Company Overview

Health disparities among New Yorkers are large, persistent and increasing. Public Health Solutions (PHS) exists to change that trajectory and support vulnerable New York City families in achieving optimal health and building pathways to reach their potential. As the largest public health nonprofit serving New York City, we improve health outcomes and help communities thrive by providing services directly to vulnerable low-income families, supporting community-based organizations through our long-standing public-private partnerships, and bridging the gap between healthcare and community services. We focus on a wide range of public health issues including food and nutrition, health insurance, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, tobacco control, and HIV/AIDS. To learn more about our work, please visit healthsolutions.org.

Program Description

PHS Sexual and Reproductive Health Centers (SRH Centers) are located in Fort Greene and Brownsville, Brooklyn and provide affordable, comprehensive, and confidential reproductive and sexual healthcare to more than 3,000 community residents each year. We offer a complete range of services, including free walk-in pregnancy testing, gynecological exams, prenatal care, birth control, medication abortion, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, mental health services, and health education. PHS SRH Centers are also a member of the NYC DOHMH Family Youth Peer Support Program (FYPS) and provide comprehensive peer support and services to families and youth experiencing social, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges.

Position Summary

The PHS SRH Centers have been selected for a 5-Year grant from the NYSDOH to operate a Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (CAPP) program, focused on the Brownsville community of Brooklyn. CAPP community-based programs are part of the statewide adolescent prevention initiatives that utilize a youth development framework (refer to http://www.actforyouth.net/youth_development) and implement evidence-based practices to promote health in communities that lack resources and opportunities.

CAPP programs serve youth populations, ages 10-21, that lack social and economic opportunities to enable them to develop to their full potential. Priority populations include youth from racial and ethnic minorities; all youth from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and/or otherwise have special circumstances such as youth living in foster care; youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning; youth with special healthcare needs (including youth with cognitive learning delays, on the autism spectrum, or otherwise learning impaired); youth who are homeless; youth involved in the juvenile justice system; and other marginalized adolescent populations.

Funded programs are expected to develop and implement activities, the majority of which will be classroom-based, with the goal of improving opportunities for adolescents to develop and initiate positive health behaviors to prepare them for young adulthood. Applicants are expected to develop and implement specific activities based on the developmental, socio-economic, racial, ethnic, and cultural needs and perspectives of the population(s) to be served, and the resources and needs of the priority communities. Topics, messages, and teaching methods should be suitable to specific age groups of youth, based upon varying capacities of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. Programs need to describe informational and supportive activities where impact will be greatest to improve population health outcomes and equity.

In addition, PHS will reach youth with sexual health information through text messaging, digital media videos, public service announcements (PSAs), social media campaigns, websites, applications for cell phones, and organizational websites that are mobile friendly, and to identify local resources that provide comprehensive reproductive and family planning health services, including the Family Planning Benefit Program (FPBP).

Specifically, the Health Educator will:

• Complete orientation and trainings including mandatory on-line implementation training prior to delivering evidence-based programming. This training is available on the ACT for Youth website at www.actforyouth.net. Completes training for the specific evidence-based programming, if defined by the model developer.
• Deliver evidenced-based program with fidelity to youth in a variety of settings.
• Conduct community outreach and education.
• Complete required reporting accurately and timely as designated.
• Provide assistance and/or referrals for youth to obtain comprehensive family planning services, health services or other essential support services as identified.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health education or health related field preferred.
• An Associate’s Degree in a health-related field and 1 to 3 years of experience in the health education field.
• Ability to facilitate discussion /teach classes to youth in a variety of settings on reproductive health topics such as reproductive anatomy, contraceptive methods, STIs, and HIV/AIDS.
• Knowledge of and experience in health education, preferably in sexual and reproductive health; training techniques in health education and behavior modification; and knowledge of New York City’s underserved communities.
• Experience working with youth and demonstrated ability to be inclusive and non-stigmatizing in their role.
• Knowledge of or experience with priority population to be served and community.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and/or weekends.
• Preferred: Bilingual English/Spanish and other languages reflecting the patients served.
• Salary: $48,200.00 - $48,200.00.

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to the Health Educator Supervisor, CAPP.
• Works in collaboration with the Outreach Coordinator, Professional Health Educator and Training Manager.

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and veterans.