State Adolescent Health Coordinator

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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The State Adolescent Health Coordinator performs advanced consultative services and technical assistance work in the Child and Adolescent Health Group of the Maternal and Child Health Unit. This position provides support to Department of State Health Services (DSHS) staff, community organizations, professional groups, other state agencies, and the public.

This position serves as the statewide contact for adolescent (ages 10-24) health knowledge and information. Duties include identifying emerging trends in adolescent health and promoting best practices by planning, developing, and implementing programmatic work to achieve Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant performance measures; coordinating, developing, and carrying out the Title V Block Grant Action Plan related to adolescent health; providing leadership and management of interagency agreements and projects; implementing techniques for measuring, evaluating, and achieving program goals; collecting, organizing, analyzing, and preparing material in response to requests for information and reports; reporting on activities that address adolescent health in the annual Title V Block Grant Application and five-year needs assessment; assisting with planning and coordination related to Adolescent Health procurements and contracts; identifying collaborative opportunities across administrative boundaries to assure positive health outcomes for adolescents in Texas.  Works under limited supervision of the Child and Adolescent Health Group Manager, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. 

Serves as the primary source of information and expertise on adolescent health priorities related to the Title V Block Grant, such as injury prevention, secondhand smoke exposure reduction, positive youth development, chronic disease prevention, nutrition and physical activity, health disparity reduction, parent education, and youth engagement. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets qualitative and quantitative data as it relates to adolescent health and emotional well-being.  Based on knowledge of data, and review of research and program innovations, identifies trends in adolescent health; sets benchmarks and monitors progress for Texas in meeting goals and objectives for improving overall adolescent health; and provides leadership for priority setting, planning, and implementing work plans and best practices for the adolescent population.  Mobilizes community partnerships among policy makers, health care providers, families, and others to address adolescent health issues. (30%)

Provides assistance and oversight to contractors implementing evidence-based interventions and programs to improve adolescent health outcomes. Coordinates planning and development of adolescent health education and implementation activities in the 8 Public Health Regions and public health agencies.  Provides consultation to programs for the design and development of policies and innovative practices for se in program and service planning.  Develops statewide educational activities as appropriate.  Establishes, facilitates, and/or participates in local, state, and national networks, workgroups, and committees that address adolescent health outcomes.  Seeks opportunities to integrate services for adolescent health. (30%)

Provides subject matter expertise on adolescent health. Collaborates with groups addressing adolescent health, including but not limited to, departments within Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Health and Human Services Commission, Office of Attorney General, other state agencies, community groups, and professional organizations.  Writes, reviews, edits and/or updates reports, presentations, educational and resource materials, briefings, and/or proposals related to adolescent health.  Develops mechanisms to disseminate information relating to child health issues and services.  Participates in ongoing Title V activities, such as completing sections of the Block Grant Application and the five-year needs assessment related to children. Responds to legislative and ad-hoc requests for information.  Participates in state-level, regional, and national professional development, planning, and policy development activities. Serves as liaison or in a leadership capacity with other internal/external public, private and community local, state, and national partners who share common objectives or benchmarks directed towards improving adolescent health outcomes and advancing common goals.  Maintains effective communication with national adolescent health partners in the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs and the National Network of State Adolescent Health Coordinators Coordinates, improves, and stimulates interest in special projects to improve adolescent health.  May lead or assist programs in identifying and securing grants. (25%)

Supports review and analysis of adolescent health policy and proposed legislation, review of existing data, and consultation with stakeholders. Synthesizes data and information, performs analysis of policy options, and articulates policy options in writing and in presentations. Works with multiple internal and external stakeholders in the review and development of options, through workgroups and individually. (10%)

Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery, Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, and/or serving on the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) team.  Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of: Adolescent health, clinical/laboratory methods of evaluation and standards of care for children, community needs assessment process, adolescent development, including positive youth development, best practices related to adolescent health and safety and parent education, principles and practices of public health administration at the federal, state, and local levels, public health services in Texas, federal health care funding systems, health and population statistical evaluation and epidemiology, the scientific method, contract or grant development and management

Skill in: Planning, implementing, and evaluating health services, analyzing and interpreting data, benchmarking, developing evaluation and assessment tools, oral and written communication, critical thinking and reviewing research, understanding, analyzing, and resolving problems, presenting educational programs.

Ability to: Think creatively and work independently, work collaboratively and productively with related DSHS programs, other agencies and organizations, and people from varying professional, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, establish goals and objectives and monitor progress toward achieving them, develop, evaluate, and interpret programmatic and administrative policies and procedures and convey to others.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Required: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. 

Required: Experience working in public health, population health, or health policy development.

Required: Experience in program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Required: Experience in contract or grant management and monitoring.

Preferred: Graduate degree in public health, public affairs, public administration, social sciences.

Preferred: Work in adolescent health.

Additional Information:

This position is eligible for telework, which will be determined by agency and division telework policies. The employee will be required to come into the office, as directed, to fullfill essential job functions. DSHS will provide a computer, related equipment, and basic office supplies. Selected applicants must have a home office location free from distractions, the ability to provide personal home internet service, and the ability to ensure confidentiality in the workplace.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form