Prevention Specialist

About New Horizons

New Horizons is a leading provider of mental health and addiction recovery services on the Treasure Coast and surrounding areas, serving approximately 15,000 individuals annually. We offer a comprehensive range of services including inpatient crisis care, a 24-hour helpline, mobile response teams, and outpatient programs across Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. Our reach extends to over 22,000 students in local schools, and we collaborate closely with judicial, law enforcement, and healthcare systems to promote community well-being.

Position Overview

We are seeking a dedicated and empathetic Prevention Specialist to join our team in St. Lucie county. This full-time role focuses on empowering youth by imparting essential life skills and cultivating resilience. Utilizing evidence-based curricula such as Too Good for Drugs, Too Good for Violence, and Botvin Life Skills, you will educate students in grades K-8 on critical topics including alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention. Services are delivered through classroom instruction and one-on-one sessions.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based prevention education to students in designated school settings.
• Provide individualized substance abuse prevention support tailored to the specific needs of young people.
• Cultivate resilience and encourage positive decision-making habits among students.
• Partner with educators, school administrators, families, and community stakeholders to champion student welfare.
• Maintain meticulous and current case records, ensuring adherence to all reporting mandates.
• Generate weekly and monthly performance reports as required by the agency.
• Actively participate in team meetings, training programs, and ongoing professional development activities.
• Contribute to school-wide initiatives aimed at enhancing mental health awareness and substance abuse prevention.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as needed to ensure program efficacy.

Candidate Profile

• Comfortable and effective in delivering instruction to student groups in a classroom environment.
• Proficient in providing one-on-one support to students.
• Must possess reliable personal transportation.
• A strong team player with excellent collaborative skills.
• Previous experience working with elementary and/or middle school-aged children is highly desirable.
• Demonstrates robust organizational capabilities.

Additional Information

Under new management, New Horizons offers a rewarding work environment with significant opportunities for career advancement. We provide competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, sick leave, holidays, paid training, an employee assistance program, life insurance, and a 403b retirement plan. Additionally, eligible employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Requirements

New Horizons seeks candidates committed to guiding youth toward positive life choices, possessing the following qualifications:

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field such as counseling, social work, psychology, criminal justice, nursing, rehabilitation, special education, health education, or another human services discipline.
• Prior experience working with children affected by substance abuse and/or mental health issues is advantageous.
• Alternatively, a Florida Certification Board certification coupled with at least 5 years of experience in supporting children with substance abuse and/or mental health challenges may be considered. (Formal acceptance of certification in lieu of a degree from school administration is required and must be documented.)
• Demonstrated ability to effectively implement therapeutic aggression management techniques when necessary.
• Successful completion of a Level 2 Background Check via DCF and AHCA Clearinghouse is mandatory.