Regional Well-Ahead Representative

Position Summary:

This position is contracted through Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC) to work directly with the Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Healthcare Access (BCDPHA), branded Well-Ahead Louisiana. Well-Ahead is responsible for improving the health of Louisianans by preventing and/or controlling chronic disease and relevant risk factors by promoting policy, systems and environmental changes, as well as healthy behaviors and education, utilizing evidence-based interventions, and leveraging resources through collaborative public and private partnerships to maximize health outcomes for our residents.

The goal of Well-Ahead is to promote healthy behaviors (such as tobacco-free living, healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy work/life balance), all within the spaces and places in which we live and work every day. A place or organization that has implemented voluntary, smart changes to make healthier living easier for all Louisiana residents will be designated as a “WellSpot.” Well-Ahead works with child care centers, schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, healthcare facilities, restaurants, faith-based organizations and worksites to achieve wellness benchmarks and become designated.

Potential Parishes Assigned:

Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Washington, St. Helena, Livingston, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany Parishes

65% WellSpot Development

• Conduct outreach to organizations (child care centers, schools, colleges/universities, worksites, restaurants, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and faith-based organizations) in the assigned parishes for the purpose of encouraging them to become a WellSpot by implementing evidence-based wellness initiatives as represented by the WellSpot Designation Program benchmarks.

o Ensure that all documentation submitted by organizations for WellSpot Designation is sufficient to meet established guidelines.

o Provide technical assistance to organizations in the implementation of benchmarks, connecting organizations to Well-Ahead subject matter experts or partners, and providing guidance in the online application process.

• Collaborate with the WellSpot Designation team to develop and implement an outreach strategy for the assigned region, continually working to improve and modify the outreach strategy.

• Complete all reporting requirements, including monthly reports and written quarterly success stories.

• Regularly promote Well-Ahead through earned media opportunities, submission of quarterly press releases, and presentations at meetings, conferences, and other environments as required or as opportunity allows.

• Represent Well-Ahead (through presentations or attendance) at least once per quarter at conferences, meetings, and other environments for the purpose of promoting WellSpot Designation. Examples include; presentations at Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce meetings, presentations at local healthy community coalition meetings, hosting vendor booths at conferences where potential WellSpots gather, etc.

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of all resources for benchmark implementation available at wellaheadla.com and via other provided sources.

30% Healthy Communities

• Maintain current Well-Ahead partnerships and develop new partnerships for the purposes of working collaboratively to improve health at the community level. This includes but is not limited to:

o Representing Well-Ahead at regional Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition (LHCC) meetings, assisting the regional LHCC in developing and implementing a regional action plan and contributing to the sustainability of LHCC’s structure

o Participating in any city/parish level coalitions that currently exist in the target parishes

o Be a resource provider for WellSpot benchmark implementation

• Provide support to communities, as funding allows and as requested by the Well-Ahead Healthy Communities Division Manager, for the purpose of comprehensive and coordinated community health improvement. This may include, but is not limited to:

o Developing long and short term action plans for communities

o Selecting evidence-based healthy community initiatives to share with community stakeholders

o Identifying funding opportunities to implement community initiatives

5% Other

• Participate in meetings and training opportunities as required by Well-Ahead. Required trainings and meetings include, but are not limited to, monthly 90-minute team meetings, bi-weekly 60-minute touch base calls with the WellSpot Designation Manager for reporting and technical assistance, and an annual in-person all day training in Baton Rouge.

Required Education, Training and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or five years’ work experience

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Comfortable with public speaking and cold calling

• Ability to work with diverse groups of people or individuals

• Good time management and organizational skills

• Must possess a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and a reliable vehicle

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Excel.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Physical mobility

• Flexible schedule

• Local and some in-state regional travel