72: Owner and Health Educator at New Leaf Public Health Consulting LLC with Sarah Valenza, MCHES

Interview with Sarah Valenza, MCHES, BS

Listen Here:

Highlights from this episode:

1. Starting a consulting business to support Health Education consultant work
2. Working as a Child Passenger Safety Technician
3. Benefit of becoming a Master Certified Health Education Specialist

Episode 72 of Public Health Careers

Sarah Valenza, MCHES, BS is the Owner and Health Educator of her business, New Leaf Public Health. She also works part-time at a Local Public Health Department in Missouri.

Sarah first started her collegiate career at St. Charles Community College before attending Truman State University with a Bachelors in Health Science. During her time in undergraduate Sarah held many positions. She worked as an Inclusion Camp Counselor at Jewish Community Center, then as a Partners in Prevention Intern at Truman State University, and lastly as a Community Education Intern at St. Charles County Department of Health and Environment. Sarah was also able to get Certified Health Education Specialist prior to graduating.

Sarah also holds a license in Youth Mental Health First Aid and as a Child Passenger Safety Technician. After graduating and finding a hard time finding a job, Sarah worked through a temp agency that helped her get administrative roles at various health focused organizations.

Sarah was able to have the position as Executive Assistant at St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition while also working a a Group Facilitator at Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments.

Sarah began her career in local public health as a Public Health Educator and Outreach Coordinator at Lincoln County Health Department where she currently works on a contracted basis as the COVID-19 PIO. Prior to this she worked as a Maternal & Child Health Program Manager as well as the Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator.

Sarah shares some important insights into how she came to the decision to pursue part-time work at her local public health department

Sarah decided to get start her consulting business in late 2019, New Leaf Public Health Consulting, LLC. However, due to the pandemic, her current role as Covid-19 PIO, as well as life she hasn’t had the capacity to greatly grow this. She does look forward to the time when COVID-19 calms down so she can work more fully in this.

She has recently gotten certified in Master Certified Health Education Specialist.