DHS: Health Education Assistant

UPE met and conferred with the County and DHS regarding updates to the Health Education class series. UPE represents the Health Education Assistant classification in the series. The class specifications have not been updated since the early 1990s. UPE reviewed the proposed class specifications and found them to reflect the duties of the classification now accurately. UPE did make a couple of proposals to modify the language to capture better the distinction between the Health Education Assistant and the next higher class, the Health Educator. The County agreed to these changes and also helped to better clarify their expectations for the classification moving forward.

As a part of the study, the classification will be retitled the Health Program Specialist I. The overall class study is also creating a Health Program Specialist II classification, which is similar to the Health Educator but with a focus on broader public health programs. The Health Program Specialist II will also serve as an alternative advancement path for Health Education Assistants and will not require possession of a master’s degree.

The next step in the process is for the Classification Study to go before the Civil Service Commission for approval. Currently, a date for that hearing has not been secured. Following approval by the Commission, UPE and the County will meet again to discuss salary for the position.