Department: Cumberland Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission
Address: Dennis Marion Public Services Building, 16 W. High Street, Suite 302, Carlisle, PA 17013
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: September 3, 2026 - September 17, 2026
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 travel and occasional evening or weekend hours.
Essential Job Functions:
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.
- Builds community capacity and readiness to develop additional school district or borough/township coalitions to expand participation in effective primary prevention activities.
Training, Technical Assistance & Program Support
- Provides technical assistance, training, and consultation to schools, community organizations, and the public on 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.
- Collaborates 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
- Identifies high‑risk populations through data collection and collaboration and develops appropriate prevention strategies.
- Takes a lead role in Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) activities, including attending EPIS and DDAP trainings/webinars, increasing school district participation, analyzing data, and developing an inclusive communication strategy.
- Leads efforts to meet DDAP deliverables, including community needs assessments, development of defined prevention plans, program evaluation, and required reporting.
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.
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 and data collection forms for designated state data systems and attends all required system‑related trainings.
- Utilizes technology and web‑based tools to deliver and document prevention services both in‑person and virtually.
- Responds to telephone and walk‑in requests for information and referrals to drug and alcohol services, tobacco cessation, and other human services; maintains familiarity with relevant online and agency‑developed resources.
Harm Reduction & Naloxone Distribution
- Coordinates and supports community harm‑reduction efforts, including distribution of naloxone and other approved harm‑reduction tools.
- Provides education to individuals, families, schools, and community organizations on naloxone use, overdose recognition, and harm‑reduction practices.
- Collaborates with healthcare providers, treatment centers, first responders, and social service agencies to ensure naloxone and harm‑reduction materials reach high‑risk populations.
- Maintains inventory, tracking, and reporting requirements for naloxone and other harm‑reduction supplies in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
- Participates in outreach events, trainings, and coalition activities to increase awareness and utilization of harm‑reduction strategies.
- Supports evidence‑based harm‑reduction initiatives and helps connect individuals to treatment, recovery support, and other community resources.
Screening, Compliance & Professional Development
- Conducts Court Reporting Network (CRN) screenings for DUI offenders and records information in the PennDOT online database; completes required CRN training.
- Complies with all state and federal laws regarding client confidentiality and substance misuse and tobacco services in school and community settings.
- Successfully completes required professional trainings to meet state requirements and enhance skills related to prevention and intervention programming, with emphasis on evidence‑based practices.
Other Duties
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
- Evening and occasional weekend work may be required.
Minimum Requirements to Perform the Work:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in health education, Education, Social or Behavioral Services, or a related field, plus computer training.
- Preferred Certified Prevention Specialist or willingness to complete certification within 12 months.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of one year of experience in drug and alcohol prevention.
- Preference given to candidates with additional years of direct prevention experience.
- Substitution: An equivalent combination of training and experience may be accepted. Related education may be substituted for the required experience, and appropriate experience may be substituted for the required education.
- Clearances: Prior to employment candidate must receive clearances from: PA State Police, FBI, PA Child Abuse Registry, and Office of the Inspector General and Federal Health Care Programs Exclusion Screening. These clearances must be maintained throughout employment.
Selection Criteria:
- Meet the minimum experience, education, and training for the job.
- Meritorious service: defined as the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting.
Recruitment Methods:
- Hyrell Merit Hire Internal Posting
- Transfer
- Reassignment
- Voluntary Demotion
- Promotion
Current County Employees will follow the County Merit Hire Promotion/Demotion Policy.
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations for the interview due to a disability, please advise the interviewer of the accommodations you require well in advance of the scheduled date.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER