Coordinator for Community Grief Support

Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh•Pittsburgh, PA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Coordinator for Community Grief Support will lead a two-year design and implementation project that explores faith-based grief practices. This two-year project, the Interfaith Community Approach to Loss, will ultimately result in a Grief Resource Guide that serves as a set of practices and strategies that equips communities across the region to support friends and loved ones with rich and meaningful practices that ensure that no one travels the pathway of loss alone. The Coordinator for Community Grief Support will begin their grief focused pilot initiative in the Jewish community. They will research current national projects, nurture and lead a “community of practice” on grief, design curricula and the resource guide, as well as other interventions, as well as facilitate the scaling and expansion of the project into other faith communities. This role blends project management, small group facilitation, and a curiosity and openness to the multi-dimensional experience of loss and grief. The resultant Grief Resource Guide and other materials will help people understand planning and preparing for end of life, normalizing their experiences, sharing healthy coping strategies, while weaving together meaningful faith traditions and practices into a scalable model of community support. The Coordinator will join the committed and compassionate team of the JFCS Counseling Department and collaborate with colleagues in other departments whose work touches on grief and loss. The focus is on resources and guidance to individuals, families, and communities that are navigating the complexities of various aspects of end of life, all with a compassionate lens.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Education, Social Services, or adjacent field.
Experience in non-profit field, small group development, and community building .
Experience and deep interest in grief, clinical work, and pastoral care
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally at all levels.
Strong communication, writing, and facilitation skills, with the ability to address sensitive topics respectfully.
Strong planning and organizational skills.
Must have cultural literacy and openness to a wide swath of faith practices.

Responsibilities

Research national and international grief initiatives and grief education programs.
Partner with death doulas, hospices and funeral homes as well as faith leaders to create a Learning Community.
Lead the multicultural Learning Community on bereavement, pre-grief, anticipatory grief, and faith.
Adapt approaches to grief to respect cultural, spiritual, and personal differences in grief expression.
Create accessible materials (handouts, guides, curriculum, online content) that share grief stages, coping tools, and faith-based support options.
Design and deliver workshops, seminars, and training sessions on preparing the individual, community, and/or the family for loss.
Plan for scaling of pilot initiative.
Other duties as assigned.
Participates in the development of training seminars, workshops, and tele-conferences for presentation.
Participate in training and development activities including those which would result in increased responsiveness to the clients served
Open to training and certifications in Grief Education
Organize staff training to create a unified, holistic response to grief at all stages of life.
Represents JFCS at professional meetings and conferences as assigned.
Completes timesheets weekly