Community Engagement Specialist

Community Engagement Specialist

The Achieving Reunification Center (ARC), a non-profit entity, has served parent/caregivers with children placed in an out of home placement through Department of Human Services since 2005. The vision of the Achieving Reunification Center (ARC) is that all families with children in out-of-home placement have access to resources and supports to achieve timely family reunification.

The Community Engagement Specialist (CES) is responsible for both engaging the Philadelphia community to increase awareness about ARC services, engage new ARC referrals through those efforts as well as ARC referrals submitted by Community Umbrella Agencies (CUAs) so that they enroll in ARC programming. The CES will partner with CUAs, Philadelphia Family Court as well as participate in community agencies and events throughout Philadelphia to engage the public, educate about ARC services, and obtain new referrals to ARC. CES will also make the initial contact with parents who have been newly referred to ARC by CUA agencies to address reunification needs. This involves helping parents to understand the reason(s) for the referral, what they can gain by accessing ARC programming, and getting them to commit and enroll in ARC. The CES will also conduct enrollments in the community and at the ARC offices. The primary objective is to increase parent referrals and provide an immediate response to the new ARC referral, prior to the case being assigned to the Reunification Support Coaching unit.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Parent referral engagement responsibilities include: contacting parents of new ARC referrals, conducting a case consultation, answering ARC related questions, refer parent to DHS Liaison as needed, and communicating with CUA. The referral will then be assigned to a Reunification Support Coach upon completion of enrollment.
• Provide engagement and solicitation around ARC programming to the public at Philadelphia Family Court, Community Umbrella Agencies, community agencies and community events in an effort to increase awareness about ARC and enroll eligible parents in services.
• Maintain accurate and timely record of parent contacts, communication and documentation in the ARC database, Penelope
• Maintain client documentation in individual's electronic ARC folder.
• Actively participate in ARC professional development opportunities to increase skills in partnering with parents/caregivers.
• Work collaboratively with members of the ARC Team and ARC contractors as needed to support parent/caregivers needs and concerns.
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with CUA around parent referrals
• Directly supervised by the ARC Community Engagement Supervisor
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree required. Will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including typing, writing and presentation
• Ability to relate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds
• A minimum of one year of case management or similar experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Highly organized with ability to effectively manage time and respond to deadlines.
• Excellent listening and communication skills.
• Experience in motivational interviewing preferred.
• Knowledge of the child welfare system is preferred.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills including typing, writing and presentation
• Ability to work in an evolving organizational environment.
• Ability to travel to alternative worksite locations (CUA, Family Court, community location)
• Ability to work evenings and Saturdays.