Prevention Specialist

The Prevention Specialist plays a vital role in mitigating West Virginia University's legal risk regarding violence prevention. This position is responsible for assisting the Assistant Director in implementing a bystander intervention program, leading training sessions and education programs on and off campus.

• Assist the Assistant Director in implementing the organizational mission, strategic plan, and overall functions of the department.
• Teach a three-credit sexual assault advocacy service learning course, developing curriculum, handouts, lectures, and presentations.
• Establish and facilitate an interdisciplinary Prevention Committee to steer campus-wide efforts to prevent sexual assault and secure buy-in from key stakeholders.
• Coordinate, develop, and manage universal and selected primary prevention programs for the campus community.
• Address disproportionately affected communities by developing, coordinating, and assessing prevention efforts targeting risk factors, protective factors, and culturally competent responses.
• Provide consultation and subject matter expertise for offices, services, and programs serving undergraduate students and employees.
• Develop and provide ongoing awareness activities with and for graduate students, professional students, and employees.
• Create, update, and maintain educational materials, including social media platforms and web content on sexual assault, dating violence, sexual harassment, and stalking with prevention-focused messaging.
• Organize and develop theory-driven and evidence-based prevention and awareness programs and programs about sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking, alcohol, and positive intervention.
• Maintain, update, and distribute prevention resources, orientation material, housing resources, and campus messaging.
• Develop a training and technical assistance action plan and calendar for the University and campuses' prevention efforts.
• Assist in the scientific development of yearly prevention programming for employees and students.
• Develop prevention events and trainings that effectively interact with persons of diverse socio-economic, racial/ethnic, international, and LGBTQ populations.
• Implement a bystander training program such as GreenDot.
• Develop, compile, and analyze evaluations from all presentations to update and improve program presentations.
• Maintain a database and Listservs for Peer Specialists and updated presentation materials.
• Recruit, train, and coordinate 20-25 Peer Specialists each semester.
• Coordinate and lead orientations for all new Peer Specialists, including creation of orientation packets and program material.
• Coordinate regular meetings with Peer Specialists and assign tasks as approved by the Assistant Director.
• Coordinate campus-wide events and exhibitions for Awareness Months, bystander programming, workshops, performances, and awareness events.
• Assist the Assistant Director with logic model development and/or other evidence-based practices of prevention implementation.
• Develop training around empowerment, de-escalation, healthy masculinity/femininity, consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, and other aspects as assigned.
• Remain current on information and news pertaining to sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and bullying, and related response and recovery efforts, and bystander intervention.
• Provide ongoing communication to keep the campus community informed regarding the progress of the sexual misconduct and relationship violence response and recovery work and related campus climate changes.
• Assist in developing prevention-related metrics for future campus climate surveys at WVU.
• Assist the Title IX Coordinator as assigned on other matters related to sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, bullying, and campus climate.
• Provide advocacy services to WVU students affected by sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and/or stalking, using an empowerment model to provide clear and timely information so that students can make informed decisions.
• Co-facilitate student support groups for students affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
• Serve as an on-call employee at times as assigned by the Assistant Director and Director to respond to inquiries 24/7 made by the University community.
• Serve as a resource, referral agent, and support person for students.
• Coordinate campus and community resources to serve students.
• Provide student services, including assisting students through reporting and investigation processes, informing students of their rights and options, attending appointments and/or hearing meetings with the student upon request, addressing specific safety issues on and off campus, providing emotional support, providing information about reporting and other options, contacting others on the student's behalf (with their permission), and offering immediate crisis intervention and follow-up case management.
• Serve on divisional and University committees as appropriate.
• Attend all departmental and divisional meetings and retreats.
• Seek additional revenue sources, such as grants.

• Masters degree in Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, or related social or behavioral science, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One (1) year experience with prevention education and bystander intervention programs addressing discrimination, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, bullying on the basis of sex or gender, and issues related to diversity, and equity.
• One (1) year experience researching, developing, implementing, and documenting training.
• Knowledge of and the ability to interpret in the broadest sense federal and state equal opportunity and non-discrimination laws and regulations, including Title IX and others.
• Ability to understand the needs of the university and to work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff, in a wide array of situations.
• Ability to build relationships and establish collaborative partnerships across the institution and peer institutions.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive situations with diplomacy and excellent judgment and to act calmly and objectively.
• Superior interpersonal, cross-cultural communication, diversity, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to develop and implement bystander education programming.
• Knowledge of student development best practices and a strong desire to provide a supportive environment for students.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse student population and workforce, including those with different levels of academic preparation and varying physical and learning abilities, and socioeconomic levels.
• Understanding of the legal framework for discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to fluently read, write, and speak the English language.
• Ability to travel to regional campuses or other locations as needed.
• Ability to use a personal computer effectively for word processing, maintaining records, and scheduling.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently through effective time management.