Overview
The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for 50 years.
Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.
Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.
WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!
Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers that are authorized to serve WIC families.
In 2019 – 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system known as WIC WISE, that allows WIC participants to be served more efficiently. The CDPH WIC Division works continuously to improve its operations and system to better support families and its partners.
“The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.”
*The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.
Department Information continued below:
Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov
The candidate works under the supervision of the Chief, Participant Analysis, Research and Evaluation (PARE) Section, Research Scientist Supervisor I (RSS I). The Research Scientist I (RS I) conducts user acceptance and validity testing for the reports in WIC’s management information system, which is used by over 3,000 WIC Local Agency staff, to support data informed decision making; assists with report design and creating resources to maximize staff use of reports and promote data literacy. Plans, organizes, and conducts program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), behavioral research, and quality assurance activities to measure the effectiveness of WIC program activities; prepares data summaries, graphs, presentations, and reports. Assists CDPH/WIC program staff with survey development, administration, analysis, summaries and presentations; responds to data requests.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST I (SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES)
Desirable Qualifications
In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues
Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills including reviewing and editing documents
Experience In:
Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting various forms of data
Developing and testing data tables/reports
Developing and monitoring performance and outcome measures
Survey development and analysis
Social/behavioral quantitative and/or qualitative research methods
Communicating data to non-data colleagues
Knowledge Of:
Data-driven decision-making techniques
Program monitoring and evaluation methods
Structured Query Language (SQL) and relational databases
Government assistance programs
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=486132
At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.
About The California Department of Public Health
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, touch the lives of every Californian and visitor to the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Shared Vision
CDPH public health professionals, researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, and other staff members have a shared vision to protect and improve the health of all Californians. We are dedicated to public service and passionate about our work and the people and communities we serve and protect.
