Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health has identified the need to provide its diverse population of young people with a consultatory body to represent the youth perspective on programs, and policies impacting LA County youth. The FUSE Executive Fellow will work to understand the specific needs of this population and develop an initiative to improve the well-being of all Los Angeles youth and ensure that historically marginalized groups have equitable access to healthcare knowledge and resources.

Fellowship Dates: October 21, 2024 – October 24, 2025

Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $80,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program.

ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP

FUSE is a national nonprofit working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been limited by a history of systemic and institutionalized racism. FUSE partners with local governments and communities to more effectively address pressing challenges by placing experienced professionals within city and county agencies. These FUSE Executive Fellows lead strategic projects designed to advance racial equity and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and local stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward regional priorities. FUSE then conducts an individualized search for each project to ensure that the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies for the role, and deep connections to the communities being served. They are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects by developing actionable roadmaps and monitoring progress to completion.

Executive Fellows are hired as FUSE employees and embedded in government agencies for at least one year of full-time work. Throughout their fellowships, they receive training, coaching, and professional support from FUSE to help achieve their project goals. FUSE Executive Fellows bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to their projects. They build strong relationships with diverse arrays of stakeholders, foster alignment within and across various layers of government, and build partnerships between governments and communities.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The Department of Public Health’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programs (MCAH) division has a Public Health Youth Advisory Council comprised of high school and college students representing diverse areas of Los Angeles County. This group advises MCAH and its partners on various adolescent and youth health needs and programs. The Advisory Council has identified the need for a program or campaign to give adolescents and youth more knowledge and say over their own health and health care and how to navigate the healthcare system.

MCAH is preparing to conduct a state-required needs assessment for the populations it serves, including a needs assessment for adolescents. It will also develop a five-year plan with accompanying performance measures to guide its work.

The FUSE Executive Fellow will support MCAH’s efforts to conduct a division-wide needs assessment and develop the five-year program focused on adolescent and youth health agencies. This assessment and planning will provide a foundation for helping Los Angeles County youth access the resources they need to meet their health needs at a critical time and will help fill gaps in the healthcare system that disproportionately impact people of color, LGBTIA+ individuals, and other historically marginalized groups.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The first phase of this project will involve an extensive listening and relationship-building process. The Executive Fellow will meet with the Youth Advisory Council, other staff within MCAH, other Department of Public Health agencies, and other government and community-based organizations serving youth and adolescents’ health needs. It will be critical for the Executive Fellow to develop collaborative relationships with the Youth Advisory Council. During this time, the Executive Fellow will make recommendations for MCAH’s needs assessment and support the proposed five-year initiative aimed at strengthening youth agency in health care services. FUSE will finalize specific project goals and deliverables for MCAH to review and approve during the first phase of the fellowship.

Working with other MCAH staff and the Youth Advisory Council, the Executive Fellow will assist and support in carrying out the division’s mandated needs assessment for the populations it serves. The Executive Fellow’s likely focus during the needs assessment will be on the health and healthcare needs of youth — primarily high-school- and college-aged young people.

The Executive Fellow will then work closely and collaboratively with the Youth Advisory Council to develop a multi-year scope of work to help young people in Los Angeles exercise greater autonomy in their healthcare decisions. This will include identifying gaps between that age group’s current needs, current resources provided, and challenges faced in accessing resources and service. Developing an initiative that addresses inequities and ensures marginalized and underserved populations are reached is critical. Part of this process will include planning opportunities with other agencies and stakeholders that serve young people, such as health clinics in schools and the County’s services focused on minors in foster care per the recommendation of the youth advisors, the focus will be on identifying youth-friendly mental health resources.

Finally, the Executive Fellow will define and document performance measures to accompany the adolescent health initiative in collaboration with the Youth Advisory Council. These measures will help ensure the initiative is sustainable and effective and can evolve as needed after its implementation.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

By the end of the fellowship, the FUSE Executive Fellow will have overseen the following:

• Conducted Needs Assessment – Support MCAH in completing its mandated needs assessment focusing primarily on assessing the needs of adolescents and young people in order to inform development of the new initiative.
• Developed the Program Plan – Develop a five-year youth health agency initiative that provides Los Angeles County’s diverse population of adolescents and young adults with tools and information for more control over their health and healthcare. Coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure buy-in throughout the process.
• Identified and Monitored Metrics of Success – Identify and document performance measures for the youth health agency plan in collaboration with the Youth Advisory Council. Reinforce tracking and monitoring for ongoing evaluation of the work in order to continually adjust tactics to maximize impact.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

• Executive Sponsor: Dr. Melissa Franklin, Director of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Programs
• Project Supervisor: Steve Baldwin, Program Director, Department of Public Health

QUALIFICATIONS

• Synthesizes complex information into clear and concise recommendations and action-oriented implementation plans.
• Develops and effectively implements both strategic and operational project management plans.
• Generates innovative, data-driven, and result-oriented solutions to complex challenges.
• Respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, strategies, and other processes.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing and excels in active listening and conversing.
• Fosters collaboration across multiple constituencies to support more effective decision-making.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, both inside and outside of government, particularly community-based relationships.
• Embraces differing viewpoints and implements strategies to find common ground.
• Demonstrates confidence and professional diplomacy while effectively interacting with individuals at all levels of various organizations.

FUSE is an equal-opportunity employer with core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position.

Compensation: 80,000