Community Engagement Coordinator-Missouri Bootheel Area in Dover

Organization Overview

The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to driving dramatic and sustainable improvements in the complex issues facing children’s health. We provide deep expertise in building and managing effective change strategies that align partners and engage participants to achieve better outcomes for children’s health. At the heart of what motivates us is the belief that children and families deserve better systems and support so that every child achieves their optimal health. Because of this belief, addressing social determinants of health, eliminating health disparities, and achieving equity are central to our mission. We believe that by creating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, we will similarly foster greater strength and resilience within and beyond the organization.

Position Overview

Under the supervision of the Community Centered Hospital Initiative (CCHI) Project Director within the Department of Health Equity Innovation, the Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) will manage and strengthen the complex relationships among community-based organizations (CBOs), hospitals, and the state perinatal quality collaborative (PQC) in the pilot community. Serving as a connector, the CEC will build capacity to enhance the effectiveness of PQCs and hospitals in engaging with communities. The CEC will be a member and resident of the pilot community, working on the ground to advance project goals and objectives as a NICHQ employee during the first three years of the project (August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2027). In years four and five, a portion of the CEC’s salary may be supported by the pilot community, with the expectation that the position will transition to employment under a community-based organization or other local entity after year five as part of the project’s sustainability plan.

Leveraging strong community networks and personal and professional experience, the CEC will facilitate the cooperative design, development, and implementation of community-defined clinical projects among trusted CBOs, PQCs, and hospitals to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The CEC’s service area may expand in years three or four, depending on the scaling strategy for the pilot state.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted resource and liaison between CBO, PQC, and hospital
• Facilitate mapping of assets, power, and landscape of community
• Coordinate/Lead meetings with CBO(s) leaders, PQC members, hospitals and clinical providers
• Conduct and/or support listening sessions with birthing community representatives to explore the state of maternal and infant health and determine their goals
• Engage in targeted input from birthing community members about potential goals
• Identify potential focus areas/goals for the pilot initiative in collaboration with the CBO and PQC
• Assist or provide customized technical assistance (TA) for local leadership teams based on technical assistance (TA) to local leadership teams
• Support the initiation of the pilot community’s Plans of Action that will include pursuing practice change within the hospital setting and monitoring to determine the impact of these practice changes
• Provide peer support and/or train CECs in subsequent pilot communities
• Regularly travel within the pilot community, with some travel to surrounding areas and throughout the state
• Participate in all relevant and required CCHI project meetings, workshops, training/education, and events
• Participate in and/or support relevant CBO and/or community activities and events including those outside of standard working hours
• Provide insight and inform all project areas, including program, marketing/communications, data/evaluation, and development/sustainability
• All other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Must live in the pilot community and have a trusted relationship with and strong knowledge, and understanding of the community
• Must have professional and/or lived experience in infant, maternal, and child health initiatives
• Background in public health, health education, and health administration preferred
• Ability to transition between and navigate community spaces and health/social systems
• Ability to effectively and appropriately communicate with diverse stakeholder groups, including community, Black birthing people, hospital administrators and providers, local and state officials
• Effective and appropriate use of broad communication strategies including oral, written, multi-media, digital, etc.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community stakeholders and clinical and state partners at all levels
• Ability to travel throughout the pilot community and state as needed, with minimal out-of-state travel

Salary and Benefits

We offer a generous benefits package for employees including competitive compensation; remote work; paid time off including vacation, sick and holidays; insurance including medical, dental, vision, disability and life; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance programs; paid parental leave and professional development benefits.

To Apply

To apply for this employment opportunity, please complete and submit an online application. NICHQ is committed to increasing the representation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in our workforce and to value and embrace their skills, perspectives and experiences for the benefit of our mission. NICHQ is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. NICHQ strongly encourages applications from candidates who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or from any other minoritized group.