Public Health Educator - Goodhue County

Goodhue County Health & Human Services is currently hiring a full time (40 hours a week) Public Health Educator - Youth Prevention Specialist.
Come join the public service team at Goodhue County Health & Human Services! You will be a part of skilled, caring and knowledgeable HHS professionals whose talents and contributions promote, strengthen and protect the health of individuals, families and communities in Goodhue County every single day!
This Public Health Educator will build strong relationships with youth to build a youth led, school-based substance use prevention program. As Youth Prevention Specialist, this GCHHS Public Health Educator will partner closely with the Goodhue County Education District (GCED) in Red Wing. They will work to recruit a team of GCED students, who will be compensated for their time. This Public Health Educator will provide training, support and mentoring to the student team. This newly created position is funded through June 2026 by a Minnesota Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council grant, and the project could be extended and/or expanded if additional funding is secured. A part time, young adult community health worker will also be hired with grant funds.
The pay rate is $32.51 - $37.38/hour and is negotiable. Full time 40 hours/week. The County's comprehensive benefit package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, health savings account, employer paid life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, Public Employees RetirementPlan, accident insurance, tax-deferred compensation, generous vacation, sick leave and 13 paid holidays per year. County employees are eligible for the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Goodhue County Health and Human Services Primary Functions:

• Partner closely with the grant-funded community health worker and with Goodhue County Education District to recruit a team of GCED students in grades 8-12 to lead substance use prevention efforts.
• Center youth voice by educating and empowering students so they can drive every aspect of programming, including decision making, service delivery, and program evaluation.
• Focus youth-led efforts on both preventing substance use issues before they start, AND also connecting students to Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor support when substance use issues are present.
• Eliminate barriers to participation by bringing services directly to students, which means training, support, mentoring, and meetings occur at Goodhue County Education District's schools in Red Wing and online, during times students are available, including some evenings and weekends.
• Make ongoing, focused efforts to reach participants who are from populations disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis, by building relationships with trusted messengers.
• Establish regular meetings of the youth team for training and planning. Plan, manage, deliver, and evaluate educational programs and events. Develop educational and outreach materials.
• Train and equip youth to utilize evidence-based approach of increasing protective factors and reducing risk factors for substance misuse. For example, a risk factor is inaccurate beliefs about the amount of substance use really going on among their peers. A protective factor is helping youth feel connected with each other and with their school.
• Train and equip youth to educate other students, caregivers, and educators on substance use.
• Train and equip youth to lead community education and coalition building activities in collaboration with the Goodhue County Chemical and Mental Health Coalition
• Serve as the designated project manager for the OERAC grant, participating in required grantee meetings, contributing to budget and work plan revisions, and completing required reporting.

Merit System Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with a major in Public Health education, community health education or a closely related field;
OR
Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of experience in at least three (3) of the following areas:
1. writing, designing and producing Public Health informational materials including fact sheets, reports, articles and pamphlets;
2. researching, designing and writing Public Health training manuals and other training materials;
3. organizing and presenting workshops or recruiting, organizing and coordinating the training of community groups;
4. researching, writing, producing and distributing newsletters;
5. designing and maintaining a clearinghouse of Public Health education materials.
Goodhue County Minimum Qualifications:

• Baccalaureate in community health, health education, or related field and one year of experience working with community-based initiatives or collaboration with multiple groups in the area of health prevention/promotion.
• Graduate degree in community health, Public Health, or related field may substitute for experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Goodhue County Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience (paid or unpaid) leading, teaching, and/or managing programs for youth strongly preferred.
• Experience designing, developing, delivering, and/or evaluating educational programs for youth preferred.

The examination will consist of a rating of training and experience based on the information you provide in your application and your responses to the supplemental questions included in the application process. You must read the questions carefully, answer truthfully, and include any experience claimed in your answers to the supplemental questions in the "work experience" section of your application. Any experience claimed in your answers to the supplemental questions but not included in the Work Experience section of you application will not be credited.You will be asked to verify your degree with official transcripts upon hire.
Once your application has been submitted changes cannot be made. If you have a change in location availability or your contact information changes please email dhs.merit.system@state.mn.us with the new information and include your applicant ID.
Apply to the posting by clicking on this link: 567-OC (Public Health Educator)
At Goodhue County we embrace equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Employment Type: Full Time Permanent