5F51
MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR

This is public health management work directing all aspects of the City's maternal and infant health services, either directly or through subordinate supervisors, including program policy, service standards, the distribution of funds, the monitoring, analysis and evaluation of provider services, and the provision of direct and contracted services in district health centers and other hospital and outpatient sites in the City. The employee in this class is responsible for formulating program initiatives, overseeing the formulation of medical policies, establishing and overseeing systems of maternal and infant health which includes both Department of Public Health and contract MIH providers, setting and evaluating provider services for conformance to legislative and program mandates, and directing grants and strategic planning efforts.

The employee in this class is also responsible for acting as an advocate for maternal and infant health issues with legislators and other governmental officials.

Contact with representatives of professional and advocacy organizations, state, federal and other governmental jurisdictions, clinics, hospitals, and public and private funding agencies, and providing guidance and advice to maternal and infant health professionals are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the general direction of a Deputy Health Commissioner.

• Directs, through subordinate managers, a comprehensive maternal and infant health program; plans, develops and implements maternal and infant health systems and programs; formulates overall program goals and objectives; establishes policies and procedures to conform to medical and legal protocols, and directs their implementation for City-wide maternal and infant health programs such as maternity services, family planning, infant care, outreach efforts, home health services for high risk infants, medical and counseling services to victims of sexual assault and to expectant women with drug and alcohol abuse related problems, and adolescent pregnancy prevention.
• Determines whether programs conform to established goals and objectives; establishes and implements procedures for the review and evaluation of program development and effectiveness; assesses the quality of care; directs the resources of the program to meet goals; initiates changes to ensure conformance with program goals, objectives and legal mandates; interprets policies and program parameters to district; participates with hospital and community health center staff, local health agencies, advocacy and community groups and other City agencies; advises program administrators, health center directors, hospital staff, legislators, advocates, the media, community members and physicians about maternal and infant health issues and potential resolutions; makes recommendations concerning health ordinances, rules, regulations, and policies concerning these programs.
• Through subordinate administrator, interprets, implements and directs City, State and Federally funded programs; evaluates program requirements in light of City, State and Federal mandates, regulations and policies; prepares and submits progress and cost reports on funded programs; orders changes in procedures to comply with objectives; coordinates the various phases of the program; prepares and submits to federal and state funding authorities requests for funding of new or current programs.
• Coordinates the formulation of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and research projects; meets with appropriate departmental and hospital personnel to ensure that the functional design of facilities is suited to the delivery of maternal and infant health services.
• Negotiates contracts for maternal and infant health program services; develops program priorities and modifies program to meet priorities; analyzes statistical information for major contracts; develops and promulgates requests for proposal and evaluates responses, including program and budget; evaluates agency performance to ensure that program priorities and goals are attained; determines fiscal allocation to provider agencies; directs the review of budget proposals and amendments; coordinates the division's budget process with the departmental budget office; authorizes payments for contractual services.
• Acts as an advocate to influence policy at the Federal, State, and local level to support disease prevention and promotion of healthy behaviors among mothers, infants, and their families; drafts local legislation in the interest of the department; formulates strategies for influencing legislation supportive of the interests of the City and the Department; develops position papers and advocates the department's position to legislators and their staff; writes and presents speeches.
• Develops interagency agreements and protocols to ensure the development and implementation of an integrated and comprehensive City-wide system to meet the needs of mothers and infants.
• Directs, through subordinate staff, the development of education and training programs for City and provider agencies and community outreach and awareness programs; directs research activities in pursuit of public and private grant funds; collaborates with other agencies to seek joint funding for programs; convenes participating agency administrators and clinicians for collaborative grants and initiatives; directs the preparation of cost estimates and operating and capital budgets.
• Interprets reports and statistics; directs the preparation of annual and summary reports; coordinates information management activities within the division; directs the preparation of periodic reports for submission to Federal, State and City regulators as funding sources.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• the current principles, practices, methods, literature and new developments in the field of maternal and infant health
• the problems, diseases and conditions involved in maternal and infant health problems in a large urban area
• the principles and practices of disease prevention and treatment as it pertains to women of childbearing age and infants
• the laws, regulations and rules governing the provision of counseling and medical health care services to women of childbearing age and infants
• the rules and regulations of Federal and State funding of maternal and infant health programs
• current developments in health research as it relates to the health of women of childbearing age and infants
• 3rd party payment mechanisms and plans, including prepaid and co-optation programs
• supervisory methods and techniques
ABILITY TO:
• plan, organize, direct and evaluate City-wide maternal and infant health programs
• supervise the work of medical specialists and administrators engaged in providing technical direction of program implementation in maternal and infant health programs
• initiate and administer the technical phase of maternal and infant health programs, to appraise community health needs, and to propose effective means for the solution of problems, diseases and conditions involved in the maternal and infant health area
• interpret and implement federal and state funding programs
• prepare various reports requesting funding, documenting program activities, and in support of departmental positions
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinate staff, community and advocacy groups, hospital and community health center staff, Federal, State and local health agency officials, legislators, members of the news media, associates and the public
• express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing

EDUCATION
• Possession of a master's degree in public administration, business administration, public health, social work, sociology or a related field.
AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
• Four years of administrative experience in a program providing health or social services to women and children.
AND
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
• Three years of management experience directing through subordinate administrators a comprehensive maternal and child health program.

OR

Any combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department that has included the education and the specific experience as described above.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.