Conduct effective public health education and outreach efforts to priority communities and populations about COVID-19 information.

In alignment with the vision of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and under direct supervision of the Director of Community Mobilization, COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative, this position will be responsible for working with community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide contact tracing support and to build collaborative systems for surveillance and co-enforcement. The COVID-19 Contact Tracing initiative is a one-year grant from Illinois Department of Public Health that is building the capacity and infrastructure of CCDPH to rapidly scale up its contact tracing program to the levels that the COVID-19 pandemic requires in order to contact people who have been exposed to the virus in suburban Cook County. There is opportunity for the grant to be refunded for an additional year following expiration. This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules. Typical Duties · Co-designs community- and worker-centered bi-directional, collaborative systems with partners for outreach and education, surveillance and co-enforcement. · Oversees activities of a select number of CBOs to ensure alignment and advancement towards successful implementation of initiative objectives and fiscal compliance in collaboration with Director of Community Mobilization. CBOs may be awarded funding to: o Conduct effective public health education and outreach efforts to priority communities and populations about COVID-19 information. o Provide testing and resources to support residents in minimizing the spread of COVID-19. o Address other social and economic impacts of the virus that are being borne disproportionately by low-income communities, such as housing instability and lack of food. o Formalize with CCDPH ways in which the department works hand-in-hand with community to support surveillance and co-enforcement to achieve greater compliance with healthy and safe work practices and infection control procedures in workplaces. · Provides or coordinates technical assistance to community-based organizations (e.g., related to communications, coordination with contact tracing teams, reporting, etc.). · Ensures CBOs effectively implement communications and media plan. · Develops and presents materials to local government, community institutions and other key stakeholders to raise awareness and support for the initiative and related activities. · Creates content and/or materials (e.g., fact sheet, resource materials) to support communication efforts. · Tracks ways in which CBOs are supporting contact tracing as part of the initiative. Manage project databases for monitoring and evaluation purposes; prepare reports as needed. · Works with Senior Director and Director of Community Mobilization, other team members and community-based organizations to ensure successful, coordinated and timely implementation of the initiative. · Supports day-to-day project operations. · Perform other duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: · Master’s degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Social Work or other related field from an accredited college or university · Three (3) years of experience in program leadership and/or management in community health and health promotion · Proficient in using Microsoft Office programs Must be trained and certified in NIMS FEMA ICS-100, 200, 700 and 800 management within six (6) months of employment. Position requires moderate travel for which the employee must have a valid driver’s license in good standing and access to an insured vehicle · Must be able to work flexible hours outside of a usual day shift schedule that may include evenings and weekends Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics · Knowledge and demonstrated experience with applying health promotion theory, using evidence-based or best practice strategies; management including areas of program planning and evaluation, as well as grant management. · Knowledge and understanding of principles of health communication, including social marketing and determinants of community health and how to build local capacity. · Familiarized with the geographical region to provide contract tracing throughout Cook County · Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups · Excellent interpersonal skills · Ability to plan, coordinate and manage with strong organizational skills · Ability to cultivate and manage key relationships/stakeholders, as well as lead and facilitate group process · Ability to effectively work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. · Ability to build a logical approach to address problems or opportunities · Ability to manage the situation at hand by drawing on own knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources. · Ability to maintain a positive outlook, motivate self and team to work constructively under pressure Ability to respond resourcefully when challenges arise and accept responsibility for actions, learning and change · Ability to direct and manage change · Demonstrated commitment to health equity and social justice. d VETERAN PREFERENCE PLEASE READ When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service. Position 2 Regional Health Officer- Public Health LOCATION: Department of Public Health – Community Epidemiology JOB SUMMARY: Under general direction of the Deputy Director of Public Health Programs, plays a leadership role in community health assessment and planning efforts required for national public health accreditation and certification along with successful implementation and evaluation of designated community health priority plan(s); and progress reporting. Priorities/programs may include behavioral health; chronic disease prevention and health promotion, communicable disease control and prevention; emergency preparedness; epidemiology and health statistics; maternal, child, adolescent, and women′s health; STD/HIV; nutrition services; violence prevention; environmental health and leading and monitoring the agency’s health equity work. Supports agency-wide initiatives and represents the agency in various high-level community and professional meetings. This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules. Typical Duties Identifies, recommends and, where applicable, executes processes related to community health assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, reporting, and dissemination, including on-going key stakeholder input. Researches, analyzes, and develops policy and program recommendations to address public health and health system challenges, with special emphasis on improving access to healthcare, and evidenced-based public health programs including those that address structural and social determinants of health, and resources for populations and communities experiencing the greatest health inequities. Ensues coordination across the public health system and implementation of initiatives to address designated community health priorities or emerging public health issues. Assists in the development and strategic implementation of the agency strategic plan and other agency-wide initiatives. Promotes communication and cooperation with municipal health administrators, regional representatives, community organizations and others by representing the agency at meetings, discussing public health problems and solution strategies, and helping establish programs and projects to address identified needs. Supports activities related to state certification and national accreditation. Develops and coordinates with services unit director funding proposals in response to local, state, federal, and private grant initiatives. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Master′s degree in Public Health, Planning or related field from an accredited college or university Five (5) years progressive postgraduate experience in public health or health care organizations involving similar or related duties and responsibilities One (1) year of grant writing experience The candidate must be trained and certified in NIMS FEMA 100, 200, 700, and 800 within six (6) months of employment The candidate must be trained and certified in NIMS FEMA 300 and 400 within one (1) year of employment Position requires travel for which the employee must have a valid driver’s license/insured vehicle or other equivalent means of transportation for work Must be available for ″on-call″ duty as required Preferred Qualifications Prior experience in planning or implementing policies or programs that address the structural determinants of health in order to advance health equity Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics Requires knowledge of the field of assignment and physical ability sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by example in the above job desсrіption. Knowledge of Illinois State public health laws and regulations; Cook County Department of Public Health regulations; current principles of public health practice and programs. Knowledge of pertinent and appropriate accreditation and regulatory standards. Knowledge of related public administration policies at municipal and county levels. Knowledge of organizational, administrative and management principles and practices; supervisory techniques: resource allocation; and planning and budgeting. Ability to direct a public health program involving a variety of member agencies, volunteer groups, businesses and community service organizations. Ability to deal effectively with a variety of governmental and community officials and maintain cooperative working relationships with federal, state and local officials and others. Ability to research, compile and analyze comprehensive reports and statistical information. Ability to read, interpret, and apply related public health laws and regulations. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Ability to make sound discretionary decisions. Ability to work well under pressure. Ability to represent CCDPH with tact and diplomacy. Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team. Position 3 (Main position I really want) COVID-19 CASE INVESTIGATOR -PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: Cook County Department of Public Health JOB SUMMARY: The COVID-19 Case Investigator will conduct case investigations of newly diagnosed individuals with COVID-19 as part of the COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative (CTI). This position will identify contacts of these cases and lead a unit of COVID-19 Contact Tracers who will interview the contacts of these cases. As part of the investigation, this position will educate the cases on the need to self-isolate, refer them for needed services to maintain isolation, identify all close contacts, and assigns these contacts to COVID-19 Care Resource Coordinator. The position will maintain ongoing communication with the cases for at least ten days from time of diagnosis or onset of symptoms until they are afebrile and with improving symptoms for at least one day. The COVID-19 Contact Tracing initiative is a one (1) year grant from Illinois Department of Public Health with opportunity to be refunded for an additional year. This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules. Typical Duties · Conducts case investigations and interviews individuals testing positive for COVID-19. · Educates individuals and their immediate household contacts with approved, pre-drafted information about isolation and quarantine procedures, and if appropriate, refer them to a COVID-19 Care Resource Coordinator for social resources. · Collects information on all immediate household contacts to monitor for illness and documents information as needed. · Assigns contacts to COVID-19 Contact Tracers on their team to conduct contact tracing. · Reviews assigned cases daily including contact tracing and notification outcomes and employer notification outcomes. · Coordinates the team’s schedules and provide daily remote supervision and troubleshooting · Assists in training COVID-19 Contact Tracers. · Escalate issues from the team to COVID-19 Case Investigation Supervisor for further resolution as necessary. · Tracks daily and weekly progress of the team including number of cases investigated, contacts tracked, and numbers referred to a COVID-19 Care Resource Coordinator for social service assessment. · Communicates daily directly with the COVID-19 Case Investigation Supervisor for case distribution and follow up including forwarding cases needing reassignment to appropriate persons in other jurisdictions. · Conducts notification to employers regarding employees who test positive for COVID-19 Education. · Visits may be required in person on occasion to complete the interviews and referrals. · Communicates with cases and staff in a professional and empathetic manner maintaining emotional and cultural awareness. · Participates in on-going technical and professional development trainings to strengthen skills throughout the project period to enhance the program’s effectiveness. · Completes any other relevant documentation for the initiative to assess individual, program components or initiative needs and progress. · Handles and maintains confidential information with discretion and professionalism and completes HIPAA training requirement. · Performs other duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS · Master’s degree in Public Health from an accredited college or university OR Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with two (2) years of experience in communicable diseases in a public health or healthcare setting · Two (2) year of supervisory experience · Experience and knowledge working with diverse communities and underserved populations · Advanced computer skills and experience including data entry · Must wear personal protective equipment as required · Familiarized with the geographical region to provide contact tracing throughout suburban Cook County · Must be able to work flexible hours outside of a usual day shift schedule that may include evenings and weekends · Position may require moderate travel for which the employee must have a valid driver’s license/insured vehicle or other equivalent means of transportation Preferred Qualifications · Master’s degree in public health, concentration in community health or epidemiology · Experience working on healthcare or public health initiatives Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics · Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a population composed of diverse cultures and age groups · Ability to work collaboratively and remotely · Strong supervisory skills · Excellent interpersonal skills required and ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse individuals during a time of crisis and distress · Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail, accuracy and precision · Skill and ability to use computer equipment, software programs, and perform data entry · Understanding of communicable disease surveillance systems · Ability to maintain a professional demeanor and composure when challenged · Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment · Ability to show empathy to distressed individuals and assist with identifying solutions to problems identified