Organization Summary:

Community Health Councils (CHC) is a non-profit, community-based health education, advocacy and policy organization established in 1992 in response to the growing health and healthcare crisis. CHC is dedicated to social justice and equity in community and environmental resources for underserved communities. CHC has been on the cutting edge of public policy and program development, working to strengthen community participation and inform state and local policies that: (1) improve community resources to achieve optimal health and healthy lifestyles; (2) ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services; (3) provide universal access to quality healthcare coverage and (4) eliminate health disparities. Our four policy and programmatic areas include Healthcare Coverage, Healthcare Systems, Nutrition Resources, and Environmental Health. Each area represents a unique opportunity to engage members of impacted communities in program and policy development through a wide variety of community interventions and strategies as well as representation and leadership through the coalitions and collaborations convened. The organization has evolved to have a state and national policy focus to improve the health of under-served and marginalized communities.

Project Summary:

The Nutrition Resources Development policy area works through local stakeholder coalitions to eliminate health disparities by improving access to quality nutrition through policies that change institutional practice, improve existing resources, and promote local investment towards health equity in South Los Angeles and LA County. The project’s specific objectives are to: (1) transform the school and city infrastructure to support healthful decision-making; and (2) Increase the knowledge, participation, and role of community stakeholders in policy decisions and local resource development to address health disparities. NRD centers its approach on three food systems arenas: food retail, land use/urban design and urban agriculture or alternative food resources.

Policy Analyst Summary:

The policy analyst provides support in linking policy and systems changes with enduring community-level investments that promote disease prevention and the elimination of health disparities. Responsibilities include monitoring and providing updates and analysis of key policy issues at national, state, county and city levels; developing the project’s annual policy agenda and priorities as defined by community and coalition partners; writing policy reports, issue briefs, and comment letters; developing and implementing advocacy strategies inclusive of community stakeholders; regular communication and dissemination of policy topics; participating in the publication of CHC’s monthly newsletter; and more.

Job Duties:

The policy analyst’s primary job duties include:

Develop and produce policy reports, issue briefs, comment letters or similar materials to inform community members and policymakers;
Research and maintain a database of relevant materials related to [policy area] issues including news articles, regulations and/or best-practice models;
Work with staff, coalition members and key stakeholders to research and analyze [policy area] policies;
Develop written community assessment reports;
Work with other staff and Policy Directors to provide planning and analysis for case study and other evaluation tools that documents process, successes/challenges, and lessons to share with other communities as well as project reporting;
Support other staff in co-facilitating meetings, preparing materials for community meetings and other responsibilities;
Attend relevant meetings on nutrition resources and provide updates/input to help inform CHC Nutrition Resources advocacy strategy;
Work with other staff and Project director to develop testimony and other input to local and state policy makers and stakeholders.

Qualifications/Experiences:

Master’s degree in urban planning, public health, public policy, or other health-related field;
Minimum of 2-3 years of community-based experience including familiarity with coalition or meeting facilitation and nutrition resource policy issues and/or community-based organizations;
Ability to interact with diverse communities, stakeholders, researchers and government;
Experience working in underserved and minority communities, particularly the South LA region;
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment;
Strong work ethic;
Willingness to travel throughout the local area and statewide;
Excellent oral and written communication skills; bi-lingual Spanish a plus;
Highly organized;
Proficient in Microsoft Office, familiarity with GIS and STATA a plus.

How to apply

To be considered for employment with CHC, all applicants are required to submit a cover letter, resume, and complete salary history (do not submit salary requirements) to HumanResources@chc-inc.org. When applying, please submit each item as a separate attachment using the following file name format: Last Name-First Name-Position Title-Document Title (e.g. Smith-John-Policy Analyst NRD-Resume). Additionally, for best results with our automated application system, please use the following subject line format: “First Name Last Name – Position Title – Idealist Application.”