Mental Health Prevention Specialist Western Tidewater Community Service Board Forward, Together

Western Tidewater CSB is seeking a Mental Health Prevention Specialist for our Prevention Team in Franklin, VA.
Job Summary:

The Mental Health Prevention Specialist plays a crucial role in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs aimed at preventing mental health disorders and promoting psychological well-being within a community or organization. This role involves collaborating with stakeholders, conducting research, and employing evidence-based practices to develop effective prevention initiatives. The Prevention Specialist educates, raises awareness, and provides support to individuals and groups to enhance mental health resilience and reduce the incidence of mental illness.

Program Development: Design, develop, and implement mental health prevention programs and strategies tailored to address specific risk factors, promote protective factors, and enhance resilience among individuals and communities.

Research and Assessment: Conduct needs assessments, literature reviews, and data analysis to identify prevalent mental health issues, contributing factors, and gaps in existing prevention efforts. Utilize research findings to inform program planning and decision-making.

Community Engagement: Collaborate with community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, and other stakeholders to build partnerships and support for mental health prevention initiatives. Engage with target populations to understand their needs and preferences.

Education and Training: Deliver educational presentations, workshops, and training sessions to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and build coping skills and help-seeking behaviors. Provide resources and support to empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps to maintain mental wellness.

Resource Coordination: Identify and mobilize resources, including funding, materials, and personnel, to support mental health prevention activities. Coordinate with internal and external partners to leverage expertise and maximize impact.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish performance metrics and evaluation criteria to assess the effectiveness of mental health prevention programs. Monitor program implementation, collect data on outcomes, and analyze results to make evidence-based recommendations for program improvement.

• Minimum:
  High school diploma or GED.
• Preferred (but not required):
  Some college coursework in psychology, sociology, public health, or related fields.

• Experience working with diverse populations, especially youth and families.
• Any prior involvement with prevention programs (substance use, violence prevention, mental health, etc.) is a plus.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (comfortable presenting to groups or engaging the community).
• Ability to build rapport with youth, parents, schools, and community partners.
• Willingness to be trained in evidence-based prevention programs.
• Organizational skills (tracking attendance, helping with event setup, maintaining basic reports).
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to different backgrounds.

• Health Insurance/Life Insurance
• Retirement/Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Vacation/Sick leave
• Legal Resources
• VA529-Tuition Savings
• Aflac

Job Title:
Mental Health Prevention Specialist