Tobacco Education & Treatment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : Tobacco Education and Treatment Specialist

Program / Department : Project & Behavioral Health Engagement on Nicotine Addiction (BHENA) & Tobacco, Addictions, Policy and Education (TAPE) Project

Position Type : Exempt, Full-Time 40 hours / week – Hybrid Position (remote and on-site)

Location : Watertown

Reports to : Director of Tobacco Education and Treatment Projects

About IHR : The Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) is a statewide service, research, policy, program development and capacity building agency. IHR designs its services based on an understanding of the impact of trauma. IHR’s CARF accredited treatment programs provide holistic interventions for hard to reach and high-risk individuals and families. IHR’s mission, since our founding in 1990, has been to develop and support a comprehensive continuum of care for families, individuals, youth, and pregnant and parenting people affected by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, violence / trauma, mental health challenges and other health issues, while advancing principles of health equity and social justice. Our work is focused on addressing and eradicating inequities in our health care, economic, and justice systems, especially as they disproportionately affect women and people of color. We are committed to providing services and creating communities that mitigate the effects of substance use, mental illness, and trauma.

Summary Statement : The Tobacco Education and Treatment Specialist will be an integral member of the Tobacco Education and Treatment Services staff, working on the Behavioral Health Engagement on Nicotine Addiction (BHENA) initiative, funded by the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program (MTCP), and the Tobacco, Addictions, Policy and Education (TAPE) Project, by supporting IHR’s mission to develop a comprehensive continuum of care for women, families, individuals, youth and pregnant and parenting women affected by alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, violence / trauma, mental health challenges and other health issues by providing training, support, and consultation to individuals, providers, and communities.

Essential Functions :

• Provide on-site and virtual staff training, technical assistance and consultation to behavioral health programs statewide. Educate relevant constituencies and systems about the importance of addressing tobacco / nicotine treatment and cessation, secondhand emissions, and tobacco control efforts.
• Conduct surveys, key informant interviews, and environmental scans of behavioral health systems and organizations and provide summaries of organizations’ methods of assessing clients and families’ tobacco / nicotine use status as well as potential exposure to secondhand emissions. Provide technical assistance and capacity building regarding options for redesigning and integrating tobacco / nicotine treatment protocols.
• Collaborate and coordinate with local and state-wide vendors funded by the MTCP. Maintain strong collaborative relationships addressing tobacco / nicotine cessation and prevention and / or secondhand smoke, including attending Tobacco Free Mass coalition meetings and engaging with coalition members.
• Provide technical assistance and training support, including promotion of the Massachusetts Quitline programs to relevant constituencies, including MTCP vendors, Early Intervention organizations, and any other behavioral health agencies.
• Co-chair the Massachusetts Collaborative on Tobacco Recovery (MCTR) to continue growing and building an engaged network of providers and community members to address tobacco / nicotine use among disproportionately affected groups in Massachusetts.
• Collaborate on an annual work plan using the approved MTCP format of Targets and Metrics. Participate in all MTCP data collection, evaluation and research activities as requested.
• Work with Department of Mental Health (DMH) leadership staff on tobacco-free campus initiatives; assist in planning and conducting semi-annual meetings with all statewide DMH Tobacco Education Coordinators (TEC) and New TEC Orientations as needed; provide ongoing technical assistance and consultation to TECs as needed.
• Conduct tobacco / nicotine education and treatment integration trainings to Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) treatment programs in one MA Department of Public Health (DPH) / BSAS region and other regions as needed; including preparation, program assessments, copying / materials, evaluation and follow-up with programs post-training, ordering and inventorying materials.
• Assist in planning and conducting semi-annual statewide New TEC Orientations and TEC meetings with BSAS TECs; provide ongoing technical assistance and consultation to TECs as needed.
• Support the BSAS Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) program for providers in the Northeast MA region.
• Represent TAPE Project at regional BSAS Provider Meetings.
• Contribute to online web presence and resource management, e-newsletters, list service, publications, and on-line surveys and trainings.
• Ensure that planned services are delivered in timely fashion and with high quality.
• Assist in planning and implementation of other projects, as identified with supervisor.
• Maintain all records and communication, including monthly and quarterly reports.
• Meet regularly with supervisor to review progress and maintain priorities.
• Use cloud-based systems for communication with IHR’s site office, including shared calendars, timesheets, and supervisor check-ins.
• Attend team and agency staff meetings.

Qualifications / Requirements :

Other Requirements : (If Applicable)

Competencies :

Physical Requirements : The physical demands of this position include talking, hearing, sitting, standing, walking, lifting, and using hands for activities such as grasping, handling, and reaching. These physical and mental demands are essential for the successful execution of job responsibilities. Reasonable accommodation will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Acknowledgement : I confirm that I accept the terms outlined in the job description and agree to perform the duties as described. I understand IHR retains the right to modify duties as necessary, and this job description may be updated as needed.