Healthy Homes Program Specialist

County of Delaware; Yeadon (Delaware County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Delaware County Health Department seeks a Healthy Homes Program Specialist to lead its growing healthy homes and environmental justice initiatives. You will coordinate with the Personal Health and Environmental Health programs, OHCD, and nonprofit partners to identify and remediate residential lead hazards and related environmental health issues.

Responsibilities include community outreach, case management with families and landlords, and presenting findings to agencies.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Federal, state, and local environmental regulations applicable to environmental public health.
• Experience coordinating with contractors, property owners, residents, and community partners.
• Ability to assess conditions and identify solutions, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support development of new DCHD programming in healthy homes and environmental justice.
• Coordinate with lead nurse and families of children with elevated blood lead levels.
• Collaborate with OHCD and HUD grant programs for lead services and inspections.
• Provide on-site home assessments and guidance on lead poisoning risks.
• Manage referrals to certified remediation contractors and review lead reports.
• Perform community outreach, educational workshops, and presentations.
• Document work using designated tracking tools and reports.

Skills

Cultural competence

Communication skills

Negotiation & conflict resolution

Project management

Time management

Organizational skills

Public health knowledge

Problem solving

Independent work

Driver's license

Education

Associate degree in related field

Bachelor’s degree in related field

EPA lead-based paint certification

Healthy Homes Specialist credential (desirable)

Lead Project Designer certification (preferred)

Tools

Lead inspections software

Residential housing standards documents

Job description

The Healthy Homes Program Specialist for the Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) is responsible for DCHD’s growing healthy home and environmental justice programming, including coordination with the DCHD Personal Health’s clinical childhood lead surveillance and education program and DCHD Environmental Health’s program. This position will work closely with Delaware County’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) and nonprofit partners administering federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) healthy homes grants serving county residents. The Healthy Homes Program Specialist coordinates with families, property owners, community service providers, and contractors to support the identification and remediation of household hazards that are causing or contributing to the public health issues. The primary focus of this work will be on residential lead related to childhood lead poisoning but will also include building outreach and support related to environmental justice concerns in the county. The Healthy Homes Program Specialist works under the supervision of DCHD’s Administrator for Personal Health.

• Support development of new DCHD programming in the area of healthy homes and environmental justice.
• Understand relevant laws, regulations, professional standards and community services related to residential lead and other environmental health issues.
• Coordinate with DCHD public health lead nurse and conduct follow up discussions with families of children who have tested with elevated blood levels and are considering remediation/mitigation options and provide referrals to services within and outside of DCHD.
• Coordinate with healthcare providers and nonprofit partners for internal and contracted lead services including, but not limited to, lead cleaning services and residential lead inspections.
• Coordinate with partners and support families in obtaining temporary housing, if needed.
• Ensure that all lead-related residential work is in compliance with HUD Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-based Paint Hazards in House (2012 ed,) especially ch. 16: Investigation and Treatment of Dwellings that House Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels.
• Provide preliminary on-site home assessments and guidance on lead poisoning risks and lead-safe cleaning housekeeping protocols.
• Manage referrals to contracted certified lead remediation contractors. Review and evaluate Lead Inspection Reports provided by contracted Certified Lead Risk Assessor. Interpret lead remediation contractor’s project proposals. Work with affected families and property owners (landlords and homeowners) to interpret lead assessment reports, contractor proposals, and possible funding programs. Support negotiations for remediation plan reviews in which the property owner, residents, and contractor must agree. May oversee and/or if qualified conduct a lead closure inspection.
• Document and communicate about case to internal and external partners using designated communications and tracking tools.
• Participate in related professional and community groups.
• Make public presentations about the work and DCHD’s related programs.
• Perform community outreach and facilitate educational workshops and presentations.
• Produce reports, presentations, and other materials to support internal and external understanding of the program.
• Participate in departmental and agency-wide committees, workgroups, quality improvement initiatives, accreditation activities, emergency preparedness efforts, and special projects as assigned DCHD expects all employees to actively contribute to organizational initiatives that support the Department's mission and strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Associate degree in a related field and a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in construction, environmental health, community health, case management, housing, or a related field; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in construction, environmental health, community health, case management, housing, or a related field.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification related to lead-based paint activities and/or a Healthy Homes Specialist credential is highly desirable. The successful candidate must be willing and able to obtain Lead Project Designer certification as required by the position.
• Experience with residential construction, home maintenance, housing inspections, or property rehabilitation is preferred.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, critical-thinking, and organizational skills, with the ability to assess conditions and identify appropriate solutions.
• Experience coordinating or working effectively with contractors, property owners, residents, and/or community partners is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities.
• Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is a strong asset.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Prior to employment, candidates must obtain, at their own expense, all required clearances, including a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, and FBI Criminal History Background Check with fingerprinting.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of cultural competence.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and local environmental regulations that are applicable to local environmental public health.
• Negotiation, persuasion, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills.
• Project management skills.
• Computer and information technology skills.
• Organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work with diverse audiences with sensitivity and cultural competence.
• Ability to work with stressed families that have multiple and serious problems.
• Ability to respond to complex assignments, review and approve project deliverables, and manage short- and long-term projects.
• Ability to set and adhere to deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to interact appropriately and effectively with a wide range of people.
• Ability to maintain and handle confidential information.
• Ability to follow protocols, procedures, and established guidelines.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and needs.
• Ability to manage a demanding and changing workload.
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic.

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals:

• Describes factors that affect the health of a community.
• Analyzes quantitative and qualitative data.
• Manages quantitative and qualitative data.
• Uses quantitative and qualitative data.
• Develops policies, programs, and services.
• Implements policies, programs, and services.
• Evaluates policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.
• Improves policies, programs, services, and organizational performance.
• Influences policies, programs, and services external to the organization.
• Engages in organizational strategic planning.
• Communicates with internal and external audiences.
• Recognizes the diversity of individuals and populations.
• Reduces systemic and structural barriers that perpetuate health inequities.
• Implements organizational policies, programs, and services to achieve health equity and social and environmental justice.
• Advocates for health equity and social and environmental justice.
• Describes systems, policies, and events impacting public health.
• Uses evidence in developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.
• Contributes to the evidence base for improving health.
• Manages programs and services.
• Engages in contingency planning.
• Applies critical thinking in decision making.
• Engages individuals and teams to achieve program and organizational goals.
• Responds to emerging needs.

The Delaware County Health Department is an equal opportunity employer.

*The selected candidate will be required to obtain, at their own expense, 3 forms of clearance, including PA State Police Criminal History Record Check; PA Child Abuse History; and FBI Criminal History Background Check including finger printing prior to employment.

**Delaware County Health Department requires all employees to have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination in the past 3 years. Proof of vaccination must be submitted before a candidate’s start date, if hired.