Community Outreach Specialist

Reporting to the Brancati Center Program Administrator, the DPP Program Director and the Brancati Center Director of Community Partnership, this position will serve as a Lifestyle Coach in delivering the National Diabetes Prevention Program in community-based settings. The Lifestyle Coach will participate in all phases of program implementation and data monitoring and reporting. The Lifestyle Coach will work with Brancati Center staff to ensure the DPP achieves program outcomes. This position will directly interact with community members with overweight or obesity and prediabetes of diverse age and race; church and community leaders and members; physicians; and other payer communities and referral networks.

The mission of the Johns Hopkins Brancati Center for the Advancement of Community Care is to implement evidence-based programs in partnership with community organizations in Baltimore and surrounding communities to improve the health of the community. The Brancati Center works cooperatively with community-based organizations such as churches, recreation centers, and clinics to offer both in-person, distance learning, and virtual National Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPP) to their members, JHU/JHH employees, and the general public. The Brancati Center is an approved Medicare and Medicaid DPP provider. The Brancati Center maintains high standards under the CDC’s National Diabetes Recognition Program by holding full recognition status. The Brancati Center DPP team includes clinical and professional staff, lifestyle coaches, community health workers, and coach assistants.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

The Lifestyle Coach will work in partnership with the DPP team to carry out all administrative and programmatic tasks related to DPP implementation. Evening and/or weekend hours will be required. The Lifestyle Coach will be required to be trained as a CDC-certified coach and trained to register, schedule, and document in Epic.

Lifestyle Coach

DPP Program Development

Prior to DPP group implementation, the Lifestyle Coach will (in collaboration with the Brancati Center team):

• Work with their supervisors and staff to assist in the program development phase of the DPP in-person and distance learning groups.
• Attend meetings with community partners to establish new DPP groups.
• Take part in community events to enhance awareness of the Brancati Center’s DPPs.
• Assist with the development of recruitment materials used for DPP recruitment and screening events.
• Conduct behavioral interviews during participant recruitment for the DPP program.
• Attend DPP Open House events to screen and enroll participants into DPP programs.
• Become familiar with and adhere to the National Diabetes Prevention Program curricula and the National Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program Standards.
• Become trained as a certified CDC Lifestyle Coach.
• Organize program materials and delivery of the DPP program with adherence to CDC standards.
• Prepare materials for groups (binders, mailing, order and distribute materials) as needed.
• Help establish the program structure and timeline for various stages of DPP implementation: recruitment, program delivery, data monitoring and reporting.
• Help to create and implement internal tracking systems for evaluating and reporting program outcomes.
• Become familiar and proficient with REDCap, Zoom and Qualtrics.

Program Implementation

During program implementation, the Lifestyle Coach will (in collaboration with the Brancati Center team):

• Serve as a coach to deliver the DPP: facilitate groups to assist participants in achieving weight loss, physical activity, and behavior change goals.
• Conduct make-up sessions for the DPP as needed to meet participant needs and program outcomes, including assisting other coaches with make-ups as needed.
• Collect and enter DPP participant data in accordance with CDC guidelines and Brancati Center policies, including assisting with double data entry and quality control checks as needed.
• Conduct DPP groups in-person and through distance learning as needed, including assisting participants in using distance learning technology.
• Help participants develop and maintain skills needed to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.
• Register, schedule and document in EPIC for relevant participants.
• Utilize teaching tools specific to participant populations served.
• Support participants by providing information, encouraging progress, and addressing challenges.
• Collaborate with the Community Health Workers to identify and resolve participant barriers.
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills as they relate to participant care activities.
• Acts as a role model for other lifestyle coaches.
• Assist with development of supplemental class materials for special group topics.
• Participate in behavioral case management meetings to evaluate participant behavior, identify problems, and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor retention and commitment of program participants.
• Review program data to ensure it meets quality performance standards.
• Consult with Directors to review program goals, timelines and procedures for accomplishing the project.
• Actively participate in DPP team meetings with Brancati Center staff and directors.
• Ensure compliance with JHU operational policies, applicable laws and regulations and those governing privacy and data security (HIPPA regulations).
• Assist with the preparation of session materials, make reminder calls to participants, and provide resources to participants as needed.