Extension Program Specialist I - Community Health - PHR 1

Job Description

General Role

• In general, the Extension Program Specialist I develops, delivers, teaches, implements, and evaluates programs, services, products, and/or processes.
• Provide expertise for disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, and/or interdisciplinary programming and projects of the agency.
• Coordinate agency activities within appropriate units and individuals in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Determine the type of educational products and reports needed to meet the needs of external and internal clientele.
• Produce educational programs and services utilizing available technology in program development and delivery.
• Utilize feedback and evaluations to improve teaching effectiveness.
• Develop effective learning environments for adult and/or youth audiences.
• Identify, train, and support volunteers to enhance effective adult and/or youth education programs.

Specific Role

More specific to this position, the role will be to serve as a Regional Extension Programs Specialist (REPS) to provide regional oversight and coordination of a grant funded project and partnership with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), as part of an initiative to reduce health disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, increase flu vaccination rates, and reduce chronic diseases among vulnerable and underserved communities (e.g., rural communities, racial and ethnic minorities).

DSHS defines health, as a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Accordingly, AgriLife Extension health education aims to provide all Texans with opportunities, tools, and resources needed to achieve optimal health and well-being.

The REPS position will focus on authentic community engagement and building sustainable partnerships in the following areas:

• Infrastructure: Describe existing human infrastructure or proposed human infrastructure Community
• Engagement: Identify communities most impacted by COVID-19 COVID Vaccinations: Steps to maximize COVID vaccination rates in impacted communities. Partnership Directory: Document community partners engaged & build sustainable cross sectoral partnerships. Health Equity
• Improvement Initiative: Design intervention(s) aimed at addressing an identified community need.
• Information Sharing & Learning: Describe efforts to learn & share information on addressing
• COVID-19 health disparities among vulnerable populations.

The REPS will work closely with DSHS’ Health Equity Community Engagement Specialist (HECES) and the Health Equity Evaluation and Performance Specialist (HEEPS) in Public Health Region (PHR) 1 at the DSHS Regional Headquarters (6302 Iola Ave, Lubbock, TX 79424 — see PHR map at www.dshs.texas.gov/regions/state.shtm). Within specific communities (across 3 counties) within your PHR (Bailey, Dallam, and Moore), the REPS will have the following responsibilities:

• Strengthen infrastructure in rural communities in order to improve communication, identify gaps, and bridge silos between local and state partners, as well as coordinate and collaborate with HECES and HEEPS in your PHR
• Within rural communities, engage and develop sustainable partnerships with faith-based communities, and address health disparities across multiple health outcomes
• Assist in needs assessments of the community, including faith-based communities, including qualitative and quantitative data that lead to a better understanding of a particular community. This will include conducting surveys, listening sessions, interviews, and focus groups.
• Within rural communities, assist in identifying and engaging populations with or at risk for chronic disease, with emphasis on opportunities for adoption of healthy lifestyles.
• Based on community need, develop, deliver, and evaluate Extension healthy lifestyle education, programming in chronic disease prevention, emphasizing active living, as well as education assistance toward project specific topics (i.e., COVID-19 vaccination, flu vaccination)
• Provide reporting of all project efforts to compare to outcomes (e.g., reach of target population, church assessments, improved SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing, increase in outdoor physical activity, etc.)
• Work with Extension Agents to identify, understand, build upon current, and establish new relationships with key partners, messengers, and leaders for cross-sectoral partnerships, with particular emphasis within rural and faith-based communities.
• Work with and provide oversight to volunteers for project activities, as needed.
• Assist with other related duties, as needed.

This position will report directly to the Extension’s Principal Investigator/Project Director and Co-Principal Investigator. Funding is available starting September 1, 2021 and ending May 31, 2023 with the possibility of extension of the contract based on job performance, and receipt of additional funding. The REPS will also work with other state partners, such as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to help advance opportunities for healthy outdoor living health and state park use.

The official work location to be determined based on the Public Health Region of hire. Ability to work from home office may be considered.
This is a grant-funded position. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding.

Required Education and Experience:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in community, public health, health education, health promotion, health sciences, or closely related field.
• Five or more years of experience in health education, development, coordination, communication, and evaluation.

Preferred Experience:

• Preferred experience working with chronic and/or infectious disease, and faith-based institutions/partners.
• Experience in interpersonal facilitation, such as conducting listening sessions, focus groups, and/or interviews.
• Experience in community engagement, partnership building, and team-based projects — with particular interest in rural communities.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of word processing, database, presentation and spreadsheet applications.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Quality data collection, evaluation, and reporting.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Basic understanding of community-, organizational-, and system-level factors that affect health outcomes and contribute to health disparities.
• Language: English/Spanish bilingual and/or knowledge of regional dialects is preferred

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.

Work Remotely

• Hybrid

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $48,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of word processing, database, presentation and spreadsheet applications.
Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
Excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Quality data collection, evaluation, and reporting

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Working in health education.: 5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 50% (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $48,000 - $52,000