Central Texas Veterans Health Care System is in the process of making a cultural change, shifting from a disease-focused approach to a health and wellbeing approach, in order to implement the Whole Health System of Care. This is a VA-wide initiative to provide a comprehensive and systematic approach to improve healthcare delivery at all stages of Veteran care. This entails moving from an episodic, "siloed" approach to an interdisciplinary, holistic approach, emphasizing self-care in the larger context of well-being. All staff in this facility will be part of this process, shifting the focus from the question, "What's the matter with you?" to the question, "What matters to you, and how can we help you live your best life?" This strategy also involves integrating a full range of conventional approaches with Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) approaches in order to optimize lifelong health and well-being, as defined by the Veteran, rather than narrowly focusing on disease management.
The Social Science Program Coordinator is integral to supporting Whole Health Coaches and Veterans in navigating the Whole Health Journey, specifically through the Pathway, wellbeing, and Whole Health clinical care elements of the Whole Health System, as well as assisting in the collection of whole health qualitative data from Veterans and creation of reports analyzing effectiveness of health coaching.
Major Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Facilitates and empowers clients to develop and achieve self-determined goals related to health and wellness.
- Support clients in mobilizing internal strengths and external resources and develops self-management strategies for making sustainable, healthy lifestyle behavior changes and more effectively managing chronic disease.
- Assist clients to use their insight, personal strengths and resources, goal setting, action steps and accountability toward healthy lifestyle change.
- Participates in leadership roles on local, state and/or national professional organizations.
- Contacts eligible participants for enrollment and explain the health coaching process.
- Schedules ongoing sessions to assess progress and assist in navigating obstacles or challenges.
- Coordinates with others on the Veteran's health care team to ensure optimal patient care.
- Utilizes motivational interviewing and health coaching techniques and processes, learned through prerequisite health coach training, to assist members in developing a realistic plan to accomplish their goals.
- Conducts outreach activities to inform Veterans and family members of available programs.
- Meets with external stakeholders to provide information about the Whole Health Group and individual programs and access to Veterans.
- Provides health coaching for Veterans in order to reduce or eliminate high-risk behaviors while increasing healthy ones.
- Conducts interventions for Veterans using one-on-one, couple, or group modalities in outpatient and inpatient settings.
- Develops treatment plans for Veterans focused on behavioral interventions based on current scientific knowledge and research that improve quality of life and reduce risk for chronic disease, or that reverse or slow progression of chronic disease.
- Maintains education and knowledge regarding lifestyle (habits and behaviors) and clinical outcomes, including behaviors that improve Veterans' health and well-being and those related to poor clinical outcomes.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Social Science Program Specialist/Coordinator (Whole Health Coach)
/PD08597A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
