Community Engagement Coordinator

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Children’s Initiative (CI) builds on the Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative, originating in 2009, aiming to overcome systemic barriers and resource deficiencies in creating a comprehensive support system from early childhood to career readiness. The model emphasizes our approach:

Footsteps: Creating Pathways to Self-Sufficiency: Prioritizing the well-being of children and families, the initiative focuses on fostering positive change within families to enhance their engagement and stability, crucial for sustained involvement.

Focus on Children and Families: Acknowledging parents' love for their children, the initiative emphasizes providing opportunities for positive change within families, which enhances their engagement. Family stability is fundamental for sustained involvement in the initiative.

Trauma-Informed Care: Recognizing the impact of childhood trauma on individuals in poverty, the initiative adopts a trauma-informed approach. By addressing the emotional needs of children and families, it promotes quicker social and emotional stabilization, leading to more secure and lasting economic recovery.

Family Ownership of Goals: Families identify their needs and priorities, with support provided throughout their journey to self-sufficiency. The approach focuses on partnership and guidance rather than traditional case management, a strategy proven critical for success.

Community-Centered Solution: A supportive community environment, facilitated by accessible spaces and friendly staff, serves as a "second home" for families. This fosters trust, belonging, and the formation of strong social networks, essential for families to overcome poverty.

Coordinated and Integrated Approach: Recognizing poverty as a multidimensional issue, the initiative advocates for a coordinated and integrated approach within the organization and with external partners. Seamless access to services, facilitated by service guides, promotoras, and peer accompaniment teams, enhances families' success rates by eliminating barriers to accessing essential support.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Engagement Coordinator will support the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) in strengthening community engagement, enhancing cultural competency, and addressing racial disparities in child welfare. This will be achieved by fostering collaboration, developing community leaders, and providing culturally responsive resources and services. The goal is to work in conjunction with DFCS and the community to proactively foster positive relationships and build community voice, ensuring that DFCS is responsive to community needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Community Forums: Plan and support four forums to strengthen collaboration with families and stakeholders.
• Community Engagement: Assist DFCS in engaging with children, families, and organizations in East San Jose and East Gilroy. Lead outreach, identify gaps, and support prevention plans.
• Children of Color (COC) Workgroup: Lead and facilitate the COC workgroup, addressing racial disparities.
• DFCS Prevention Bureau Team: Collaborate with the DFCS Prevention Bureau team, participate in meetings, share insights, and provide feedback.
• Collaboration: Work with local service providers, community organizations, and stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and enhance service delivery.
• Data Collection & Reporting: Develop and implement evaluation metrics to measure program effectiveness, including participant feedback and outcome measures.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process, documenting engagement efforts and lessons learned to enhance program impact.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in education, psychology/sociology, or any relevant degree in social sciences; or equivalent in experience.
• A minimum of 1-year experience working with children, youth, and families.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Bilingual English/Spanish REQUIRED.
• First Aid and CPR certified preferred.
• Experience in community engagement, outreach, and public speaking.
• Knowledge of child welfare systems and issues.
• Understanding of racial disparities and cultural competency.
• Experience facilitating meetings and trainings.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in organizing events and logistics.
• Experience in data collection and evaluation.
• Ability to document meeting records and reports.
• Knowledge of East San Jose and East Gilroy communities preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Fast-paced, diverse, and dynamic environment.
• The work is sometimes physical, requiring setting up for events which may require transporting or lifting cumbersome materials (i.e., easels, flip charts, refreshments, brochures, chairs, tables); must be able to lift up to 25 lbs.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Criminal background check via livescan fingerprint.
• Must have TB test performed and submit results.
• Automobile, valid driver’s license and auto insurance per agency policy; or have access to reliable transportation .

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Must be able to report to the service site on a regular and reliable basis.
• Able to travel between sites and to offsite events throughout the county, as appropriate.
• Works inside & outside, including motor vehicle travel between sites.

HOURS AND OTHER CONDITIONS:

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Must be able to work a flexible schedule (i.e. late nights and weekends when needed) with support from the program director.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons receiving services in our programs are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.