Health Education Associates, Brooklyn Neighborhood Health

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is a world-renowned agency with a long tradition of protecting and promoting health in the nation’s most culturally and linguistically diverse city. Our 7,000-plus team members bring an extraordinary array of languages, cultures, and experiences to bear on the work of public health. The Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness (CHECW) seeks to eliminate racial and other inequities resulting in premature mortality. With an unwavering grounding in history and structural analysis, CHECW works to increase visibility of the harm perpetuated by centuries of racist, socially unjust policy while pushing towards redress for the most affected NYC communities. CHECW addresses inequity across community and health-care systems in partnership with community, faith-based, and health-care organizations. CHECW’s work focuses on the social determinants of health, including environmental and commercial determinants, and addresses both upstream and downstream factors to improve the health and well-being of New Yorkers. CHECW employs anti-racism approaches to reduce and minimize unfair exposure to risk and to advance health justice and social change.

One important area of focus is perinatal health, especially eliminating the inequities in maternal and child health outcomes that currently exist in New York City. CHECW’s birth equity work is centered in three Bureaus of Neighborhood Health (one each in the Bronx, Harlem, and Brooklyn), which partner with community stakeholders to address health inequities and the drivers of premature mortality. Poor maternal and infant outcomes result from longstanding structural inequality. among other factors. Therefore, the Bureaus of Neighborhood Health (BNH) provide tangible resources, practical support, community capacity-building, and workforce development; partner with health systems to improve the provision of care; and inform policy through broad-based coalitions.

Each BNH hosts a Family Wellness Suite, which supports the portfolio of perinatal health programs within that bureau. Physically, the Family Wellness Suites (FWS) are safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces where families and individuals can connect to community resources and city services, such as workshops to lower the risk of chronic diseases and promote health and well-being, fitness activities, classes to support fathers, referrals to social-service and medical providers, referrals to doulas (childbirth-support professionals), and other programs to support a healthy pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn. The FWS’s support the work of the Citywide Doula Initiative, Healthy Start Brooklyn, Breastfeeding/Lactation Equity Initiative, and other grant-funded perinatal health programs and initiatives.
Each Health Education Associate will be based in one of CHECW’s Bureaus of Neighborhood Health and will report to the Family Wellness Suite Coordinator at that site.

Responsibilities:
In consultation with the Family Wellness Suite Coordinator and other perinatal health program leadership, develop a comprehensive health education portfolio for the FWS that incorporates the goals and objectives of the Citywide Doula Initiative, Healthy Start Brooklyn, Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities, and other BNH programs that address the social determinants of perinatal health;
Tailor workshops and classes to meet the language and other cultural needs of community residents, educating residents on maternal health subject matter;
Coordinates the “Virtual Family Wellness Suite” portfolio of programs and services for expectant and new families who are not able to attend programs in person;
Elicits participation from community residents being served, with the objective of residents becoming group facilitators and trainers;
Conduct outreach and recruitment; monitor electronic registration platforms, email, telephone, and online enrollment forms; send out Zoom links, handouts, and other resources;
Responsible for maintaining records, and tracking client participation in workshops and trainings being offered;
Compile and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on classes and activities; make recommendations for improving service and increasing attendance;
Develop or expand capacity-building opportunities for BNH staff and neighborhood stakeholders to support preconception, pregnant, and parenting clients through the identification and/or facilitation of education sessions/workshops, including the adoption of breastfeeding/lactation-friendly policies and practices;
Collaborate in the development of health-promotion events (community baby showers, Meet the Doula events, etc.) and celebrations (Black Maternal Health Week, National Breastfeeding Month, etc.);
Draft and distribute the monthly FWS-CDI calendar of virtual and in-person classes and events, in conjunction with BNH team;
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qual Requirements
 
Qualification Requirements
1. High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1” above.
Preferred Skills
 
Strong understanding of and commitment to birth equity
Experience working with community members and organizations
Experience providing instruction in perinatal support, through childbirth education, breastfeeding education, perinatal exercise groups, parenting classes, and/or similar programs.
Understanding of and experience around community development and health issues in urban, underserved neighborhoods
Comfortable working in a community setting with diverse populations
Strong coordination and organizational skills
Detail oriented; able to manage projects and work independently
Positive attitude, strong work ethic, and excellent customer-service skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Additional Information
 
**IMPORTANT NOTES TO ALL CANDIDATES:

Please note: If you are called for an interview you will be required to bring to your interview copies of original documentation, such as:
A document that establishes identity for employment eligibility, such as: A Valid U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card/Green Card, or Driver’s license.

Proof of Education according to the education requirements of the civil service title.

Current Resume

Proof of Address/NYC Residency dated within the last 60 days, such as: Recent Utility Bill (i.e. Telephone, Cable, Mobile Phone)

Additional documentation may be required to evaluate your qualification as outlined in this posting’s “Minimum Qualification Requirements” section. Examples of additional documentation may be, but not limited to: college transcript, experience verification or professional trade licenses.

If after your interview you are the selected candidate you will be contacted to schedule an on-boarding appointment. By the time of this appointment you will be asked to produce the originals of the above documents along with your original Social Security card.

Public Svc Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at StudentAid.gov/PSLF.

“FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL”
To Apply
 
Apply online with a cover letter to https://a127-jobs.nyc.gov/. In the Job ID search bar, enter: job ID number # 565288.

We appreciate the interest and thank all applicants who apply, but only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.

The NYC Health Department is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and culturally responsive workforce. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and gender non-conforming persons to apply.

All applicants will be considered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, age, prior record of arrest; or any other basis prohibited by law.

NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your resume that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program.
Residency Requirement
 
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.