Cannabis Substance Use Prevention Coordinator (Health Educator)

Contracted; $40/hour; No Benefits; Apply online by February 12, 2025

Position Objective

The Cannabis Substance Use Prevention Coordinator works to create and support prevention, education, and recovery programs focused on substance misuse prevention and treatment options. The programs must include specific cannabis-related initiatives, and serves to bridge the gap between community, health care, government, and social service systems to build trust and empower priority populations by collaborating to implement substance misuse initiatives.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Implement Cannabis Substance Use Prevention (CSUP) Grant requirements as identified by Chisago County and MDH grant managers.
• Participate in on-boarding grant activities as communicated by MDH and LPH.
• Conduct needs assessment to identify high-risk populations, prevalent substance abuse trends, and community gaps regarding substance abuse prevention to determine local needs, deficits, resource availability, and community level strengths.
• Review local and state data and resources, including current and emerging laws/policies.
• Advocate for policies and legislation that support substance abuse prevention efforts at the local and state level.
• Provide training and technical assistance to community partners and other professionals on substance abuse prevention strategies, best practices, and intervention techniques.
• Review, revise, and implement strategies that align with needs assessment and Chisago County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
• Develop and adopt a theory of change and/or logic model that defines project goals, objectives, and activities, to inform evaluation efforts.
• Selects, develops, and creates educational resources and materials to meet the needs and appropriateness of target populations.
• Develop and execute public awareness campaigns using various communication channels (media, social media, presentations) to educate the community about the risks of substance abuse.
• Design and implement evidence-based prevention programs tailored to specific demographics, such as youth, adults, or vulnerable populations, including curriculum development, educational materials, and outreach strategies.
• Build and maintain collaborations with schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, community organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to promote comprehensive prevention efforts.
• Initiates or participates in building coalitions of community agencies, organizations, groups, and individuals; organizes and coordinates efforts to further health education goals and programs; provides staff support and technical assistance.
• Monitor program effectiveness by collecting data on key indicators, analyzing results, and making adjustments to programs as needed.
• Coordinates and conducts program evaluation activities.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to substance use prevention.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and prevention activities principles, policies, and practices.
• Knowledge of ten essential services of public health and six core functions. Ability to apply principles of public health to communities, families, and individuals.
• Basic principles and methods of learning theory.
• Principles and methods of preventive health education (population and community-based primary prevention).
• Knowledge of community organization systems, norms, and resources
• Principles and methods of effective communication, and public speaking.
• al, training and consultation principles, practices, materials, and tools with various populations.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, community, and professional groups.
• Ability to exercise tact, judgment, initiative.
• Ability to work independently and set work priorities complimentary to the work of the Department.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Employee must have demonstrated ability to work effectively and efficiently in a wide variety of computer programs and systems.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, respectful, relationships with clients, agency staff members, and the public.
• Ability to apply previously acquired knowledge and skills to new situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively using a variety of method.
• Principles and methods of health program evaluation.

Desired Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in health education or promotion, community health, health sciences, or a closely related field.

OR

Two (2) years of experience providing professional support to a health education, promotion, or prevention program, or a substance use disorder treatment program.

Special Qualifications

None.

Tools and Equipment Used

Computer, telephone, copier, fax and general office equipment.

Working Conditions

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands, physical agility, sensory requirements, and environmental exposures required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This classification regularly involves physical agility requirements such as: climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions and manual dexterity.
• Sensory requirements include standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing ideas by means of the spoken word; and hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels;
• The noise level can range from moderately quiet in the office to loud and noisy in the field.

Applicants for appointment to this position will be required to submit a formal application and may be subject to rating of education and experience, oral interview and/or reference check, background investigation, criminal history check, drug testing. Job related tests may be required of any applicant.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee as is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.