Senior Wellness & Prevention Advocate

St Mary's Center; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary’s Center in Oakland invites a Primary Prevention Specialist to coordinate prevention, wellness, and injury-prevention programs for older adults.

The role includes education, outreach, group facilitation, wellness coaching, referral support, and community engagement to reduce falls, isolation, and health risks among seniors. You will lead classes such as WISE, harm-reduction sessions, and aging wellness workshops; build partnerships with senior centers, housing programs, health care

Qualifications

• Associate degree preferred in Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Gerontology, Health Education, or related field
• Minimum of 2 years of experience with older adults, vulnerable populations, prevention programming, behavioral health, or community-based services preferred
• Strong understanding of harm reduction principles, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive engagement preferred
• Two or more years of facilitation experience required

Responsibilities

• Facilitate prevention and wellness curricula including WISE, Ash Kickers Smoking Cessation, WeConnect literacy programming, and Harm Reduction for Seniors classes
• Conduct workshops on healthy aging, substance misuse prevention, medication safety, overdose awareness, fall prevention, stress management, and chronic disease self-management
• Facilitate culturally responsive wellness discussions, storytelling groups, and peer support activities
• Assist participants in accessing virtual wellness and telehealth opportunities
• Utilize harm reduction principles to meet participants where they are in a respectful, non-judgmental, and person-centered manner
• Educate older adults on safer substance use practices, medication interactions, overdose prevention, mobility safety, hydration, nutrition, and injury prevention
• Help participants identify personal wellness goals and reduce risky health behaviors
• Conduct Medi-Cal outreach and education activities and assist participants in accessing medically necessary services
• Coordinate communication between providers, social services, and caregivers
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting for MAA/CMAA activities
• Participate in data collection and service tracking to support reimbursement and reporting
• Promote COS programs through outreach events, presentations, and community engagement
• Assist with congregate meals, workshops, and cultural programming
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities
• Collect participant feedback and support program evaluation efforts

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Facilitation experience

Bilingual English/Cantonese

Bilingual English/Mandarin

Bilingual Spanish

California Driver’s License

Education

Associate degree in Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Gerontology, Health Education, or related field

Job description

St. Mary’s Center in Oakland invites a Primary Prevention Specialist to coordinate prevention, wellness, and injury-prevention programs for older adults.

The role includes education, outreach, group facilitation, wellness coaching, referral support, and community engagement to reduce falls, isolation, and health risks among seniors. You will lead classes such as WISE, harm-reduction sessions, and aging wellness workshops; build partnerships with senior centers, housing programs, health care