledge of health education principles, practices and techniques;
• Knowledge of high-risk population issues;
• Knowledge of processes specific to governmental agency grant preparation and funding procurement;
• Advanced skills in conducting training and public speaking for all sizes of groups;
• Strong public relations skills including effective media communications;
• Skill in advocacy;
• Skill in researching resources, grant research and grant writing;
• Skill in various computer software programs such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and internet;
• Skill in communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction including cross-cultural communications;
• Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
• Ability to be flexible with topics addressed and audience demographics.

Work is performed in a normal office environment as well as in a variety of locations where training is conducted.  Work involves daily driving and daily moving of a laptop computer and projector.  Moving boxes of training materials weighing greater than 20 pounds is required occasionally.  Daily work often involves moving between buildings and rooms.  There is moderate attention to detail and deadlines.   Weekend and evening work is required for meetings and events.  The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue. 
 
Activities include stooping, standing, walking, lifting, pushing, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.  
 
Light Work:  Physical demands are normally those associated with light work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
 
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
 
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required.  To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
 
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.  The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.