Prevention Educator

Description

Join Our Team and Help Build Healthier, Safer Communities

Do you enjoy connecting with people, starting meaningful conversations, and empowering others with knowledge that helps them make healthier choices?

The Community Health Partnerships branch of the Penobscot Bay YMCA (PBCHP), is seeking a part-time Prevention Educator to support substance use prevention efforts across Knox and Waldo counties
. In this role, you will work directly with schools, organizations, and community partners to deliver engaging education, strengthen local relationships, and help create environments that support healthier, substance-free communities.

This is a community-facing, relationship-driven role for someone who values prevention, education, and collaboration—and wants their work to make a visible, local impact.

Details

• Status:
  Part-time, approximately 28 hours per week
• Location:
  
  Home base in Rockport, with frequent travel throughout Knox & Waldo Counties and occasional statewide travel
• Start Date:
  
  as early as January 5, 2026
• This position is supported by grant funding

• Deliver engaging, age-appropriate substance use prevention education to schools, organizations, and community groups
• Build trusted relationships with educators, recovery organizations, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and other local partners
• Promote free prevention resources and encourage community participation
• Support local policy, environmental, and harm-reduction strategies that reduce substance misuse
• Participate in community partnership meetings and collaborative initiatives
• Contribute to outreach and education efforts through social media and marketing support
• Track activities, outcomes, and required reporting in alignment with grant requirements

• A community-minded educator, advocate, or outreach professional who enjoys working with diverse groups
• Strong communication skills and comfort presenting to groups of varying sizes
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small, mission-driven team
• Interest in prevention science, health education, and community-level change
• Comfort navigating sensitive topics with empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, Education, Behavioral Health, Social Work, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis
• Provisional Prevention Specialist (PPS) Certification required (may be obtained upon employment)
• Ability to complete requirements for Maine Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) certification within 18 months (cost covered by PBCHP)
• Functional competency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Zoom (or willingness to learn)
• Strong organizational, time management, and facilitation skills

• Meaningful Impact – Your work directly supports healthier outcomes for youth, families, and communities in Midcoast Maine
• Professional Growth – Training, certification support, and opportunities to deepen prevention expertise
• Supportive Team Environment – Work alongside passionate professionals committed to community health
• Benefits: Earned Sick Time, Day 1 access to a 403(b) retirement investment account, free individual YMCA membership

Requirements

• Implement culturally appropriate substance use prevention strategies in the approved work plan by working closely with the Director of Community Health Promotion, the state public health district, and local partners.
• Create and present engaging public educational offerings on substance-use prevention topics to schools, organizations, and community members.
• Effectively promote the free resources made available by PBCHP to encourage participation.
• Build relationships with other community sectors in Knox and Waldo Counties, including but not limited to schools, law enforcement, recovery organizations, healthcare/behavioral health providers, alcohol and cannabis retailers.
• Contribute to PBCHP social media and marketing under the guidance of the Director of Community Health Promotion.
• Recruit local stakeholders in PBCHP Community Partnership Meetings and build mutually beneficial…