State of Maryland

A Community Health Educator III is the advanced level of work planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating community health education programs designed to further public awareness and understanding of the factors influencing health status and community health activities and services.  Employees serve as health education consultants in a headquarters administration of the Maryland Department of Health or as the Assistant Director of Health Education Services in a large health department, or as the Director of Health Education Services in a small local health department.  Employees who function as health education consultants coordinate and direct the community health education activities of a specialized Statewide public health program for a headquarters administration or multiple community health programs for a large local health department.  Employees who function as Director of Health Education Services in a small health department or Assistant Director of Health Education Services in a large health department are responsible for directing health education services for a small local health department and have supervisory responsibility for lower-level Community Health Educators.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher-level Community Health Educator, administrator or director of a local health department.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.

The Community Health Educator III is differentiated from the Community Health Educator II in that the Community Health Educator III performs advanced level work and serve as health education consultants in the headquarters administration of the Maryland Department of Health or as Director of Health Education Services in a small local health department or as the Assistant Director of Health Education Services in a large local health department while the Community Health Educator II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans, develops, implements, promotes and evaluates community health education programs;

Oversees and coordinates analysis and assessment of public health problems to determine the community health education objectives of health programs;

Defines effective methods of communication, educational goals, and desired public health outcomes for targeted groups;

Serves as liaison between school and community health education programs;

Promotes the utilization of a wide variety of community health education services to local health department program directors, school personnel, private and public organizations and the general public;

Organizes and conducts in-service training for staff and volunteers in community health education techniques and methods;

Meets with staff of agencies and organizations in the fields of health, education and social services in relation to community health education planning and coordination;

May direct and coordinate community health education services in a local health department;

May plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of lower-level Community Health Educators;

May establish, interpret and maintain policies and standards for community health education services in a local health department;

May participate in developing the total community health program in a local health department;

May identify opportunities to coordinate and integrate community health education programs in the department and community;

May prepare and submit budget estimates for the community health education services of a local health department;

May direct the recruitment and utilization of volunteers and auxiliary personnel in support of community health education activities;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the philosophy, principles, practices, objectives, programs and functions of community health education and environmental change;

Knowledge of educational theories, methods and techniques, including techniques used to influence attitudes and behavior;

Skill in planning, developing, implementing and promoting community health education programs;

Skill in analyzing and evaluating existing community health education programs and recommending improvements; Skill in making public presentations on community health issues;

Skill in using health education information systems;

Skill in organizing and conducting in-service training for staff and volunteers in community health education techniques and methods;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, officials, individuals and community groups in order to identify health problems and carry out health education programs for the purpose of solving health problems;

Ability to supervise lower-level Community Health Educators.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health Education, Community Health Education or Health Science.

Experience: Two years of experience planning, developing, implementing and promoting health education projects.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 18 credit hours in Public Health Education, Community Health Education, Health Science or related behavioral science and three years of experience planning, developing, implementing and promoting health education projects for the required education and experience.

2. Candidates may substitute a Master’s degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, or Health Science for the required education and one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute a Doctorate degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, Health Science or Public Health Policy for the required education and experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health Educator and Community Health classifications or Health Educator and Community Health specialty codes in the Public Health field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professionals classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.