Job Description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, you must complete your application through the internal application process (Find Jobs Report). Please apply using your PRISM account. If you are on Seasonal Leave and do not have access to PRISM, contact your local Human Resources representative for application information.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Health Educator III

Opening Date: November 21, 2025

Closing Date: December 8, 2025

Job Class Code: 4374

Grade: 23 (Pro/Tech)

Salary: $49,275.20 - $69,139.20 per year

Position Number: 02000-4002

Location: This is a full-time position located in Augusta. This position allows for partial telework with manager approval.

-Limited Period Position-

Job Description:

The Adverse Childhood Experiences and Substance Exposed Infants (ACEs & SEI) Prevention Coordinator will join the Substance Use Prevention Team and will be responsible for establishing workgroups, collaborating with community partners, stakeholders, and other Department offices to advance ACEs, SEI, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) prevention initiatives in Maine. This will be accomplished through assessing state and local needs; promoting best practice programs and policies; providing technical assistance; and facilitating training to statewide and community partners. The position will also work to apply for federal funding opportunities to grow Maine’s primary prevention capacity to address these important issues.

The ACEs and SEI Prevention Coordinator position coordinates closely with the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) to support the primary prevention initiatives funded by the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, overseeing SOR-funded mass reach health communications and managing contracts and reporting for funded initiatives, including the Student Intervention Reintegration Program (SIRP). The ACEs and SEI Prevention Coordinator is responsible for maintaining an inventory of best practices for building resiliency, preventing ACEs, and promoting Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). This position is responsible for oversight of the program’s substance-exposed infant prevention work, including prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and FASD prevention. This position plays a vital role in coordinating, prioritizing, and implementing recommendations from Maine’s 2025 FASD Needs Assessment. In addition, this coordinator represents the Substance Use Prevention program on the Department’s SEI and Maternal Substance Use State Steering Committee and coordinates the annual Nurture ME Summit for the department.

Knowledge of both primary and secondary substance use prevention; public health; community mobilization; grant writing and management; environmental strategies; strategic planning; data analysis; and evaluation are essential to this position.

As a key member of the Substance Prevention Team, your core responsibilities will include:

• Serve as the primary contact and subject matter expert for ACEs, PCEs, SEI and FASD prevention for TSUPC Program team.

• Collaborate with other offices and departments including the Maine CDC Maternal & Child Health Program, Maine Department of Education and Office of Child and Family Services on related projects.

• Support and provide technical assistance to state and community partners.

• Conduct a needs assessment of current services, programs, organizations who are doing or should be engaged in ACEs, SEI, and FASD prevention work.

• Lead a planning team to coordinate Maine’s annual Nurture ME Summit.

• Maintain an inventory of research and best practices for building resiliency and PCEs and preventing ACEs.

• Lead relevant workgroups.

• Develop and manage the grant lifecycle, including research, proposal development, budgeting, submission, and post-award reporting.

• Serve in oversight role to implement FASD prevention initiatives in collaboration with state agencies and external partners; determine readiness and implementation roadmap for assessment recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelors Degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, Health Education and two (2) years experience in community or health education program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. Directly related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred candidates will also have:

o Proficient knowledge of current substance use prevention, intervention, treatment practices and recovery-oriented systems of care philosophies; willingness to work toward prevention certification

o Exceptional oral and written communication skills.

o Knowledge of strategic planning, outcomes assessment, experience with research and evaluation protocols, needs assessments as well as strong analytical skills.

o Ability to work and communicate with groups from diverse backgrounds.

o Demonstrated skill in applying public health best practices for health literacy and communication.

o Experience in gathering, using, and presenting data for program evaluation information dissemination to invested parties and community groups.

o Skills in collaborating effectively across multiple domains and cross-functional teams.

o Proven capacity to multitask and balance competing priorities to ensure timely and high-quality outcomes.

o Demonstrated strong project management skills, including timeline management and tracking of priorities, progress and milestones.

o Knowledge of and experience with trauma-informed/healing-centered practices, social emotional learning (SEL), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prevention, strategies to build resiliency, prenatal substance exposure and/or FASD prevention.

o Knowledge of risk and protective factors for substance use and youth brain development.

o Understanding and ability to discuss the racial biases and equity issues that exist within systems that lead to trauma.

o Ability to frame complex issues in easy to digest ways.

o Demonstrated proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office Programs.

Thinking about applying?

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Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Elizabeth Palazzo, Program Director, Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program, at (207) 287-3817, or Elizabeth.Palazzo@Maine.gov

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.Hernandez@Maine.gov

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness .

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.

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