State Adolescent Health Coordinator – Missouri

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Division of Community and Public Health

Section for Healthy Families and Youth

Bureau of Genetics and Healthy Childhood

Merit Position: Coordinator of Children’s Programs

Responsible for overall planning, coordination and implementation of programmatic and administrative activities for assigned statewide programs. Work involves the development and maintenance of cooperative relationships with other state agencies, public and parochial schools, school districts, health care providers, child care providers, and other entities. Work includes the coordination and administration of assigned statewide programs that offer services for children (birth to age 18) and monitoring the receipt and distribution of funds from grants in accordance to applicable legislative provisions.

Working Title: Adolescent Health Coordinator

Summary of Performance Expectations

Program Management:

  • Manage all aspects of the Adolescent Health Program including but not limited to, conducting needs assessments; developing plans to address identified needs; preparing testimony and other supporting documentation for the Department leadership and legislators; research, proposing and developing policy changes; securing outside funding and/or applying for grants and developing budget information.
  • Manage the implementation and evaluation of the Abstinence Education Program and the Teen Outreach Program, including managing related contracts.
  • Staff the Council for Adolescent and School Health (CASH) in collaboration with the Adolescent Medicine Consultant.
  • Coordinate adolescent health activities with the school health program manager.
  • Communicate and collaborate with both internal and external partners regarding adolescent health issues.
  • Keep informed of new trends and practices and integrate new information into program operations and policies.

Role of State Adolescent Health Coordinator:

  • Serve as Missouri’s designated State Adolescent Health Coordinator to strengthen state MCH/family health programs and system capacity to address the health needs of adolescents and their families.
  • Facilitate the coordination of adolescent health related programs and services within the Department and across agencies.
  • Serve as the central point of contact for inquiries regarding adolescent health information, best practices, consultation, and technical assistance.
  • Connect, consult and collaborate with other DHSS programs and other agencies/organizations working on adolescent health issues, and serve on appropriate committees and workgroups to identify overlaps and opportunities for collaboration and policy development.
  • Strategic planning (including conducting the system capacity assessment, developing a state adolescent health plan/framework, and participating in and/or assisting with internal and external strategic planning efforts) in collaboration with DHSS programs, state agencies and other partners, including the CASH.