Health Educator II; A266027-2 Healthy Texas Babies

Job Title

Health Educator II

This position is grant funded. Therefore, it is solely dependent on the availability of grant funds. The Health Educator II will work under the Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies (HTMB) program in the Community Health Division, focusing on maternal and infant health outcomes in the community. The position requires strategic planning to coordinate the Health Texas Mothers and Babies Community Coalition (HTMB CC) to increase local capacity through partnerships with stakeholders.

The Health Educator II will lead outreach and education efforts, support data-driven strategies to reduce disparities in infant mortality, and promote evidence-based practices, such as safe infant sleep. Additional responsibilities include assisting with grant-related deliverables, maintaining grant compliance, and preparing reports to the Texas Department of State and Health Services (DSHS).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate and implement activities that support the Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies (HTMB) program, including safe infant sleep education, breastfeeding promotion, and maternal health initiatives.
• Develop and adapt culturally appropriate educational materials and outreach strategies to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in the community.
• Facilitate community trainings and classes for parents, caregivers, and partner organization on topics such as safe infant sleep, breastfeeding support, and continuity of care.
• Collaborate with hospitals and clinics to review discharge process to identify gaps in continuity of care.
• Lead partnerships with local coalitions to advance HTMB objectives.
• Provide technical assistance to employers seeking the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite (TMFW) designation and promote workplace lactation support.
• Conduct informational sessions for community groups, organizations, and employers on TMFW designation.
• Collect, analyze, and report program data, including attendance, surveys, and performance metrics, to evaluate the effectiveness of program.
• Monitor local maternal and infant health trends to inform strategic planning and program objectives.
• Use local maternal/infant health data (example: birth outcomes, breastfeeding rates, safe sleep practices) to identify high-need neighborhoods and prioritize outreach efforts.
• Create dashboards or reports summarizing outreach outcomes and share with stakeholders to demonstrate progress towards HTMB objectives.
• Communicate effectively with diverse populations in English and Spanish.
• Respond to inquiries from community members and partner organizations regarding HTMB resources.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to stakeholders, community groups, and professional networks on HTMB initiatives.
• Utilize technology and software for documentation, presentations, virtual meetings, and social media engagement aligned with HTMB messaging.
• Develop communication campaigns that promote HTMB goals through social media, advertisement, and print materials.
• Monitors and evaluates progress of the Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies (HTMB) Program.
• Participate in professional development and training to stay current on best practices.
• Apply knowledge of public health principles and maternal/infant best practices.
• Assist in grant reporting and documentation to ensure compliance with funding requirements.
• Ensure all activities adhere to state and local health department compliance policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of

• English/Spanish grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Principles and practices of health education and promotion.
• Maternal and infant health topics, including breastfeeding, safe infant sleep, and workplace lactation support.
• Health behavior theories and models used in public health.
• Community outreach strategies and coalition-building techniques.
• State and federal maternal/child health initiatives (Texas Ten Step).
• Risk factors and social determinants of health (SDOH) impacting maternal/infant health.
• Data collection, analysis, and reporting methods.
• Basics of budgeting and resource allocation for program activities.
• Confidentiality standards.
• Social media platforms and digital communication strategies for public health messaging.
• Virtual meeting platforms (Webex, Teams).
• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication for reporting, grant writing, and public presentations.
• Planning, organizing, and facilitating community trainings and outreach events.
• Developing culturally appropriate educational materials and health communication strategies.
• Analyzing local health trends and use data to guide program strategies.
• Problem-solving and addressing challenges.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and employers.
• Adapting to changing priorities and emerging public health needs.
• Working independently and as…