*This position will be offered at $51,000 for qualified candidates, $53,000 for candidates certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians, or $55,000 for candidates certified as Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructors
 
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency entrusted by the people of the state of Georgia with the ultimate responsibility for the health of communities and the entire population.
 
The agency is seeking a highly qualified, self-motivated candidate for the position of Regional Coordinator within the Injury Prevention Program (IPP), in the Division of Health Protection and Safety. The ideal candidate will work with limited supervision to support the IPP outreach and education regarding child passenger safety in a specific geographic region. In addition, this individual will work with DPH leadership and programs to foster partnership and complimentary efforts among agencies that serve Georgia’s child population.  This is a great opportunity for qualified individuals to become part of an exciting team making a difference in the state of Georgia.
 
This position works to achieve the goals and objectives described in the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), Child Occupant Safety Project (COSP) grant application.  Regional outreach will include networking and community collaboration with local fire, EMS, law enforcement, hospital, and other health professionals.  Focus is on the overall operation of child passenger safety educational outreach within the specified region (see Regional Map).  Position requires overnight travel 10 percent of total work time.   Position is grant funded and funder requires candidate to be certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).  Candidates who are not currently certified must successfully gain certification within the first 90-days of employment.
 
Position Responsibilities 

Provide subject matter expert in child occupant safety and related topics.   Expertise will include support within a designated geographic region to build capacity and collaboration surrounding child passenger safety training and outreach.

Provide technical assistance to Mini-Grantees; provide assistance in development, implementation, and improvement of local programs by working with community individuals, networks, and/or coalitions; recruit new grantees to ensure program coverage; conduct onsite visits.

Provide child passenger safety (CPS) education to multi-jurisdictional law enforcement officers and traffic enforcement networks; assist officers with road check and affiliated state and national highway safety campaigns

Share responsibility for planning, coordinating and implementing the Keeping Kids Safe Hospital Training Program.  Provide education and/or technical assistance to Georgia’s hospitals. Recruit new hospitals to the program.

Provide CPS education to local public safety professionals to increase the number of community advocates.

Coordinate the Teddy Bear Sticker (TBS) program within the region, including recruiting collaborators and participants.

Meet with caregivers of children with special healthcare needs and assist with transportation equipment needs.

Facilitate and co-teach Child Passenger Safety Technician certification classes to increase local capacity of trained Technicians.

Facilitate and co-teach Child Passenger Safety Technician workshops, trainings, and other classes to support local Technicians in retaining their certification status.  

Responsible for building and maintaining cadre of Instructors to assist with the training classes. Ability to work with local community individuals, networks, and/or coalitions and to grow and support those networks and groups.

Assess specific geographic areas within communities for risks for injuries such as non-use or unsafe use of safety equipment, lack of knowledge of risks, attitudes relevant to increasing risk, and attitudes creating difficulties in developing program to produce change

Increase awareness of CPS issues throughout the region by assisting with conferences, exhibits, presentations, and training. With limited supervision, implementing or supporting evidence based programs by working with local communities to

Develop awareness of the need for correct usage through work with agencies such as law enforcement and media

Develop the belief that it is common and well thought of to correctly use occupant safety devices through individual and group education as well as medial, social media, and other information distribution sources

Ability to develop local resources for child occupant safety by working with the local community

Ability to provide training on correct usage of child restraint seats by offering distribution programs and child safety seat checks within the community

Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in child passenger safety by reading technical reports, updates, books, journals, and other literature and attending related seminars and conferences.

Applies pertinent new knowledge to recommend best practices.

Under limited supervision, evaluate these efforts by both documenting activity and by measuring changes in knowledge, skills, and behavior related to correct safety seat usage reporting timely, accurate, and complete information.

Each regional coordinator will also have a specific concentration area.  The focus areas include emergency preparedness and response, Occupant Protection Task Team, policy collaboration, extended booster seat use, manufacturer liaison, school buses, daycares, and fitting stations.

Minimum QualificationsHigh school diploma or GED AND Three years of experience providing educational, training or instructional services in functional area.


Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to applicants who in addition to meeting the entry qualifications possess the following:
Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and/or CPST-Instructor certification.  

Certification as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) is required.  Candidates who are not currently certified must successfully gain certification within the first 90 days of employment.

Work in injury prevention and or primary prevention interventions with child passenger safety

Able to provide technical assistance to community stakeholders in developing and implementing evidence based injury prevention programs and policies to promote the health of child occupants

Demonstrated presentation and communication ability

Experience working with diverse partners throughout Georgia

Demonstrated collaboration skills, including group facilitation and convening skills