Prevention Specialist

The Prevention Specialist provides assistance to specialists addressing integrated primary prevention activities to effectively prevent negative outcomes associated with sexual assault and harassment, family violence, workplace violence, suicide, and alcohol abuse/misuse prevention. Responsibilities include interviewing and assessing clients' needs and concerns, such as family separation, parenting, child care, and elder care, and evaluating and interpreting data received from interviews. The role involves providing counseling on work/life issues and interest areas including personal financial management, employment, community life, transition, relocation, emergency/crisis assistance, personal and family readiness, and other work/life issues. The specialist conducts interviews to establish the nature and extent of concerns or issues, assists in developing goals and plans, and determines appropriate referral services or options, particularly when there is difficulty in determining clients' needs or convincing them to accept that problems exist. The position requires establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with clients and other professionals to support prevention efforts.

Basic Requirement: A degree in behavioral or social science, or a related discipline appropriate to the position. OR A combination of education and experience that provides knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR Four years of appropriate experience demonstrating knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition, to qualify for a GS-07: Completion of one full year of graduate level education, or a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement, or five academic years of pre-professional study, or one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5. Specialized experience includes interviewing, assessing clients' needs and concerns, and evaluating and interpreting data from interviews; providing counseling on work/life issues such as personal financial management, employment, community life, transition, relocation, emergency/crisis assistance, personal and family readiness, and other work/life issues. Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include professional knowledge of social services delivery systems and concepts, principles, theories, and practices relating to social or behavioral science fields; skill in conducting interviews to establish concerns, develop goals, and determine referral services; and skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

The Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) manages manpower and organization career fields, developing individuals to handle change and complexity within the Air Force environment.