Prevention Specialist

As a Prevention Education Specialist, you will play a crucial role in an academic and community setting by delivering evidence-based prevention education to students, staff, and community members. A significant focus of this role involves active participation in suicide prevention efforts, including resource building, training, outreach, and event representation. Your responsibilities include creating and conducting community and school-based presentations and events, establishing strong relationships with school districts, and actively participating in meetings and training sessions. You will work with students from kindergarten to grade 12, collect and report program data accurately, and attend community events year-round. Additionally, you'll provide education through various channels, offer referrals for support services, and act as a liaison between students, families, schools, and other relevant contacts. Your role will contribute to promoting a positive workplace environment and addressing issues related to mental health, substance abuse, physical abuse, and rehabilitation while fostering the values of CFLR.

• Provide prevention education to students, staff, and community members adhering to evidence-based practices, with a focus on suicide prevention education and awareness.
• Develop and deliver community and school-based presentations, events, and activities related to suicide prevention, mental health, and agency services as requested.
• Offer suicide prevention resources through website updates, social media, monthly newsletters, and virtual and in-person presentations and trainings.
• Actively engage in Suicide Prevention (SUP) efforts, including resource building, tracking, and distribution to coalition members.
• Facilitate suicide prevention trainings and assist in developing strategies to reach broader audiences.
• Represent the organization at suicide prevention events, including community tabling and awareness campaigns.
• Track and manage grants related to Suicide Prevention (SUP) and Mental Health (MH) initiatives.
• Establish and build relationships with school districts, including administration, students, and staff, to foster environments of connectedness and support.
• Serve as a liaison between students, homes, schools, family services, and other contacts to assist children and families in addressing challenges related to suicide risk and mental health concerns.
• Collaborate with coalition members and community stakeholders to strengthen suicide prevention networks and resource accessibility.
• Assist with the completion of programming related to the OASAS work plan and compile program data in accordance with evidence-based program fidelity and guidelines.
• Conduct pre- and post-survey data collection measures in accordance with evidence-based programming fidelity and guidelines, with specific attention to suicide prevention outcomes.
• Accurately and effectively collect data and report quality outcomes of suicide prevention efforts and services.
• Attend community-based events year-round, with a strong focus on suicide prevention initiatives.
• Support community engagement efforts, such as logo design competitions and youth-driven campaigns promoting hope, resilience, and connectedness.
• Assist in organizing and hosting suicide prevention events and trainings to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
• Promote a positive workplace environment by fostering collaboration and support among team members.
• Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues such as suicide risk, mental health, substance abuse, physical abuse, and rehabilitation.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Knowledge

• Clerical – Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms and other office procedures.
• Customer and Personal Service – Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
• Computers and electronics – Knowledge of computer software including application and programming.

Skills

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Social Perceptiveness – being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Critical Thinking – using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weakness of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Abilities

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Work Values

• Kindness - Showing you care with acts of service. Give kudos authentically with examples. Listen to understand (being open).
• Integrity - Do what you say you're going to do / stick the landing. Serving others, offering help and flexibility and performing the platinum rule.
• Excellence - Work towards specific area to strengthen or build goals / programs / teams /s elf. Delivering service in an exceptional way. Benchmarking, progress and quality control understanding.
• Efficiency - Share and conduct the plan consistently. Teamwork as an act of cooperation (using each other's strengths). Perform your responsibilities.
• Purpose - Intentionally sharing our why, aspirations and goals. Role modeling and coaching others in the process. Building agency culture.
• Courage - Be direct - what do you need? Standing up and taking the lead when no one else is. Level up growth mindset.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of Associate’s Degree in a related field and 2 years of experience. A Bachelor’s Degree in related human service field in psychology, addictions, social work, education, human services, social science or related field is strongly preferred. Work experience may be substituted for degree.
• Demonstrated ability in public relations and speaking, communication, program development/implementation and organization.
• Comfortability commuting up to 40 miles from the greater Utica area.
• Capable of working in an academic atmosphere.
• Established knowledge of local community and accessible resources preferred but not required.
• Current and valid NYS driver’s license.

Work Environment

• Normal room temperature
• Relatively normal noise level (inside & outside).

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit and type at a computer screen for long periods of time.
• Ability to bend and stand for 10-20 minutes at a time.
• Ability to lift and move up to 20 pounds at a time.