The Health Care Improvement Foundation (HCIF) is seeking a full-time Project Coordinator. This position provides support to multiple project teams in the management of community and population health projects and associated activities.
Candidates will be evaluated holistically based on a combination of formal education, professional background, and personal experience. Preferred experiences include a Bachelor’s degree, with one or two years of experience in public health, population and community health, or project management preferred. This role is responsible for managing day-to-day project tasks across multiple projects and teams. The candidate will plan, support, and coordinate partner communications and project events, including committees, conferences, events, webinars, and project team meetings. Successful candidates will have a strong capacity for teamwork, strong communication and relational skills, and attention to detail with meeting planning, event coordination, and written materials. The starting annual salary for this role is $45,000.
EEO Employer F/M/veterans/disabled are encouraged to apply. To apply, please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter that describes your interest in this position, your relevant experience, and anything else you’d like us to know to help us evaluate your candidacy. Resume and cover letter should be sent to Kmccoy@haponline.org.
The Health Care Improvement Foundation (HCIF) was established in 1980. Philadelphia-based HCIF (www.hcifonline.org) is a nonprofit organization that drives superior health care through collaboration and shared learning. Our vision is healthier communities through equitable, accessible, and quality health care. HCIF’s approach engages cross-sector resources to implement solutions that no one could achieve individually. Since its inception, HCIF has been recognized as an outstanding example of how advances in quality care can be achieved through large-scale collaboration. HCIF has worked with numerous organizations to improve quality of care, health equity, patient safety, and population health issues such as COVID-19, perinatal care, readmissions, cancer, chronic disease, workplace violence, food insecurity, trauma-informed care, and health literacy.
HCIF’s work covers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Mid-Atlantic region. The Board of Directors is composed of leaders representing health systems, health payers, the business community, and the public health sector. HCIF maintains a staff of eleven (11) professionals and is supported by contributions from hospitals and health systems, government grants, contracts, partnerships with corporate sources and payers, and donations from foundations and individual donors.
HCIF highlights is our monthly newsletter that provides updates on all of our current programs, including information about past events, upcoming events, progress towards meeting program goals, and program achievements. Learn about the latest news and updates from our current programs here.
The Health Care Improvement Foundation’s (HCIF) Partner Profiles highlight the efforts of valued and innovative health leaders. Our partners’ work supports HCIF’s vision for a responsive, coordinated health care community that fulfills the needs of patients and consumers to achieve better health.
Kate Fox, MPH, DrPH (c), Health Promotion Program Planning and Evaluation Supervisor at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), serves on the Planning Committee for the Youth Behavioral Health Summit taking place on September 24. She talked to HCIF about her career in public health, the needs of children in Philadelphia, and her hopes for how the Youth Behavioral Health Summit can help address those needs.
What made you decide to pursue a career in public health?
I always knew I wanted a career that would serve people. I studied Sociology in undergrad and always thought I would go on to study Social Work. Quite serendipitously, I took an administrative job at Community Behavioral Health after college. Frankly, I was not at all interested in the job at the beginning! It was a Scheduling Coordinator position in the Credentialing Unit – snooze!
This role ended up being incredibly formative in my career. I learned about the behavioral healthcare
system in Philadelphia, from funding streams, to level of care continuums, to
policy implementation, to strategic program development….I continued to work at
Community Behavioral Health while I pursued my Master’s degree at Thomas
Jefferson University. Now, I’m excited
to be returning to academia to pursue a Doctorate in Public Health this fall at
Drexel University!
Tell us about your work at DBHIDS.
My overarching goal is to align public health and behavioral
health work throughout my career. I
straddle two fields, and while behavioral health is critical to building
healthy communities, I’ve experienced a disconnect between the two fields. At DBHIDS, I work to bridge this gap by
managing several partnerships with public health agencies working outside the
scope of behavioral health, such as The Food
Trust or CeaseFire
PA. I love working across
systems to break down siloes and ensure that behavioral health is represented
in various public health conversations.
I’ve been working with HCIF for about two years now, and the most
valuable thing about the Foundation is its ability to collaborate across
systems. HCIF is such a critical partner
in convening and facilitating collaboration across health systems in our city.
What are some of the most critical issues facing children in Philadelphia today?
Public health has pushed healthcare delivery systems to begin to
recognize the importance of social determinants, not only on health, but also
on a child’s future health outcomes. We
know that educational attainment, economic stability, food and access to
healthy options all play a role in health outcomes. The
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study from 2008 and 2013 demonstrated
the remarkable impact that childhood experiences such as divorce, neglect,
incarceration can have on physical health outcomes….The field has begun to
recognize poverty, community violence, or racism as key determinants to a
child’s future health.
I believe that these systemic issues are the most critical issues
that Philadelphia children face today.
With over a quarter of the city living below the federal poverty line
and over 50% a racial/ethnic minority, our children are being exposed to
systemic traumas at very early ages that will impact their health for the rest
of their lives….As healthcare providers, we can do more in familiarizing
ourselves to the resources that our city has to offer, to support families in
providing what is best for their children.
What do you hope people learn from attending the Youth Behavioral Health Summit?
Behavioral health is such a critical piece of a child’s overall
health and wellbeing; often is it the piece that requires the most
attention. I hope that people who attend
the Summit leave feeling empowered to identify and address behavioral health
issues as they arise in the populations or communities that they serve. It’s important for healthcare providers,
social workers, public health professionals, and anyone invested in serving our
community to familiarize themselves with the resources that Philadelphia has to
offer.
What are your greatest accomplishments within your field so far?
One accomplishment that I’m incredibly proud of is my work with Survivors of Suicide Loss. Individuals who lose a loved one to suicide are known to be at higher risk of suicide themselves. The Philadelphia Suicide Prevention Task Force conducted a resource mapping project in the summer of 2017 and identified that Philadelphia lacks resources for survivors of suicide loss. I was able to implement a peer-led, community-based support group in South Philly. This year, we accepted applications for eight new facilitators, hosted a peer facilitator training, and will launch four new support groups next month! (For more information, please click here.)
As though Ms. Fox isn’t busy enough with her work at DBHIDS and doctoral training, she shared with us another activity that keeps her occupied: “I am a professional wedding guest. This year, I have attended 13 weddings and was a bridesmaid in six – feel free to invite me to yours!”
HCIF highlights is our monthly newsletter that provides updates on all of our current programs, including information about past events, upcoming events, progress towards meeting program goals, and program achievements. Learn about the latest news and updates from our current programs here.
The Health Care Improvement Foundation’s (HCIF) Partner Profiles highlight the efforts of valued and innovative health leaders. Our partners’ work supports HCIF’s vision for a responsive, coordinated health care community that fulfills the needs of patients and consumers to achieve better health.
Dr. Raynard Washington, PhD, MPH, currently serves as Chief Epidemiologist at the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health (PDPH). PDPH and HCIF have collaborated on a number of different initiatives, including the Collaborative Opportunities to Advance Community Health (COACH) program and multiple grants addressing chronic disease burden in Philadelphia.
In his work at PDPH and with HCIF, Dr. Washington has spearheaded efforts to conduct the first-ever regional collaborative Community Health Needs Assessment for the Southeastern Pennsylvania area. This collaborative report was published on June 30, 2019, by 18 area non-profit hospitals. The assessment involved contributions from a wealth of stakeholders, including three county health departments; the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations; and the voices of community leaders, community-based organizations, and community residents across four counties (Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia).
Our team asked Dr.
Washington some questions about how his career led him to Philadelphia and the
groundbreaking initiatives he’s currently working on to improve the health of
the city.
“Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life.”
mae jemison
How did you become interested
in epidemiology?
My interest in
public health and epidemiology grew out of a realization at a younger age that
improvements in population health are largely driven by what happens outside of
the doctor’s office. While in college, I spent a couple months in a rural area
that lacked many basic health resources and public health infrastructure and
experienced firsthand the need for systemically assessing and addressing the
underlying factors that influence health. So, I began studying epidemiology –
the science of public health. Using data to identify, understand and act,
focused on preventable inequities,
has become my life’s work!
What motivated you to join
the Philadelphia Department of Public Health?
Working at a local
health department, in one of America’s largest, most diverse cities is a dream
come true for me. After working at the federal level, it became clear, that I
wanted to be closer to the people and the action. What better place than one of America’s
largest, most diverse cities?! I see the lagging health indicators in
Philadelphia as a leading opportunity to make a difference where it matters
most.
What do you think people
should know about the Community Health Needs Assessment?
The Southeastern PA
Regional Community Health Needs Assessment is a tremendous, unprecedented
collaboration for the region. It sets the stage for collaborative solutions to
address the many challenges facing our communities. It provides the necessary
information to stimulate focused action and accelerate our progress to reducing
health inequities. The report is a tool, it’s now up to us, across public and
private sectors, to put it to use!
What is one major community
health issue or challenge that you would like to see addressed?
Closing preventable gaps. To do so, we must be intentional about understanding where gaps exist, what’s driving the gap, and target our solutions to the gap, not just the problem. That means deliberately investing in solutions and policies that are designed for communities experiencing economic, racial, gender, religious, or other disadvantage.
What have you found most valuable about working with HCIF?
HCIF is an
incredible convener of healthcare stakeholders. Your ongoing work with
hospitals is a model for other regions. HCIF is uniquely successful at
facilitating partnership among healthcare stakeholders to address shared
challenges with shared solutions.
What’s a quote that inspires
you in your work?
“Don’t let anyone
rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your
place in the world; it’s your life.” – Mae Jemison.
Luckily, Dr. Washington also knows how to relax when he’s not hard at work. When asked what he likes to do for fun, he answered: “Two things that always make me feel better – cooking and travel!” He’s planning a trip to Thailand in his future, and we hope he won’t be checking email while he’s there – but if you want to learn more about his work, you can email him at raynard.washington@phila.gov, or follow him on Twitter (@Raynard_W) and Linked In.
