Beacon Mental Health's Prevention Team is working to eliminate substance use, promote mental health and build resilience in area youth. We are looking for a self-starter candidate with a deep passion for working alongside youth.  This position is responsible for coordinating programs, working with diverse partners, and developing innovative strategies that create long-term positive outcomes. We need a candidate with a strong attention to detail, creativity, inter-personal and written/verbal communication skills, and the ability to motivate, recruit and partner with youth!  

POSITION SUMMARY 
Planner, developer and implementer of programs with youth and area schools that focus on preventing substance use and promoting overall wellness. Work in partnership with all sectors of the community to create youth-focused programming and education for the prevention of underage drinking, nicotine use, marijuana use, misuse of prescription drugs, and other high-risk behaviors. Engage and lead high school students with energy and excitement. Use a variety of mediums (social networking, youth conferences, legislative advocacy) to create a safer environment for youth. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
Assist in the planning, implementing and evaluating of school and community based prevention programs. 

• Provide staff oversight of Youth With Vision, the youth advisory council to the Northland Coalition and Beacon Mental Health Prevention Services. Energize, motivate and role-model leadership skills for these 8th-12th grade students at monthly meetings and special events and fundraisers.   Monthly Youth With Vision meetings are often held on the weekends.
• Use passion and creativity to oversee and implement special youth programming such as: Northland Youth Leadership Summits, Youth With Vision fundraisers, advocacy visits with legislatoros and strategic planning retreats. Flexibility of schedule required, as many of these special projects take place during the evening or on weekends. 
• Develop and deliver effective and persuasive presentations to youth about alcohol, nicotine, marijuana and other drugs. Ability to speak in front of large groups and to area legislators.  
• Participate in community advisory/planning boards. Attends scheduled meetings, serves on committees for special projects.
• Assist with resource development and public relations activities for: grant writing and fundraising, development and editing of PR materials, public service announcements, TV and radio commercials and press releases. 
• Management and oversight of youth alcohol, tobacco/vaping and other drug (ATOD) programming-based grants and budgets, including partnerships with MARC, MODOT, county health departments, and others. 
• Coordinates youth involvement in alcohol and tobacco related compliance checks and retailer surveys. Assists in the implementaiton of SYNAR tobacco surveying.  
• Completes reports and other documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintains understanding and competency in technology systems (i.e.-Outlook, Publisher, Word and Constant Contact).  Coordinates Youth with Vision websites and social media presence.
• Exemplify prevention professional ethics to include role modeling healthy choices (i.e. non-smoker/vaping, responsible alcohol consumption and no use of illegal drugs).
• Sometimes physically demanding (must be able to lift 50 pounds). Reliable transportation required. 
• Represents agency in cooperative, positive manner, identifying and reporting any concerns regarding improvement of the service delivery system. 
• Works in cooperative and problem-solving manner with other Beacon Mental Health departments and community agencies. 
• Other duties and/or responsibilities may be assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
Education/Certifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or will consider 5 years of prior relevant experience. 
• Missouri Prevention Specialist Credentialed (or obtained within 6 months of hire). 
• Valid Driver’s License and minimum state-required auto insurance
• CPR/First Aid Certified (or obtained within first 2 months of hire)

Experience Required:
• Prior experience working with youth (ages 12-18)
• Prior experience developing and executing projects, managing social media accounts, and speaking to large groups, preferred.

Required Knowledge:
• Basic understanding or willingness to learn substance use prevention, grant writing and administration, advocacy, and youth development.  

Skills/Abilities:
• Advanced communication/presentation skills; strong attention to detail; proficient in designing and creating attractive promotional materials for programs.
• Competency of social networking mediums used to connect with teens (i.e.: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr).  Website content development and management).

Additional Requirements: 
• The ability to travel locally overnight as needed for projects/training. 
• The ability to work a flexible schedule which may include some early morning and/or evening hours and occasional weekends, as needed per specials requests. 




SPECIAL QUALIFICATION

The primary responsibilities of a Prevention Specialist include giving presentations to community groups, youth, and other members of the public regarding the use of nicotine, among other issues.  In this respect, a Prevention Specialist is not only an educator regarding the dangers of nicotine use, but also a role model and advocate for a health-conscious lifestyle.  The presentations given by a Prevention Specialist frequently take place in public or semi-public venues outside the premises of Beacon Mental Health, where interaction with target audiences before and after the presentations is common.  It is also common for Prevention Specialists to reside in or near the same communities in which they fulfill their advocacy role.  For all of these reasons, the use of products containing nicotine by a Prevention Specialist would interfere with the duties and performance of the position and the overall mission of Beacon Mental Health with respect to advocating and role modeling a healthy lifestyle.  Accordingly, an additional qualification for the Prevention Specialist position is that the employee is not a current user of products containing nicotine.