Prevention Specialist - Full Time - Drug & Alcohol Commission

Job Description

Department: Cumberland Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission

Address: Dennis Marion Public Services Building, 16 W. High Street, Suite 302, Carlisle, PA 17013

Work Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Monday through Friday (75 hours bi-weekly); with occasional evening and weekend work for programming required

Type Position: Permanent, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Merit Hire

External or Internal: Internal and External

Position Code: DU2009

Title: Prevention Specialist – Drug & Alcohol Commission

Salary: $27.03 per hour / $52,708.50 per year

Five Factor Grade: 110

Posting Period: September 3, 2026 - September 17, 2026

Job Summary:

The Prevention Specialist supports community health by coordinating and delivering evidence‑based prevention, education, and early‑intervention services related to substance misuse, problem gambling, and harm reduction efforts. This role strengthens local prevention capacity through collaboration with schools, coalitions, and community partners; provides training and technical assistance; contributes to data‑driven planning and evaluation; and engages the public through outreach and awareness efforts. The position also ensures accurate documentation, regulatory compliance, and completion of required screenings and trainings, with regular local travel and occasional evening or weekend hours.

Essential Job Functions:

Community Collaboration & Coalition Engagement

• Collaborates with community groups, task forces, interagency coordination teams, healthcare organizations, and social service agencies to establish and maintain comprehensive prevention and early‑intervention services.
• Participates in community coalitions and interagency teams to support prevention, early‑intervention, and harm‑reduction initiatives.
• Supports the building of community capacity and readiness to develop additional school district or borough/township coalitions to expand participation in effective primary prevention activities.

Training, Technical Assistance & Program Support

• Provides technical assistance, training, and consultation to schools, community organizations, and the public on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) prevention, problem gambling prevention, evidence‑based curricula, and harm‑reduction strategies.
• Provides information and technical support on evidence‑based ATOD and problem gambling curricula and assists with implementation of evidence‑based programming.
• Supports collaboration with healthcare and social service organizations to promote training and awareness of Substance Misuse Brief Interventions, Tobacco Intervention and Cessation, Problem Gambling Intervention, and harm‑reduction practices.

Data, Planning & Evaluation

• In collaboration with leadership, identifies high‑risk populations through data collection and collaboration and develops appropriate prevention strategies.
• Supports the collection within schools of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) activities, including attending EPIS and DDAP trainings/webinars, increasing school district participation, analyzing data, and developing an inclusive communication strategy.
• Supports efforts to meet DDAP deliverables, including community needs assessments, development of defined prevention plans, program evaluation, and required reporting.

Education, Outreach & Public Awareness

• Prepares and delivers presentations to school and community groups to increase awareness of substance misuse (including tobacco and vaping) and problem gambling.
• Prepares a variety of media and informational materials on substance misuse, gambling prevention, and harm‑reduction topics.
• Reviews, evaluates, and utilizes traditional and digital media strategies for disseminating ATOD and problem gambling information.
• Supports and implements state and federal public information and awareness campaigns.

Service Delivery & Documentation

• Travels throughout Cumberland and Perry Counties to provide prevention services.
• Provides school‑based tobacco and vaping intervention and cessation services.
• Documents service activities through logs and data collection forms for designated state data systems and attends all required system‑related trainings.
• Utilizes technology and web‑based tools to deliver and document prevention services both in‑person and virtually.
• Responds to telephone and walk‑in requests for information and referrals for prevention; maintains familiarity with relevant online and agency‑developed resources.

Harm Reduction & Naloxone Distribution

• Supports community harm‑reduction efforts, including distribution of naloxone and other approved harm‑reduction tools.
• Provides education to individuals, families, schools, and community organizations on naloxone use, overdose recognition, and harm‑reduction practices.
• Participates in outreach events, trainings, and coalition activities to increase awareness and utilization of harm‑reduction strategies.

Screening, Compliance & Professional Development

• Conducts Court Reporting Network (CRN) screenings for DUI offenders and records information in the PennDOT online database; completes required CRN training.
• Complies with all state and federal laws regarding client confidentiality and substance misuse and tobacco services in school and community settings.
• Successfully completes required professional trainings to meet state requirements and enhance skills related to prevention and intervention programming, with emphasis on evidence‑based practices.

Other Duties

• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Evening and occasional weekend work may be required.

Minimum Requirements to Perform the Work:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in health education, Education, Social or Behavioral Services, or a related field, plus computer training.
• Preferred Certified Prevention Specialist or willingness to complete certification within 12 months.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of one year of experience in drug and alcohol prevention.
• Preference given to candidates with additional years of direct prevention experience.
• Substitution: An equivalent combination of training and experience may be accepted. Related education may be substituted for the required experience, and appropriate experience may be substituted for the required education.
• Clearances: Prior to employment candidate must receive clearances from: PA State Police, FBI, PA Child Abuse Registry, and Office of the Inspector General and Federal Health Care Programs Exclusion Screening. These clearances must be maintained throughout employment.

Selection Criteria:

• Meet the minimum experience, education, and training for the job.
• Meritorious service: defined as the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting.

Recruitment Methods:

• Hyrell Merit Hire Internal Posting
• Transfer
• Reassignment
• Voluntary Demotion
• Promotion

Current County Employees will follow the County Merit Hire Promotion/Demotion Policy.

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations for the interview due to a disability, please advise the interviewer of the accommodations you require well in advance of the scheduled date.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Company Description

Mission Statement: To provide essential services that respond to community needs and promote well-being, while maintaining a financially sound foundation.

We are always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this job application!

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT/ISSUES WITH APPLYING:

If you are having technology issues with the application or with uploading your resume and/or cover letter please reach out to KeldairHR Customer Support at support@keldairhr.com or Cumberland County Human Resources at humanresources@cumberlandcountypa.gov.

EMAIL CONFIRMATION:

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Benefits

Medical Benefits:

• Capital Blue Cross Medical Insurance
  • Health Savings Account
  • Wellness program with wellness incentives
• Capital Blue Cross Vision Insurance
• United Concordia Dental Insurance

Retirement Benefits:

• County Retirement Pension
  • 5% minimum pre-tax contribution required, with the option of increasing your contribution over 5% up to 15% post-tax
  • Fully vested after 5 years of credited service
  • Normal Retirement Options:
    • Age 55 with 20 years of credited service
    • Age 60 with any amount of credited service
• Voluntary 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
• Military Time Buy Back Options

Paid Time Off:

• Vacation
  • 10 days per year, accrued per pay period (Non-Exempt)
  • 15 days per year, accrued per pay period (Exempt)
  • Increase for both Non-Exempt and Exempt of 5 days per year after 2 years of service
• Personal
  • 3 Personal days per year, pro-rated based on starting date
• Sick
  • 5 Sick days per year, pro-rated based on starting date
• 12 Paid County Holidays
  • No waiting period to receive paid holidays

Additional Benefits:

• Educational Assistance
  • 80% of cost of tuition and books up to the annual IRS limit per calendar year (after 6 months of Full-Time Employment)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – certain eligibility requirements must be met
• Employee Assistance Program
  • Resources for: Childcare, Eldercare, Legal, Financial, and Coaching
• Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Account
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance