Youth Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Program Support Specialist

Organization: DeafLEAD

Job Type: Part time, hourly (non-exempt)

Location: Remote 

Reports To: Youth Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Program Manager

Department: Youth Substance Use Prevention 

Start Date: November 17th, 2025 

Hourly Range: $22.00 - $25.00 hourly*/25 hours weekly (See Compensation section below for more detail) 

Position/Organization Summary

DeafLEAD is seeking a compassionate and detail-oriented Youth Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Program Support Specialist to assist in the delivery and expansion of DeafLEAD’s Youth Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Program. This position will provide support for a wide range of program activities, including data collection and reporting, outreach coordination, expanding the Social Media Initiative, and the development of accessible educational materials for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Deaf+ communities. The Community Education and Program Support Specialist will help coordinate statewide prevention efforts, support the production of ASL-based social media content, maintain critical program resources such as the statewide treatment directory, provide additional support in developing social media material, and ensure community members are informed about services like 988 VP, Chat, and Text. This role will work closely with the Program Manager to enhance the effectiveness and visibility of the program, while supporting technical assistance and outreach efforts.

DeafLEAD is a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Deaf+ individuals and their families within the state of Missouri and nationwide.  Our mission is to promote the emotional and physical well-being of consumers in a safe and respectful environment utilizing a consumer-centered, trauma-informed approach.  

We are committed to providing a variety of services to effectively meet the changing needs within the Deaf community. These services include (but are not limited to): crisis intervention, safety planning, legal/medical/personal advocacy, case management, crisis videophone/text/chat/hotline services, mental health services, training, and interpreting. 

DeafLEAD offers crisis services 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 

Essential Functions

• Follow DeafLEAD’s policies and procedures.  
• Believe in DeafLEAD’s philosophy and goals as stated in Summary of Organization. 
• Assist in the development and execution of DeafLEAD’s statewide youth substance use prevention initiatives. 
• Collect, analyze, and report data on program engagement, impact, trends, and available substance use resources for internal and external reporting/development of manuals.
• Assist in the development and distribution of culturally and linguistically accessible educational materials, including the Deaf cultural manual and general informational brochures.
• Develop, maintain, and regularly update the statewide directory of certified substance use treatment agencies serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. 
• Support the coordination of social media initiatives, ensuring at least one ASL social media post per month, in collaboration with Deaf youth. 
• Support public education efforts by creating and sharing accessible content on social media platforms to raise awareness about available resources, including the 988 Videophone, Chat, and Text services. 
• Provide support for program events, including trainings, community presentations, and virtual or in-person outreach efforts. 
• Assist in developing and implementing program evaluation methods to assess effectiveness, identify gaps, and support the ongoing growth and improvement of youth substance use prevention efforts. 
• Ensure all materials and content are accessible and trauma informed. 
• Attend weekly meetings with the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Program Manager. 
• Attend DeafLEAD bi-weekly staff meetings, in-services, and other meetings as needed and required. 
• Notify child abuse services when appropriate.    
• Notify emergency services for intervention when appropriate.   
• Other duties as needed. 

Qualifications 

• Complete DeafLEAD’s 100+hour crisis intervention training   
• Complete Missouri Prevention Specialist (MPS) credential as required (after hiring) 
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or appropriate relevant experience required; preference given to applicants with degrees in related field (i.e. human services, social work, public health, outreach, communication studies, or a related field preferred). 
• Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) required. 
• Previous experience working in crisis management, substance use prevention, mental health, or related field. 
• Previous experience in data collection, evaluation, and reporting for community-based programs and/or research studies, including academic or lab settings. 
• Proficiency in social media content creation and strategy, especially in outreach or educational initiatives. 
• Strong organizational and communication skills to support program implementation and outreach. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional reading comprehension and attention to detail.
• Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and a commitment to serving others in a culturally responsive and trauma-informed manner. 
• An ability to work with people of various race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.  
• Must be able to pass a background check. 

Training

• Must complete a minimum of 40 hours of required crisis line training upon hire and attend all sessions without any conflicting commitments. 
• Training is Monday-to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM CST. Upon hiring, a more detailed training agenda will be provided prior to the start of the training period. 

Compensation/Benefits 

• $22.00 - $25.00 hourly*/25 hours weekly 
• Health, vision, and dental insurance (full-time staff only) 
• Paid Time Off for all staff 

*External hires typically start between the minimum and midpoint of the hourly range, based on education, qualifications, internal equity, and budget availability. This position is supported through a federal award, and continued employment is contingent upon the availability of this funding. 

Schedule/Time Commitment

This is a part-time, hourly, non-exempt position. Employee is expected to work 25 hours per week, typically during standard business hours. Because DeafLEAD provides 24/7 crisis services, occasional work outside of standard business hours — including evenings, weekends, or extended hours — may be required to support coverage and organizational needs. 

Each employee will establish a “typical schedule” with their manager. When work is required outside of that schedule, employees should coordinate with their manager to adjust their hours as appropriate. Required meetings may occasionally take place outside of an employee’s typical schedule. Flexibility, both on the part of the employee and the agency, is essential to ensure high-quality service delivery. 

Technology Requirements

Technology requirements will be discussed in detail upon hire. 

Work Environment

Collaborative Virtual Workspace: DeafLEAD crisis line counselors work shifts on Zoom alongside fellow counselors and shift supervisors to foster connection, engagement, and support. 

Camera Requirement: During training and while on shift, staff are expected to be on camera to actively participate and engage with their peers. Since DeafLEAD fosters an inclusive environment for Deaf and hard-of-hearing staff, maintaining clear visibility on camera is important for communication. 

Distraction-free space: Staff should work in a dedicated, private workspace with the ability to appear on camera without the use of virtual backgrounds and free from background noise, visual distractions, and interruptions to ensure full engagement with chats, texts, and team interactions. This means working in a private space where conversations cannot be overheard and where movement, flashing lights, or other visual distractions are minimized. 

DeafLEAD is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. This role requires empathy, adaptability, and cultural awareness, particularly in supporting employees who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Deaf+. 

Confidentiality and Nondisclosure of Trade Secret

As a condition of employment, DeafLEAD employees are required to protect the confidentiality of DeafLEAD trade secrets, proprietary information, and confidential commercially sensitive information (e.g. financial or sales records/reports, marketing or business strategies/plans, product development, customer lists, patents, trademarks) related to DeafLEAD. Access to this information should be limited to a “need to know” basis and should not be used for personal benefit, disclosed, or released without prior authorization from management.  

If you have information that leads you to suspect that employees are sharing such information in violation of this policy and/or competitors are obtaining such information, you are required to inform DeafLEAD’s PEO partner. 

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination and may subject the violator to civil liability. 

Inventions

Any invention created, in whole or in part, during your work hours, or from the use of equipment or facilities belonging to DeafLEAD and its PEO partner, is a “work for hire” and is the property of DeafLEAD. 

If you intend to develop and maintain property rights to any invention that relates in any way to products or services of DeafLEAD, you are required to obtain a written waiver of this policy, signed by both you and the CEO of DeafLEAD. 

DeafLEAD is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. 

DeafLEAD hires remote candidates in the following states: 

AL, AR, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NV, NJ, NM, NC, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, VT.