Prevention Specialist - Full Time - Drug & Alcohol Commission

US Lawns; Carlisle (Cumberland County); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Cumberland Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission in Carlisle, PA is seeking a Prevention Specialist to coordinate and deliver evidence-based prevention, education, and early-intervention services related to substance misuse and problem gambling.

The role collaborates with schools, coalitions, and community partners, providing training, regulatory compliance, and required screenings with regular local travel and occasional evening/weekend hours. The position is full-time and merit-based.

Responsibilities

• Delivers education and outreach presentations to schools and community groups to raise awareness of substance misuse and problem gambling.
• Prepares media and informational materials on ATOD prevention and harm-reduction topics.
• Supports state and federal public information campaigns and disseminates information through traditional and digital media.
• Provides technical assistance and training on evidence-based prevention curricula and harm-reduction strategies.
• Travels within Cumberland and Perry Counties to deliver prevention services and document activities.

Job description

Job Description

Department: Cumberland Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission

Address: Dennis Marion Public Services Building, 16 W. High Street, Suite 302, Carlisle, PA17013

Work Hours:8:00 am to 4:30 pm; Monday through Friday (75 hours bi-weekly); with occasional evening and weekend work for programming required

Type Position: Permanent, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Merit Hire

External or Internal: Internal and External

Position Code: DU2009

Title: Prevention Specialist – Drug & Alcohol Commission

Salary:$27.03 per hour / $52,708.50 per year

Five Factor Grade: 110

Posting Period:November 6, 2026 - open until filled

This position is deemed a safety sensitive position, and the selected hire is subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening.

Job Summary

The Prevention Specialist supports community health by coordinating and delivering evidence‑based prevention, education, and early‑intervention services related to substance misuse, problem gambling, and harm reduction efforts. This role strengthens local prevention capacity through collaboration with schools, coalitions, and community partners; provides training and technical assistance; contributes to data‑driven planning and evaluation; and engages the public through outreach and awareness efforts. The position also ensures accurate documentation, regulatory compliance, and completion of required screenings and trainings, with regular local travel and occasional evening or weekend hours.

Essential Job Functions

Education, Outreach & Public Awareness

• Prepares and delivers presentations to school and community groups to increase awareness of substance misuse (including tobacco and vaping) and problem gambling.
• Prepares a variety of media and informational materials on substance misuse, gambling prevention, and harm‑reduction topics.
• Reviews, evaluates, and utilizes traditional and digital media strategies for disseminating ATOD and problem gambling information.
• Supports and implements state and federal public information and awareness campaigns.

Training, Technical Assistance & Program Support

• Provides technical assistance, training, and consultation to schools, community organizations, and the public on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) prevention, problem gambling prevention, evidence‑based curricula, and harm‑reduction strategies.
• Provides information and technical support on evidence‑based ATOD and problem gambling curricula and assists with implementation of evidence‑based programming.
• Supports collaboration with healthcare and social service organizations to promote training and awareness of Substance Misuse Brief Interventions, Tobacco Intervention and Cessation, Problem Gambling Intervention, and harm‑reduction practices.

Data, Planning & Evaluation

• In collaboration with leadership, identifies high‑risk populations through data collection and collaboration and develops appropriate prevention strategies.
• Supports the collection within schools of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) activities, including attending EPIS and DDAP trainings/webinars, increasing school district participation, analyzing data, and developing an inclusive communication strategy.
• Supports efforts to meet DDAP deliverables, including community needs assessments, development of defined prevention plans, program evaluation, and required reporting.

Community Collaboration & Coalition Engagement

• Collaborates with community groups, task forces, interagency coordination teams, healthcare organizations, and social service agencies to establish and maintain comprehensive prevention and early‑intervention services.
• Participates in community coalitions and interagency teams to support prevention, early‑intervention, and harm‑reduction initiatives.
• Supports the building of community capacity and readiness to develop additional school district or borough/township coalitions to expand participation in effective primary prevention activities.

Service Delivery & Documentation

• Travels throughout Cumberland and Perry Counties to provide prevention services.
• Provides school‑based tobacco and vaping intervention and cessation services.
• Documents service activities through logs