Family Bridge Community Alignment Specialist

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

At Bridgeport Hospital, we are committed to providing quality medical care and treatment that is coordinated and centered on the patient's specific needs. We strive to achieve benchmarks as a Patient Centered Medical Home and provide health care in a setting where patients are at the center of their care team. All employees of Bridgeport Hospital are part of the patients care team and contribute to the team approach of promoting access, continuous, comprehensive care and work to provide quality improvement in the care provided to their patients.

The Universal Nurse Home Visiting (UNHV) Community Alignment Specialist will provide home visiting services using the Family Connects model. The Family Connects model is an evidence-based and successfully demonstrated program that connects parents of newborns to the community resources they need through postpartum nurse home visits. As a community-based program, Family Connects supports new parents in caring for their newborn(s), offers physical assessments of the mother and the baby, addresses questions about caring for the newborn(s), identifies parents' needs, and helps to identify community services or resources that can meet those needs. In addition, through this connection to resources, Family Connects helps to identify gaps in critical community-wide resources with the goal of working toward increasing needed services locally. The UNHV Community Alignment Specialist (CAS) will manage, coordinate and participate in the development of community resources in partnership with both public and private agencies within the community, and oversee the development and implementation of a marketing plan for the community. This position is responsible for the establishment of viable coalitions and partnerships among civic, community and health and human services partners to plan programs, services and supports designed to meet the needs of families with newborn children. The CAS will solicit feedback from home visitors and supervisors regarding unmet needs in the community and, with the team, plan toward closing those gaps as possible. In addition, the CAS will lead the marketing and public relations efforts of the Family Connects program. The CAS will also participate in establishing and maintaining communication between community resources, physicians, nursing personnel and other health-care professionals regarding program objectives, policies and procedures. The CAS will compile and maintain records, reports and documentation of program activities regarding community relations for use in program evaluation. This position is coterminous with project funding.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

• 1. Establish and maintain relationships, partnerships, and coalitions with community resources and services that provide support to families in a timely and appropriate manner as referred by UNHV Family Connects nurses and that participate in the community system of care for young children and their families.
• 2. Identify resources, establish relationships with providers, maintain an updated list of resources utilizing the program database, and identify gaps in needed community resources so that the broader community can be induced to grow these resources over time.
• 3. Attend UNHV Nurse-CHW case conference meetings to provide individual-case consultation about community resources to support Nurse Home Visitors and CHWs as they connect families with community resources, as needed.
• 4. Provide individual-case consultation about community resources to support nurse home-visitors and CHWs as they connect families with community resources, as needed.
• 5. Market the program by communicating with referral sources (e.g., obstetric-gynecologic practitioners, hospitals, pediatricians), communicating with groups that interact with families (e.g., employers, newspapers, churches, child care agencies, the public), and soliciting support from community leaders.
• 6. Increase the array of options for pregnant women and new mothers to know about and to sign up for a Family Connects home visit by working with health providers and other organizations about referrals to and support for the program.
• 7. Participate in relevant local and/or regional committees and task forces to communicate and collaborate re: community early childhood and perinatal needs.
• 8. Assist the program's development and sustainability by working with the leadership team to identify and apply for grants and other funding opportunities.
• 9. Coordinate with relevant stakeholders and community partners, as well as parent participants, to organize a joint community advisory board to assist in coordinating services within the UNHV system of care.
• 10. Compile and maintain records, reports, and documentation of program activities regarding community relations for use in program evaluation.
• 11. Attend AgencyFinder database training as needed to fully manage and maintain UNHV AgencyFinder data.

EDUCATION

Minimum high school diploma or GED; some further community/public health education (e.g., community health worker, certified nursing assistant certification) preferred.

EXPERIENCE

1. Requires familiarity with a range of CT social service providers in general, with knowledge of the Greater Bridgeport region preferred. 2. A combined five years of experience in a related healthcare field is desired.

LICENSURE

None required.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Ability to establish and maintain strong, positive professional relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Ability to use a collaborative approach in community-based work. Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ability to work independently, to meet deadlines, and work well with multiple priorities. Strong commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable young children and families. Sound judgment. Excellent interpersonal and organization skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills. The successful candidate will possess leadership skills and a willingness to take initiative and be proactive. Ability to work independently, as well as in teams. Ability to work well with diverse populations through inclusive and culturally responsive practices.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

Work Location(s): Remotely, in the hospital system, and in community locations. Valid driver's license and use of reliable personal vehicle with appropriate insurance required. Frequent evening and weekend hours are required for community events, press conferences. and program needs.

M - F, 9 am - 5:30 pm, evenings and weekends as needed