Wellbeing Educator – Alcohol and Other Drugs

Wellbeing Educator – Alcohol and Other Drugs

Amherst Campus

Full Time

JR3808

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Wellbeing Educator – Alcohol and Other Drugs position. The Wellbeing Educator – Alcohol and Other Drugs is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $61,545 per year. Given Amherst’s distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

Working as part of the Residential Engagement and Wellbeing Team (REWT), the Wellbeing Educator (WBE) will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to build on and advance the connection of our highly diverse student body to their environment and each other. This team is part of the larger structure in student affairs that is working to center wellbeing in the living and learning environment of Amherst College. The REWT bases its work in the tenants of the Okanagan Charter for Health Promoting Colleges and Universities. The WBE works at all levels of the socio-ecological model and utilizes a public health approach rooted in social justice to improve the health and wellbeing of our campus community.

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Health and Wellbeing, the (WBE) works as part of a team to advance a culture of wellbeing by developing, implementing, and assessing a theory-based, evidence- and trauma-informed, comprehensive campus-wide strategy to improve wellbeing. The REWT Wellbeing Educators have focus areas in sexual respect, alcohol and other substances misuse and prevention, sexuality and safer sex, and related topics related to skill development and environmental change. Other topics prioritized by the REWT include sleep, body image, belonging, connection, and coping mechanisms. Working together the WBEs create offerings and initiatives that are supportive of and build skills to enhance wellbeing, reduce harm, and build a positive campus culture. The WBEs will design health promotion initiatives that are responsive to the intersectional identities and needs of our diverse student population and recognize the many factors that influence their collective abilities to maintain and access health. The WBEs’ work should foster students’ ability to achieve a balanced, self-aware, and health-enhancing state that allows for full engagement in their collegiate experience.

The work of the REWT is to create opportunities for our community to engage with and understand the intersections and connections of identity(ies), social justice, and culture and how they impact health and wellbeing. This work is rooted in addressing the needs of historically marginalized populations. We take a broad view of wellbeing and incorporate the dynamics of a diverse community and address intersections of identity including, but not limited to, gender, race, economic status, and gender and sexual identity. The REWT collaborates with a variety of campus partners to enhance student experiences on campus in shaping their education beyond the curriculum. In addition, the WBEs supervises peer educators who provide education and skill building programs to the Amherst College Community.

This position contributes to the creation of a campus community that centers wellbeing and promotes a culture of respect, self-awareness, and healthy decision making. The work encourages and supports our students to grow and learn academically, socially, and emotionally. In collaboration with other members of the REWT and other campus partners, the WBEs will respond to emergent health concerns and crisis situations.

Summary of Responsibilities

Preventative Initiatives

• Integrate best practices and incorporate an evidence-based, theory-informed approach to health promotion efforts. Utilizing current data the WBE creates targeted interventions that address Amherst College’s specific needs and environment

• Work as part of a team to make the campus community healthier by contributing to the creation of structures and settings that prioritize wellbeing.

• Conduct needs assessments such as surveys, questionnaires, and focus groups on health promotion topics. Responsible for analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to help determine team priorities.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for addressing specific wellbeing issues and topics for the College. Work may focus on sexual violence prevention, alcohol and other drug misuse, recovery, or other topics.

• Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programming, education/trainings, and outreach efforts around topics of community relevance.

• Oversee the hiring, training, development, and supervision of a diverse group of peer educators.

• Recommend, implement, and assess comprehensive strategies to intentionally create a college that centers wellbeing, the creation of positive communities, and addresses specific health issues; and their intersections with other issues of identity and important health and behavior outcomes.

• Engage and expand campus and community partnerships to support the wellbeing of students.

• Provide direct training to diverse staff and student leaders related to specialty areas, collaborating with other Wellbeing Educators on topics that intersect to increase impact.

• Coordinate with campus stakeholders to increase opportunities for capacity building, advancement of strategic priorities and overall support of student wellbeing. This coordination includes building social connections and increasing empathy and compassion for others.

• Assist the REWT with responsibilities and development of content for New Student Orientation.

• Reviews education and intervention strategies and the current status of climate on campus; proposes changes to educational strategies, intervention, and policy and procedures in consultation with other relevant staff.

• Develop educational materials that are trauma-informed and meet best practices in health communications.

• Provides targeted prevention programming, including comprehensive programming for all incoming students, student athletes, student leaders, and historically marginalized populations (e.g. students of color, international students, LGBTQ+ students, and students living with disabilities).

• Ensures that planning and programming are inclusive and effective for the diverse community and multiple identities represented within the Amherst College community and provides active outreach.

Intervention

• Collaborate with Community Standards and the Civil Rights and Title IX Office to implement evidence-based interventions.

• Administer online pre-matriculation courses for all incoming students and selected cohorts of returning students related to health and wellbeing.

• Administer Brief Alcohol Screening and Interventions for College Students (BASICS) and Cannabis Screening for College Students (CASICS) sessions for sanctioned students, as well as for students who request support outside of the community standards process.

• Provide consultation and referral services for individual students on health topics

• Implement and evaluate bystander intervention training, programming, and social norming campaign to prevent sexual violence and apply skills in addressing a range of health and safety concerns

• Liaise with community organizations and colleges to further partnerships and ensure students are aware of community resources and programs.

• Work to ensure that the college is in compliance with Federal and State Law in regard to sexual violence educational initiatives, including first-year orientation and student athlete training.

Student Affairs Generalist

• Collaborate with the Director of the REWT to develop an end-of-the-year report on accomplishments and recommendations for the program and campus/community program stakeholders

• Contribute to relevant reports including the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 Biennial Report and the College’s Clery report and keep records of programs and evaluations of all initiatives.

• Oversee budget and other administrative tasks as required

• Collaborate with the Orientation Implementation Committee to integrate a positive framework that reduces the risk of harm associated with health behaviors for new students.

• Maintain and develop skills via participation in continuing education opportunities, membership in professional associations, attendance at conferences, 5-College meetings, regional organizations and committees, and New England Health Educators Network (NEHEN) meetings.

• Advise student groups as requested.

• Works to ensure that the college is in compliance with relevant federal and state laws

• Contributes to the REWT website, social media accounts, and other communication platforms as appropriate.

• Serve on committees and task forces as appointed/assigned

Examples of Specialty Areas Responsibilities

Alcohol and Other Drugs Focus

• Conduct BASICS/CASICS sessions

• Work to build capacity, respond to student needs and develop harm reduction initiatives related to AOD issues and topics.

• Working with Peer Educators to create relevant and impactful programming related to AOD issues including recovery.

• Work with Campus Partners to create opportunities for substance free activities

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree required in Health Education, Public Health, Health Promotion, Community Health, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.

• At least two years of experience in college health, health promotion, prevention; student affairs administration; community health; leadership development, and/or training and technical experience in aforementioned areas desired. Experience working in Higher Education is preferred.

• Experience working with and creating content that will engage a diverse community.

• Program planning, including: needs assessment, evaluation, and facilitation.

• Strong time-management, organizational, verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Robust understanding of academic priorities, the educational mission of institutions, and ways in which on-campus living/learning communities and functions can promote student engagement, advance student learning, and contribute to achieving desired learning goals.

Preferred

• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS), or similar.

• Developing, facilitating, and coordinating educational programs for college students and professionals.

• Substance abuse prevention, sexual violence prevention, or other related work with college-age students.

• Developing educational and communication tools, e.g. web, print, and social media.

• Peer education facilitation, training, and assessment.

• Experience, certification, or training in Brief Alcohol Screening and Interventions for College Students (BASICS), Motivational Interviewing, Cannabis Screening and Interventions for College Students (CASICS), CHOICES, Marijuana Prevention Program (MAP), Tobacco Cessation, and/or Recovery Coaching, Wellbeing or Wellness Coaching, Rape Crisis Counseling, or similar.

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for https://www.amherst.edu/offices/human_resources/benefits.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted.(Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Career icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

https://www.amherst.edu/offices/human_resources/JCCRProject1

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/4113154

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