CAREER DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY
The County of Orange , Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of seven (7) service areas - Correctional Health, Director's Office, Finance & Administrative, Medical Health, Mental Health & Recovery, Public Health, and Strategy & Special Projects - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

THE DEPARTMENT
The Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) Division consists of three (3) service areas Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health, Authority and Quality Improvement Services and Children, Youth & Prevention Services, which provide a culturally competent and client-centered system of behavioral health services for all eligible county residents in need of treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse and mental health care.

THE PROGRAM
The Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Team’s (ADEPT) mission is to support healthy communities by implementing prevention services aimed at reducing alcohol and other drug use in Orange County. ADEPT implements substance use prevention services in schools and communities throughout Orange County using evidence-based programming and/or best practices.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Health Education Associate within the ADEPT supports prevention initiatives. The incumbent’s responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review current, local alcohol and other drug (AOD) use data to target program interventions
• Assess best practices for prevention strategies to reduce youth AOD use
• Participate in planning and conducting a variety of AOD prevention services in schools and in family and youth-serving organizations
• Conduct outreach to community organizations and schools to promote prevention services
• Survey workshop participants to evaluate efficacy and impact
• Represent ADEPT at community meetings, events and facilitate resource tables to promote prevention services

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
Bilingual skills in Spanish are highly desirable. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge and/or experience in the following core competencies:

Professional and Technical Expertise | Delivering Results

• Understanding and applying the principles of health education in relation to effective AOD prevention services
• Aiding in research, development, and implementation of educational services for diverse populations, including elementary through high school age youth, parents, families, businesses, and health professionals
• Coordinating youth-led prevention activities in the school and/or community setting
• Outreaching to school personnel (e.g., teachers, district administrators) and directors of youth-serving organizations to promote prevention services

Building & Maintaining Relationships | Involving Others (Engaging Teams)

• Building collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders in both the private and public sectors, specifically with schools and community organizations
• Cultivating effective working relationships with staff members within MHRS and other County Agencies
• Participating on projects as a member of the team and work on assigned tasks independently

Oral Communication | Writing

• Assisting with the development of educational materials that focus on substance use prevention, relevant to the target population
• Communicating effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing with internal and external partners
• Providing technical assistance to schools, key stakeholders, and youth-serving organizations that request resources on AOD education and prevention

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Health Education Associate position.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Physical and Mental Conditions
Possess vision sufficient to read standard text, read a computer monitor, and to drive; speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person, over the telephone and in small groups; independent body mobility to stand, sit, walk, stoop, and bend to access a standard office environment; manual dexterity to use hands, arms and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard, to write and drive a vehicle.

Possess the ability to independently reason logically to analyze data, reach conclusions and make recommendations and decisions; possess the ability to remain calm and appropriately focused in difficult interpersonal situations involving diverse interests, conflict and firm deadlines.

Environmental Conditions
Work in an office environment and/or a secure facility; drive to school and community sites and to meetings; occasionally work evenings/weekends to attend meetings/special events. The ability to work in the field and interact with the public, other County employees, including supervisors and managers, and staff and management in other governmental and regulatory agencies.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via e-mail of their status in the process.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Applications Appraisal Panel | AAP (Weighted 100%)
An Application Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen and evaluate all application materials for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most competitive applicants will move forward in the recruitment process.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedure listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see below for important information regarding COVID-19 related recommendations.

Effective April 3, 2023, it is strongly recommended that County employees working in health care settings and correctional facilities follow vaccination and booster guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please click hereto see the latest guidance for more details.

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Keren Duran at 714-834-5292 or kduran@ochca.com.

EEO INFORMATION

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays-we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.