Community Connections Specialist

Duties & Responsibilities

Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations, family-led organizations, healthcare providers, disability organizations, schools, and other partners to improve access to information, supports, and services for families of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs.

Conducts community asset mapping to identify organizations, resources, and informal support networks serving families across Virginia, particularly Tribal communities.

Builds and sustains partnerships with Virginia Tribal Nations and Indigenous-serving organizations to strengthen disability awareness and access to family support and navigation services.

Represents the Center for Family Involvement (CFI) and the Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD) in community meetings, trainings, and outreach activities to increase awareness of disability resources, family leadership opportunities, and available services.

Provides individualized information, resource navigation, and peer support to families of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs, helping families understand available services, navigate complex systems, and access needed supports.

Recruits, supports, and mentors volunteer Family Navigators and family leaders, including outreach to underrepresented communities, to expand peer-to-peer support and strengthen family engagement.

Maintains accurate documentation of family contacts, community partnerships, referrals, and outcomes using the CFI Salesforce data system.

Attends and participates as a team member in regular CFI and PPD staff meetings/trainings, including any regional meetings with other CFI staff;

Serves as a resource to the CFI and PPD by bringing Tribal/Indigenous perspectives, training, and technical assistance to ensure the delivery of appropriate services to organizational clients;

Aids, develops, and participates in programs or projects assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience supporting people with disabilities or special health care needs and their families.
• Demonstrated experience building partnerships with American Indian/Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations, or Indigenous-serving organizations to support families.
• Knowledge of tribal health systems, community resources, and barriers that may affect families' access to health care, developmental services, and other supports.
• Possess working knowledge of disability service delivery system, particularly with local Tribal associations, groups and organizations, and other disability service providers;
• Practice effective collaboration, emotional intelligence, and teaming skills;
• Be self-directed, self-motivated, organized, and able to multitask;
• Have good computer skills (experienced in using current technology to communicate and prepare materials, including website navigation and data entry).

Preferred Qualifications

• Personal or familial experience with disabilities.

Salary Range

Up to $24 per hour

Benefits

• All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

University Job Title

Coordinator

Contact Information

(804) 301-6844

Contact Name: Dana Yarbrough

Contact Email: dvyarbrough@vcu.edu