Community Engagement Specialist, South County Academy

Family Service Of Rhode Island • Exeter, RI

2d

About The Position

The Community Engagement Specialist (CES) is an outward-facing, non-clinical position at South County Academy (SCA), a residential treatment program operated by Family Service of Rhode Island in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families. Located in Exeter, Rhode Island, SCA serves up to 16 adolescent females ages 13 to 17 who have experienced trauma and have complex behavioral health needs. Students receive 24-hour staff support, on-site academic instruction, and clinical services grounded in evidence-based practices.

The CES builds and maintains relationships with community organizations, employers, volunteer sites, educational and recreational programs, and other resources, and turns those relationships into meaningful opportunities for students. The role coordinates safe, regular community access, supports students in developing practical community-navigation skills, and helps maintain connections to each student’s home community throughout placement. The position also coordinates volunteers and donations, contributes to discharge and aftercare planning, maintains records, and collaborates with the residential treatment team, Care Coordinator, Family Support Partner, school, and agency departments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, communications, recreation, education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• Experience working with adolescents and young adults.
• Ability to operate medical-record software and hardware, word-processing software, and database software.
• Excellent customer-service skills and ability to communicate courteously and professionally with external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; self-motivated, resourceful, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects.
• Excellent multitasking and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness and capability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Current driver’s license, reliable transportation, vehicle registration, and auto insurance.
• Ability to communicate effectively, travel to community locations and the office site, use walkways, stairs, and/or elevators, and use a computer and electronic medical record for documentation.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with youth who have trauma histories or behavioral health needs.
• Spanish-speaking ability; compensation is offered for this skill.
• Bilingual or ASL skills; compensated at an additional 6% above base pay.
• Multilingual skills; compensated at an additional 8% above base pay.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally responsive and inclusive services that respect individuals’ and families’ cultural backgrounds, identities, values, languages, beliefs, abilities, and preferences.
• Conduct community outreach and cultivate relationships with organizations, employers, volunteer sites, and providers that may host, employ, or include students.
• Maintain a current written inventory of community resources, including contacts, offerings, requirements, costs, capacity, accessibility, and restrictions.
• Educate community partners about SCA and working with adolescents who have trauma histories, in coordination with program leadership.
• Maintain communication with internal and external contacts, represent SCA at assigned community meetings and events, and keep partnerships active.
• Assess students’ interests and match them with appropriate community programs and resources in consultation with the treatment team.
• Plan a regular calendar of community access opportunities and coordinate outing schedules, sites, transportation, staffing, permissions, and approvals.
• Ensure outing plans address safety and clinical considerations, confirm individual restrictions with the treatment team, and promptly communicate partner-site concerns.
• Assist with recreational and educational activities in the residence or community, and debrief outings with staff and the treatment team.
• Help students practice skills for accessing community resources, such as using public transportation, budgeting, ordering and paying, asking for help, and following a schedule.
• Support students in obtaining practical documents and access items, including library cards, state identification cards, bus passes, and work permits, coordinating with the Care Coordinator.
• Help students identify volunteer, employment, and enrichment opportunities, complete applications, and prepare for interviews.
• Coordinate with the onsite school on community-based learning, service learning, and vocational opportunities that support educational goals.
• Collaborate with the FSRI Development Department on volunteers, donations, and relationship development.
• Coordinate volunteer intake, screening, orientation, and scheduling according to agency policy and licensing requirements.
• Coordinate receipt and appropriate distribution of donations, and ensure volunteers and partners follow facility access, identification, and confidentiality requirements.
• Develop resources in each student’s home community and contribute community resource information to discharge and aftercare planning.
• Coordinate with the Care Coordinator and Family Support Partner to support a unified plan for students and families and maintain community connections throughout placement.
• Collaborate and communicate regularly with the residential treatment team to support coordination and quality of care.
• Maintain required program records, reports, logs, and data, including outing records, community contact logs, partner agreements, and volunteer records.
• Complete TST training, participate in consultation calls, and adhere to the TST model of treatment.
• Attend staff meetings, in-service trainings, workshops, and other required meetings, and complete mandatory agency trainings on time.
• Transport students as needed, provide emergency coverage and program ratios as needed, and perform additional responsibilities consistent with agency needs in consultation with the supervisor.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and work-life benefits.
• Additional compensation for bilingual/ASL skills and multilingual skills.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time