Help Me Grow Care Coordinator

About the role

The Help Me Grow (HMG) Care Coordinator is a full-time, non-exempt position responsible for providing care coordination and navigation support to families with children prenatal through age five. The Care Coordinator conducts phone-based intake, developmental screening (including Ages & Stages Questionnaires), referrals, and follow-up to help families access developmental, parenting, and community resources that support healthy child development. The position works closely with 211 call center staff, First 5 Help Me Grow partners, and community service providers to ensure seamless referral pathways and effective follow-up.

Core Responsibilities (Care Coordination)

• Direct Services, Family Support & 211 Liaison
  • Provide intake, screening, referral, follow-up, and advocacy for families with young children
  • Serve as a liaison between Help Me Grow services and 211 call center staff to ensure coordinated screening, referral, and follow-up
  • Administer developmental and behavioral screenings, including Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ)
  • Afford families and providers information, education, advocacy, and follow-up to address service access barriers
  • Ensure confidentiality and compliance with all applicable privacy and data-protection requirements
• Program Operations, Early Identification & Data Support
  • Monitor the day-to-day operations of Help Me Grow early identification, screening, surveillance, and referral workflows
  • Accurately enter, maintain, and monitor client data for tracking, reporting, and outcomes
  • Ensure timely, complete, and accurate documentation and reporting
  • Support preparation of required program, funder, and internal reports
  • Maintain awareness of relevant best practices, early identification efforts, and system developments at the local, state, and national level and communicate observations to program leadership
  • Participate in service quality assurance and continuous improvement activities to enhance effectiveness and cultural relevancy of services
• Program Support Activities
  • Serve as the primary point of continuity for Help Me Grow outreach and partner engagement
  • Identify, outreach to, and maintain collaborative relationships with child-serving agencies, providers, and community networks
  • Coordinate, track, and support outreach activities, presentations, and community events to promote Help Me Grow and child development
  • Collaborate with the Resource Database Manager to ensure timely, accurate participation of partner agencies in the development and maintenance of the resource database
  • Gather partner and community feedback, identify operational gaps or barriers affecting families, and communicate findings to program leadership
  • Support the development and distribution of outreach and educational materials
  • Coordinate and regularly deliver public speaking engagements and presentations regarding the Help Me Grow system and Crisis Center services, and support participation by other Care Coordinators as appropriate
  • Support early childhood–related trainings and in-services for call specialists and volunteers, as assigned
  • Participate in Help Me Grow–related meetings, workgroups, and convenings, as funding allows
• Collaboration & Organizational Participation
  • Work closely and cooperatively with program managers, coordinators, call center staff, and community partners
  • Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and team activities
  • Actively contribute to a healthy, respectful, and supportive workplace environment
  • Regularly drive and/or travel throughout Contra Costa and neighboring counties to perform job duties; driving is an essential function of this position

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, child development, special education, social work, or related health or human services field
• Experience in early childhood development, education, or a related field
• Direct service experience with families of young children
• Knowledge of early childhood development, early childhood mental health, and early identification systems
• Proficient computer, software, and database literacy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and presentations
• Experience and demonstrated ability to work with racially, culturally, and economically diverse populations
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Ability to adapt, with minimal or no advance notice, to changes in agency operations, schedules, or assignments
• Read, analyze, and interpret professional publications and policy documents
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and reducing disparities in access to services for children and families
• Commitment to personal accountability and active participation in team building
• Valid California Driver’s License, access to a working vehicle, and current automobile insurance
• Ability to clear a criminal background check upon hire
• Spanish language proficiency (verbal and written)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience serving children with special needs
• Experience serving at-risk families with young children
• Experience working with volunteers
• Training or experience in telephone-based service delivery
• Comfort and skill in public speaking and community education