Prevention Specialist Team Lead

The Prevention Specialist Team Lead will oversee the development and implementation of evidence-based prevention programs. This role requires strong leadership, project management skills, and the ability to coordinate with various stakeholders including the State of Illinois, grant funders, NM marketing, and operations. The Team Lead will work closely with leaders across elementary, middle, and high schools in DeKalb County, as well as local entities such as substance use providers, health departments, primary care clinics, police departments, and more to promote a drug and alcohol-free environment for the youth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the project management for the prevention program, ensuring compliance with grant regulations and evidence-based practices.
• Coordinate with the State of Illinois and other grant funders to develop and implement the prevention program.
• Collaborate with NM marketing and report proposed plans and budget to manager.
• Connect with various leaders across elementary, middle, and high schools in DeKalb County.
• Oversee the data submission into state Prevention Hub and ensure deadlines are met.
• Organize and lead drug takeback days and connect with local entities such as substance use providers, health departments, primary care clinics, police departments, and more to promote a drug and alcohol-free environment for the youth.
• Assess levels of local substance abuse-related problems using local data.
• Assess levels of contributing factors associated with substance use problems in the community.
• Identify community assets and resources.
• Lead the Youth Advisory Committee for DeKalb County and sit on other relevant committees that align with the vision and goals of the prevention program.
• Identify gaps in services and capacity, including individual factors and environmentally based strategies.
• Engage stakeholders in prevention efforts.
• Engage stakeholders in developing intentional strategies to sustain outcomes over time.
• Build the capacity of the local coalition to assist with the implementation of the Strategic Prevention Framework.
• Develop a community strategic plan: address gaps in services, address gaps in community capacity, identify local problems and local contributing factors, identify evidence-based policies, programs, and practices to be implemented, specify performance measures and baseline data against progress and analyze such data.
• Maintain records in accordance with policies, procedures, and funding regulations/requirements.
• Maintain statistics and reporting.
• Able to evaluate, interpret and present complex data.
• Ability to travel within service area and surrounding areas as necessary based on grant requirements.
• Other duties and responsibilities deemed necessary to ensure the proper organization and operation of the Substance Use Prevention Program.

Qualifications

Required: Bachelor's degree in behavioral health, public health, community health, sociology, psychology, or related field. Available for flexible hours and days per week (some evenings and weekends required). Available during business and school hours. Strong knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint. Advanced verbal and written communication skills. Valid State of Illinois driver's license, current auto liability insurance, and annual driving abstract.

Preferred: Public or community health experience. Experience in youth/adolescent addiction. Grant writing and knowledge of SAMSHA's Strategic Prevention Framework. Prior experience in direct leadership responsibilities. Strong skills in public speaking and presenting.