Environmental Preventionist 


IPS Job Description 
Environmental Preventionist
Levels 1-4
Job Summary
A Preventionist is a catalyst and facilitator who plans and leads policy based change by skillfully applying the atomic model of environmental prevention (Applied Data and Research, Intentional Community Organizing, Enforcement, Media Advocacy, and Policy) to ATOD (alcohol, tobacco, and other drug) issues in the community.  This position requires an aptitude for strategic thinking, a tolerance for ambiguity combined with the discipline to stay focused and work towards a stated vision.  It also requires an attitude that change is possible.  Skills and abilities are grouped below in the areas of the prevention model and further defined by level of skill and experience:
Intentional Community Organizing: 
Ability to assess a community’s readiness for change
Can identify and coordinate groups & people aligned with specified goals; does not need consensus to move project forward.
Creates and leads presentations to small and large community groups.
Facilitates meetings and workgroup sessions toward outcome and action.
Applied Data and Research:
Capable of interpreting charts, graphs, percentages and other statistical material.
Can authenticate the problem with facts.
Capacity to contribute to the design and methodology of research for specific problem identification.
Understands data needs and measurements in formulating policy change.
Enforcement:
Understands contribution and limits of deterrents/punishments in prevention.
Knowledge of enforcement systems.
Can enroll, educate law enforcement agencies and officers in prevention efforts. 
Ability to recognize people within the enforcement system with vision.
Policy:
Understands role of policy vs. education in public health and safety.
Knowledge of ATOD local and state policies and their effectiveness. 
Ability to lobby for a policy approach to an ATOD problem.
Skills and capacity in process of passing local policy.
Media Advocacy:
Knowledge of media habits, how to work with them and how to manage them.
Understands the difference between problem/information news and problem/policy solution news. 
Ability to frame a problem as a collective issue with a policy solution.
Skills in producing media events and related logistical tasks.
Related Project Skills: 
Because the nature of the work is project focused involving other groups and various timelines and activities, related skills such as good time management, timely written reports, and good team relationships are essential.  
Behavioral Traits:
The person who does well in this position learns quickly, is a self-starter with high energy who responds well to multiple demands on their time.  This person is comfortable with self-expression and leadership, maintains a positive view about outcomes, and accepts risk in making decisions and is capable of precise communications.
Prevention Levels of Skills and Experience
Level 1: Has capacity to interface with the strategic process while learning full model of environmental prevention. Responsible for public relation type communications, operation of video camera and other information tracking. Works under supervision.
Level 2:   Understands the full model and can work in most of the elements, plus has some capacity to integrate them functionally in community work.  Can assess a community's readiness and think strategically about goals and policy development, seeks help from supervisors/strategists on consistent basis.  Is goal focused, can see the difference between community organizing and intention purposeful organizing to achieve policy or other desired outcomes.  Has generated over 50 policy-focused and strategic news stories/article/etc. and has been part of the team process of passing policy. Minimum of 2 years full time experience in environmental prevention.
Level 3:   Provides leadership and takes responsibility for accomplishing policy goals and real community norm changes, integrates his/her staff colleagues/consultant/etc. in effective and strategic change actions.  Has excellent capacity and skills in all of the areas of the prevention model understanding the ways in which the integration supports goals. Can supervise workers effectively.  Seeks strategic help/consulting early and often, as needed, seeks appropriate viewpoints and information to foster creative approach and response. Works with management to create new projects and expand current ones.  Contributes effectively to grant writing.  Minimum of 4 years full time experience in environmental prevention.
Level 4:   Provides leadership and manages or oversees multiple projects toward goal focused results.   Takes the lead in developing new initiatives and projects, securing funding, and creating partnership endeavors.  Interfaces with high level officials and funders. Minimum 6 years of successful work in environmental prevention.

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