Requisition No: 356181
Agency: Department of Health
Working Title: HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 64058995
Position Number: 64058995
Salary:  $32,696.82
Posting Closing Date: 04/28/2021
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - HILLSBOROUGH
Community Health – Epidemiology - Human Service Program Specialist
4704-B Montgomery Avenue, Tampa, FL 33616
Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health - Hillsborough County.  If you're looking to build a great career in public health - you've come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. We hope you decide to join this team and make the Florida Department of Health - Hillsborough County your employer of choice.
The Department of Health’s mission is to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
The Florida Department of Health is responsible for the health and safety of all citizens and visitors to the state. As a public health agency, the Florida Department of Health must monitor the health status of Floridians, diagnose and investigate health problems, and mobilize local communities to address health-related issues. The Florida Department of Health develops policies and plans that support health goals, enforce laws and regulations that protect the health of all residents and visitors, and link people to needed health care services. The Florida Department of Health also provides specialized assistance to pregnant women, infants, and children with special health care needs, regulates health care practitioners, and provides medical disability determinations.
HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAM SPECIALIST
GENERAL: The Epidemiology Program is responsible for surveillance and disease control activities of over 50 reportable diseases or conditions in Hillsborough County.  The incumbent in this position performs investigation of cases of reportable illnesses and outbreaks of Hepatitis A, B and C, provides direct client education and assists with data input and analysis.  This position requires the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• Conducts investigations of assigned cases of reportable diseases or conditions according to the applicable case handling guidelines of the Epidemiology Program and the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Epidemiology text The County Health Department Epidemiology Guide to Disease Surveillance and Investigations (Guide).
• Contacts physician offices, laboratories, hospitals and clients for information to complete an epidemiology report.
• Performs record reviews on hospital records when needed.
• Provides basic information on reporting to physician offices or clinics when appropriate.
• Conducts investigations of reportable diseases to determine the source of infection and prevent the spread of illness.
• Interviews patients by telephone, or when necessary, conducts field visits for interviews.  Provides disease information to the client on the condition being investigated and educates the client on necessary preventive measures.
• Elicits contacts appropriate for testing and/or immunization and provides education.
• Performs collection of specimens in the field when necessary.
• Contacts appropriate daycare, school, food service or health care agency to determine if other cases of the illness exist in that setting and to provide education to those agencies.
• Coordinates with environmental health, disease control programs, health centers and other CHD staff.  Case investigations will begin according to the time frame stated in the Guide or the week of receipt and investigations will generally be completed and documented within one month of receipt in the Epidemiology office.
• Advises Epidemiologist of outbreak situations.
• Conducts surveillance for disease trends.
• Assists or leads investigations of outbreaks and disease control activities.
• Assists with departmental projects.  Presents information concerning the epidemiology program, disease reporting and intervention, and assists in training of staff and students.
• Participates in Health Fairs.
• Attends meetings, seminars, workshops and training as required.
• Performs input of completed reportable and non-reportable disease cases in the Merlin or Epi Info databases.
• Performs other data input as needed.  Input will be accurate and timely.
• Performs related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications:
• 1 year of Customer service experience in a fast-paced environment
• Experience entering electronic lab results into a database
• Be able to conduct investigations in a prison, jail or community setting such as a private residence.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Natural Science or Social Work preferred
• 1-year experience in a health department/medical office/clinic environment
Department of Health Career Service employees enjoy the following benefits:
State of Florida Retirement package - 3% employee contribution required
• 9 Annual paid holidays
• Ability to earn 104 hours of paid Annual Leave (annually)
• Ability to earn 104 Hours of paid Sick Leave (annually)
• Health insurance for individual or family coverage - State pays 80% of premium
• Life insurance – State pays 100% of premium
• Additional supplemental insurances available such as dental, disability, etc.
• Tax Deferred Medical and Child Care Reimbursement Accounts available
• Tuition waivers to attend State Universities/Community Colleges
• Public Service and Nurse’s Forgiveness Program
• Additional benefits information can be found under the employment section of http://hillsborough.floridahealth.gov/about-us/careers.html
Important Notices- Please be advised:
***Note: Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process. Please review your resume and application thoroughly.
When completing the online application, all gaps of employment or education greater than 90 days starting from high school must be explained (approximate date, month and year) identifying company name or if unemployed.  Incomplete applications/resumes will not be considered.
The application includes background information questions.  A “yes” answer to these questions will not automatically bar you from employment.  The nature, job-relatedness, severity, and date of the offence in relation to the position you are applying are considered.   Please make sure all questions are answered thoroughly.
Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.
Current State Employees - Salary for current employees is based on employee’s current payband/ paygrade.  Salary for promotions will be based on budget availability and Senior Management Team approval.
Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962 will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  For more information, visit http://www.sss.gov .
This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit.
Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check.
If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending on the date of your retirement.
The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.
Veteran Information : Certain veterans and spouses of veterans receive preference in employment by the state (applies only to positions within the Career Service).
Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Departments VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here .  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.