Public Health Educator II

SHIFT: DAYS / 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Job Summary AFSCME 1276

Under the direction of the STI/HIV Program Manager in the Communicable Disease Unit, the STI/HIV Prevention and Outreach Educator will provide prevention education and outreach for the Cook County Department of Public Health/Communicable Disease Unit (CCDPH/CD). Works as a part of an interdisciplinary team both within the division and within the agency, coordinating STI/HIV prevention education activities, including presentations, street and community outreach, and media-delivered messages to meet CCDPH STI/HIV prevention objectives. Conducts STl's surveillance activities and provides prevention education services and outreach to agencies that render services to clients in the suburban Cook County jurisdiction and provides technical assistance to such agencies.

Typical Duties

• · Plans and develops culturally sensitive, risk-targeted interventions designed to promote risk reduction and utilization of STI/HIV to be implemented by Cook County agencies and to identify and refer to STI/HlV patients to counseling, case management, and treatment.

• Attend trainings as requested to develop skills in STI/HlV prevention quality assurance standards and other work related topics.

• Assures adherence to Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and CCDPH quality assurance standards and protocols for the unit's STI/HIV prevention interventions.

• Schedules outreach presentation to provide risk reduction tools and educational materials to agencies working with STI/HIV impacted clients in the Cook County ju1isdiction.

• Targets organizations for linkage-development which could fill gaps in channels for prevention and outreach education.

• Plans the development of media-delivered (print or electronic) targeted risk reduction messages for the STI/HIV unit; maintains the STI/HIV department's media present.

• Purchases CRP-approved posters, videos, and materials needed for media message development distribution.

• Represents as assigned STI/HIV prevention interests and expertise on the CCDPH Meetings, and inter-agency committees and community meetings as assigned.

• Attends continuing education opportunities as requested to develop skills in STl/HIV risk reduction promotion.

• Maintain an updated Service Referral Resources database of funded and unfunded Community-Based Organizations (CBO's), prioritized populations reached by those agencies, and HIV-prevention-relevant services and materials they deliver.

• Leads STD Awareness Month, World AIDS Day activities; and participates in health fair events.

• Investigates cases and enters information into internal and external databases.

• Assists in the creation of periodic surveillance reports concerning STI/HIV trends and program utilization.

Minimum Qualifications

• · Master's in Public Health or related field from an accredited college or university with two (2) years full-time experience in STI and/or HIV prevention, education and outreach

OR

• Bachelor's in Arts or Bachelor's in Science with five (5) years full-time experience in STI and/or HIV prevention, education and outreach.

• Experience in communicable disease investigation, infectious disease control, knowledge of STl and HIV symptomology.

• Possession of a valid driver's license in good standing and a dependable means of transportation required.

• Must be trained and certified in NIMS FEMA IS - 100.b Management within six (6) months of employment (required).

Preferred Qualifications

• · Demonstrated performance in communicable disease case investigation.

• Practical knowledge of epidemiologic field methods.

• Fluency in Spanish.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.

• Excellent organizational skills and proven expertise in managing and mastering details.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• • Expertise in prevention and intervention strategies.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.

• Must have good written and verbal communication skills

• lnter-agency project planning, leadership and facilitation skills.

• Strong skills in time management, organization and oral and written communication

• Ability to design and implement objective-based training to strengthen the skills or attitudes of professionals or other community members to implement or promote targeted STI/HIV risk reduction programs.

• Ability to provide and to train others to provide prevention education and interventions which are organized, accurate, credible, understandable and culturally competent to audiences diverse in education, culture, age, gender, and sexual orientation.

• Ability to travel as needed to any location in suburban Cook County.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, "Are you a Military Veteran?"

• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

• A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver's License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

• Basic Term Life Insurance

• Pension Plan

• Deferred Compensation Program

• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

• Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U. S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents bust be presented at time of interview.

• Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

• CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH & HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER