Northern Virginia Regional Family to Family Network Coordinator

Virginia Commonwealth University•Richmond, VA

3d•$42,400 - $49,040•Remote

About The Position

The Regional F2F Network Coordinators (RNCs) are .80 FTE (full-time) grant funded positions, reporting to the director of the Center for Family Involvement’s Family to Family Network of Virginia. RNCs are responsible for overseeing a region of the state, recruiting, training and supporting volunteer Family Navigators to help family members of children and adults with disabilities to identify and find information, services, community support that meet their needs; and outreaching to organizations and groups in their region with whom the CFI and Partnership should partner with to meet the needs of families with children and adults with disabilities. We are particularly interested in the Central Virginia region of Virginia on supporting families of transition-aged youth with disabilities. The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University celebrates 40 years as Virginia's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Training, and Dissemination. The Partnership believes that families are best served by other families, especially those with similar experiences and challenges. Families are the experts on their own children and can pass this expertise to others. The Partnership's Center for Family Involvement (CFI) provides emotional, informational and systems navigational support to families to help them increase their skills as advocates, mentors, and leaders so that families, children, and adults with disabilities can lead the lives they want. We are seeking a dynamic candidate for the role of Northern Virginia Regional Network Coordinator for the CFI’s Family to Family Network of Virginia initiative that is funded by four state and two federal agencies to provide 1:1 emotional, informational and systems navigational support to families of children and adults with disabilities and/or special health care needs. This position is open rank with an anticipated slotting in job 14114 - Community Engagement & Outreach Sr. Coordinator 1.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
High School Diploma/GED and 1-3 years relevant professional experience or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
A minimum of 5 years of direct experience with supporting children/adults with developmental disabilities or special health care needs and their families.
Must possess extensive knowledge of the Northern Virginia community, including local school systems, community organizations, and available resources to effectively support and connect families with appropriate services.
The incumbent must be able to work regularly within the Northern Virginia region to attend meetings, trainings, outreach events, and other required activities.
Through oral and written communication exhibit culturally agile and family centered practices.
At least 3 years of experience working with disability service delivery systems (education, developmental disabilities, Medicaid), local associations, groups and organizations, and other disability service providers.
Evidence of practicing effective collaboration, emotional intelligence, and teaming skills.
Evidence of being open to new ideas and adjusting approaches as necessary.
Evidence of being self-directed, self-motivated, organized and able to multitask.
Good computer skills (experienced in using current technology to communicate and prepare materials, including website navigation and data entry).

Nice To Haves

Able to provide guidance to families of people with disabilities in personal and/or professional settings based on experience providing services or supports in these areas.
Experience with early intervention aged services (e.g., Early Childhood Education, Part-C, Head start etc).
Experience managing volunteers.
Experience with event planning (conferences, webinars and trainings).
Be a member of the Northern Virginia region.

Responsibilities

Recruit, train and support a minimum of 5 people with disabilities or family members of people with disabilities as volunteer Family Navigators in their region.
Ensure that Family Navigators in their region are matched with 90% of the family callers and are providing emotional, informational and systems navigational support to families of children/adults with disabilities (contributing to the minimum of 600 families statewide supported each year).
Provide direct support to families when unable to match them with a Family Navigator.
Collect timely data from Family Navigators on family matches and maintain up to date information on professional and family support in the CFIs Salesforce data system.
Identify gaps in services as well as conflicts that may arise between services providers and families, and reports issues and resolutions to the F2F Network director and CFI director.
Complete community mapping of associations, groups and organizations in the Northern Virginia region to help the CFI maintain up-to-date information on resources, services, contacts, etc.
Serve on state and/or regional committees as a CFI/Partnership representative.
Exhibit or support Family Navigators to exhibit CFI and Partnership materials at resource fairs/conferences in the Northern Virginia region.
Establish collaborative relationships with leaders and professionals in the community to promote the mission, goals, and services of the CFI and Partnership to the community, including training on disability laws and services for which their child and family may be eligible.
Understand the culture of the Northern Virginia region, particularly underserved communities (i.e., rural, poverty, linguistically diverse, military) and develops and sustains a trusting and supportive relationship with organizations and families in the region.
Support the work of the Dept of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDS) Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) including but not limited to facilitation of IFSP Council meetings, promoting IFSP council event, completing monthly reports and identifying new partnerships and resource identification.
Attend and participate as a team member in regular CFI and Partnership staff meetings/trainings to stay abreast of our initiatives.
Determine a schedule for bringing Northern Virginia Family Navigators together to ensure they are kept up to date on important CFI, Partnership (and partner agency) information.
Serve as a resource to the CFI and Partnership by bringing Northern Virginia regional family perspectives to ensure the delivery of effective, culturally agile and family centered services to organizational clients.
Assist, develop and participate in programs or projects assigned by the supervisor to ensure the integration of family wisdom and experience to these programs.
Serve as an early childhood specialist, providing vital guidance, evidence-based resources, and culturally responsive navigation support to empower families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities served by the CFI.
Attend mandatory Partnership, CFI and/or VCU employee orientation and on-going staff development opportunities.
Participate in at least three face to face or virtual training, seminars or courses and at least one state conference every year to improve service knowledge and skills and provide/share knowledge with CFI team and/or act as a content expert in a particular area of interest or knowledge.
Actively participate in team discussions (4-6 times/year) by sharing experiences, training information, resources, etc. with other RNC team members and identifying gaps in services and possible solutions.
Meet at least one time per month with the F2F Network director (and/or F2F co-director).
Coordinate, plan and assist with regional community events, including family and professional training sessions provided by CFI, IFSP Council presentations and family support initiatives.
Support the Northern Virginia Individual and Family Support (IFSP) Council by recruiting members appropriate to council service, attending state and Northern Virginia regional IFSP Council meetings, and ensuring meeting materials and notes are in place.
Attend regular meetings with the Virginia Dept of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services to provide updates on IFSP Council work and to plan for state and regional council meeting agendas.