The Health Services Department is requesting to add one Community Health Worker I to the Public Health Division, in their Prevention Services Program. Prevention Service is a program that delivers diverse local communities a safe and healthy environment by reducing alcohol and other drug use and abuse through culturally competent, evidence-based prevention activities. The program addresses today's public health problems within communities by confronting more urgent concerns around violence, drug use and the struggle to keep families together. The Prevention Services Program includes activities or strategies around improving community skills to foster coalition, networks, knowledge and resources to effectively educate providers. These programs help the communities embrace value, diversity and promote preventative methods in the community through open forums.  
  
This position will support Prevention Services by providing parents educational assistance via websites, school programs and outside activities pertaining to marijuana, alcohol and prescription drugs as well as support and referrals to substance use treatment centers; organizing alternative activities that are alcohol and drug free events, for example is club live (a place where teenagers come to socialize).  

If this action is not approved, Prevention Services will not have adequate support staff to provide education and services to the community.