26-048 Prevention Programmer, Full-Time at City of Dover – Dover, New Hampshire

The Prevention Programmer is a civilian position within the Community Outreach Bureau Prevention Services Unit. The Prevention Programmer is primarily responsible to implement prevention strategies by planning and conduct alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) prevention programs within the community.

The Prevention Programmer’s duties involve working directly with middle and high school students and the broader community. The Prevention Programmer must be motivated to work with youth and have the ability to gain the respect of adolescents, while holding them accountable for their actions. The Prevention Programmer must have the unique ability to perform the functions of educator, counselor, and adult role model to students within the community. Additionally, the position requires an individual that can work closely with adult educators and police department personnel in the development and implementation of police department and community wide prevention strategies. Lastly, a Prevention Programmer, with the proper skills and abilities, may be assigned to the role of the data analyst.

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week non-exempt position. $24.43 to $35.37 per hour. Position is open until filled.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Except as specifically noted, the following functions are considered essential to this position. The listed examples may not include all duties found in this class):

1. Plan and conduct ATOD prevention programs targeting differing age groups within the community and school system. Programs may include media development, policy change, education presentations, community awareness projects, or coordinating workgroups for special events or initiatives.
   
2. Collaborate with local, state and federal prevention programs and organizations, and their staff.
   
3. Serve in an advisor to Dover Youth to Youth and coordinate the activities of these peer based prevention groups within the community, to include: timely communication with parents and students; preparing for each meeting; setting and creating agendas for each meeting; conducting trainings as appropriate for current activities; and supervising Youth to Youth activities in the community.
   
4. Provide training as assigned. This may include adult or youth audiences and include training student members of Youth to Youth in core advocacy skills such as: public speaking, policy change, working with the press, and creating media. Also includes training students to conduct any task they are implementing before the activity takes place and “quality control” steps during and after the activity.
   
5. Support and maintain administrative systems within the Community Outreach Bureau Prevention Services Unit, to include: providing information for monthly reports, gathering data for grants, inventory control, and data archive.
   
6. Complete administrative responsibilities as assigned, to include: posting current events and activities on Facebook or other social media, updating web sites, maintaining contact lists and other data bases, and preparing press releases, letters and other written documents.
   
7. Perform other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS: The Prevention Programmer must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Communication skills: Must have strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to teach prevention topics, the ability to teach advocacy skills, and the ability to teach youth and others to be instructors.
  
• Technology skills: must develop and maintain the ability to: (1) effectively use word processing, spread sheets, Publisher, and PowerPoint; (2) perform basic photography; (3) use of video editing software; (4) maintain social media sites; (5) maintain databases; and, (5) modify / update existing web sites used by the Coalition and Youth to Youth.
  
• Organizing skills: This position requires the ability to participate in the planning, development, and organizing of community wide substance abuse prevention programs and initiatives. Must be able to oversee the implementation of complex community programs.
  
• Prevention Knowledge: Must develop and maintain knowledge of: (1) the basic principles of prevention programming and the prevention field, (2) the consequences of the use and misuse of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and other commonly misused substances, and (3) knowledge of the laws, current events and trends relating to substance misuse.
  
• Advocacy knowledge: Must develop and maintain knowledge of the process for implementing community advocacy activities, to include: audio and video media development, educational programs, legislative initiatives, non-legislative policy change, and community awareness programs.
  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
The minimum requirements for the position are as follows:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or is currently enrolled in such a program and agrees to attain that level of education.
  
• Has attained and currently holds Certified Prevention Specialist status in New Hampshire; or is willing to work toward that status.

The preferred qualifications for the position are as follows:

• Master’s degree in public health, social work, or other relevant field.
  
• Two years relevant experience youth development/leadership, public health education, health promotion or project management.
  

Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating effective and innovative drug prevention programs.