Human Services Specialist II - Community Resources and Services, Office on Aging and Independence

Howard County Government•Md 21046, MD

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About The Position

The Dementia Care Program Manager provides leadership in developing, coordinating, expanding, and evaluating dementia-capable services across Howard County and the Office on Aging and Independence. The role supports delivery of services to people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), their families, and caregivers. Services include options counseling, education, screenings, referrals, care-transition coaching, support-group coordination, behavioral symptom management training, expert consultation, and eligibility assistance. The position serves as a subject matter expert in dementia care and evidence-based practices. It works with community partners, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to strengthen dementia-capable systems and expand programming, including services for people with early-stage dementia. The position also leads community Dementia-Friendly initiatives, promotes public awareness and engagement, and develops measurable outcomes to evaluate programs and guide improvement. The position is grant-funded. Continued employment is contingent on continued grant funding and is not guaranteed beyond the grant period; the position may be modified or discontinued if funding is reduced or eliminated. It is a classified position upon completion of a probationary period of at least six months. Work is performed under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. The broader class performs intermediate-level human services work, which may include supervision, program administration, specialized services for a population, policy and goal development, and counseling and referral services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and one year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from groups, clients, customers, and the public.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic and calculate rates, ratios, and percentages, and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to solve practical problems in situations with limited standardization and interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or scheduled instructions.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including occasionally lifting or moving up to 50 pounds; reasonable accommodations may be made.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The County does not sponsor H-1B visas or extensions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Gerontology, Human Services, Public Health, Psychology, or a related field, with two or more years of experience in human services, dementia care, care coordination, case management, or caregiver support.
Knowledge of person-centered dementia care, dementia-capable systems, current research, evidence-based interventions, caregiver supports, and non-pharmacological approaches to behavioral symptom management.
Experience developing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating dementia-related programs, caregiver supports, support groups, trainings, or other community-based human services initiatives.
Experience collaborating with healthcare systems, behavioral health providers, community organizations, and diverse stakeholders to build partnerships and advance program goals.
Knowledge of federal, state, county, and community resources for older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities, including the roles of Howard County Government and community-based organizations.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
Experience with grant management, data collection, program evaluation, measurable outcomes, and quality improvement strategies.
Supervisory or program oversight experience.
Certification to administer the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or an equivalent cognitive screening instrument.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, databases, virtual platforms, data systems, and other technology used for human services delivery, outreach, training, and care coordination.

Responsibilities

Lead implementation of Howard County’s Dementia-Friendly Action Plan in alignment with Dementia Friendly America initiatives, collaborating with community partners.
Oversee the Kindred Spirits program and related dementia initiatives, including staff supervision, program planning, quality improvement, and partner coordination.
Support integration of Dementia-Friendly and Age-Friendly initiatives to enhance community livability and inclusion.
Participate in local, regional, and statewide dementia-related committees, trainings, conferences, and Maryland Department of Aging initiatives.
Assist with grant implementation, sustainability planning, strategic planning, and identifying funding opportunities related to dementia services and caregiver supports.
Participate in emergency management activities, including work outside normal business hours, and perform other related duties as assigned.
Develop, expand, and evaluate dementia-capable services and supports, emphasizing early-stage dementia, caregiver support, community engagement, and care coordination.
Coordinate and oversee evidence-based and evidence-informed programming for people living with ADRD and their caregivers.
Develop and facilitate programming that promotes socialization, cognitive stimulation, wellness, independence, and quality of life for people living with early-stage dementia.
Develop measurable program outcomes and evaluation tools to assess effectiveness, identify service gaps, and support continuous quality improvement.
Collect, analyze, and maintain programmatic and demographic data for federal, state, county, and grant reporting.
Conduct dementia care consultations, options counseling, screenings, and care planning using person-centered and strengths-based approaches, including the required AD8 assessment tool.
Provide information, referrals, and assistance concerning long-term services and supports, behavioral health, caregiver stress, housing, healthcare navigation, and community resources.
Coordinate care transitions and collaborate with healthcare systems, memory care providers, behavioral health professionals, and community organizations to strengthen care coordination and improve access to services.
Provide dementia education and training to caregivers, community partners, professionals, businesses, and the public on communication strategies, behavioral symptom management, dementia-inclusive practices, and available resources.
Coordinate Dementia Live trainings and other community dementia-capable workforce development initiatives.
Maintain current knowledge of dementia research, evidence-based practices, innovations, medications, and non-pharmacological interventions, and apply best practices to programming and service delivery.