Family Navigation and Community Engagement Associate

Company Description

The Children’s Opportunity Alliance (The Alliance) is an independent 501(c)(3) designated as the early care and education (ECE) coordinating entity for Montgomery County. It is responsible for building an equitable, high-quality, accessible, and sustainable early childhood system to support the well-being of children and families in the County. The Alliance is also charged with identifying and impacting systemic inequities and structurally violent practices and structures that create access barriers for vulnerable, racially, and ethnically diverse populations. The Alliance is governed by a county-appointed Board. The Alliance puts children and families first; collaboration, innovation, and accountability are key values of the Alliance and will require close engagement with many diverse stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

Position Summary

In order for The Alliance to fulfill its legislative mandate, a dynamic and innovative Family Navigation Associate is required. The Family Navigation Associate will be a part of a small team responsible for driving the organization’s work forward, spearheading community engagement, outreach, and education in deep coordination with overall strategy development. We are looking for a Family Navigation Associate to join our team. This role can be structured as either full-time or part-time, depending upon availability, or preferences – we believe great talent comes in many forms. The Associate must have a deep understanding of the ECE landscape and the unique issues faced by vulnerable families; ensuring the application of an equity lens in all of the Alliance’s efforts.

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Early Care and Education Manager, the Associate will work towards these essential functions: 

Community Engagement

• Support coordination and implementation of the Family Navigation Work Group, a component of the larger Common Agenda strategy work to transform our ECE system. This includes tracking progress on key actions and priorities such as supporting local navigators and neighborhood ambassadors, compiling resources to make navigation easier for families with young children, etc. (to learn more see our Common Agenda on our website – https://mocochildren.org/common-agenda)
• Support the development and implementation of a community engagement strategy designed to develop trusting relationships with a wide variety of early childhood stakeholders, including parents and family members of young children, health professionals, and leaders from the faith-based, and nonprofit sectors
• Regularly represent the Alliance at special community events as well as recurring meetings of relevant stakeholder groups in the early childhood ecosystem, such as the, parent advisory boards, BASICS and other community groups
• Maintain updated knowledge of the landscape of ECE services and resources in Montgomery County with the aim of ensuring outreach to all relevant stakeholders and integrating their work into Alliance strategies
• Ensure ongoing integration of community feedback into the Alliance’s strategy development work
• Mobilize community stakeholders to join the Alliance through a variety of engagement opportunities that mutually inform and implement community change strategies in alignment with the organization’s goals, including but not limited to supporting advocacy efforts, coalition building, joining working groups or ad hoc committees focused on specific goals, responding to surveys, and more.

Outreach and Education

• Support the development and implementation of a strategy to engage and educate families and the wider community about the importance of high-quality early care and education programs;
• In partnership with the Alliance communications team, integrate education opportunities into all Alliance communications vehicles and develop new resources and materials to support outreach efforts.
• Support implementation and follow-up with Neighborhood Ambassadors that have received resources and support, as well as support the implementation of new cohorts and partners moving forward.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in social work or a similar human services background is required. A Bachelor’s degree is a plus, but we encourage candidates with relevant hands-on experience to apply
• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders, government agencies, school districts, early childhood educators, community-based organizations, and diverse Montgomery County families
• Knowledge of theory and practice regarding racial equity, social justice, and community organizing
• Ability to initiate and manage projects, balance competing priorities, and plan and conduct efficient meetings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Recent lived experience navigating the ECE system, including searching for child care, Pre-K, or other early childhood programs and services preferred
• Montgomery County resident is preferred
• Bilingual English with Amharic or Mandarin (Chinese) or Vietnamese or Korean or Portuguese preferred

Compensation

• Salary range for this role is $68,000.00 to $85,000.00 annually, dependent on qualifications, experience and full-time or part-time status. Alliance employees are offered full medical and dental benefits at no cost to the individual, as well as a 401(k) plan with 4% match, and generous paid time off.

Benefits

• The Alliance employees are offered individual medical, dental, life, and disability insurance at no cost, as well as a 401(k) plan with 4% match, and generous paid time off.

How to Apply

• To start your application click "I'm Interested." Please submit your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements with your online application. 

The Children’s Opportunity Alliance (The Alliance) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination of Any Kind. The Alliance is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. The Alliance will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics, as we foster an open and inclusive professional environment.  your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The Alliance employees are offered individual medical, dental, life, and disability insurance at no cost, as well as a 401(k) plan with 4% match, and generous paid time off.

Bilingual English with Amharic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, or Portuguese preferred.