Community Connections Specialist

VCU School of Education; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Wireless stipend

Equipment (laptop, printer)

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD) seeks a part-time Community Connections Specialist to support families of children and adults with disabilities through outreach, information, and navigation services.

The role involves developing community partnerships, mentoring volunteer Family Navigators, and coordinating with tribal organizations in Virginia, with a flexible schedule and potential remote work based on location.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience supporting people with disabilities or their families.
• Experience building partnerships with American Indian/Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations, or Indigenous-serving organizations.
• Knowledge of tribal health systems, community resources, and barriers to health care and services.
• Working knowledge of disability service delivery systems and tribal organizations.
• Demonstrated collaboration, emotional intelligence, and teaming skills.
• Self-directed, motivated, organized, and able to multitask.
• Good computer skills including website navigation and data entry.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations, family-led groups, healthcare providers, and disability organizations to improve access to information and supports.
• Conducts community asset mapping to identify resources across Virginia.
• Builds partnerships with Virginia Tribal Nations and Indigenous-serving organizations to strengthen disability awareness.
• Represents CFI/PPD in community meetings, trainings, and outreach activities.
• Provides information, resource navigation, and peer support to families of children and youth with disabilities.
• Maintains accurate documentation of contacts, partnerships, referrals, and outcomes in the CFI Salesforce system.

Skills

Partnership building with Indigenous/

Disability service delivery knowledge

Collaboration & teamwork

Self-direction & organization

Computer skills (data entry/website)

Multitasking & time management

Advocacy/family engagement

Job description

Department: The Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD)

Duties & Responsibilities

The Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) celebrates over 40 years as Virginia's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Research, Training and Dissemination (www.partnership.vcu.edu).

The Partnership believes that families are best served by other families and people with disabilities, especially those with similar experiences and challenges. People with Disabilities and families are the experts in their own lives and their children, and can pass this expertise to others. To this end, The Partnership’s Center for Family Involvement (CFI) (www.centerforfamilyinvolvement.org) works with families 1:1 to build their skills as advocates for their child/family, mentors to other families, and leaders in changing the system for those that follow.

The Community Connections Specialist is a part‑time grant‑funded position, reporting to the Director of the Center for Family Involvement (CFI) at the PPD at VCU. Community Connection Specialists are specific to special populations and work with other CFI staff and volunteer Family Navigators to help family members of children and adults with disabilities identify and access information, services, and community supports that meet their needs.

Community Connection Specialists also outreach to organizations and groups in Virginia (and the country) with whom the CFI and Partnership should partner to meet the needs of all families with children and young adults with disabilities.

Community Partnerships And Outreach

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations, family‑led organizations, healthcare providers, disability organizations, schools, and other partners to improve access to information, supports, and services for families of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs.
• Conducts community asset mapping to identify organizations, resources, and informal support networks serving families across Virginia, particularly Tribal communities.
• Builds and sustains partnerships with Virginia Tribal Nations and Indigenous‑serving organizations to strengthen disability awareness and access to family support and navigation services.
• Represents the Center for Family Involvement (CFI) and the Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD) in community meetings, trainings, and outreach activities to increase awareness of disability resources, family leadership opportunities, and available services.

Family Navigation And Peer Support

• Provides individualized information, resource navigation, and peer support to families of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs, helping families understand available services, navigate complex systems, and access needed supports.
• Uses family‑centered engagement strategies to reach families who experience barriers to accessing services, especially families from Tribal communities.
• Recruits, supports, and mentors volunteer Family Navigators and family leaders, including outreach to underrepresented communities, to expand peer‑to‑peer support and strengthen family engagement.
• Maintains accurate documentation of family contacts, community partnerships, referrals, and outcomes using the CFI Salesforce data system.

Organization Support

• Attends and participates as a team member in regular CFI and PPD staff meetings/trainings, including any regional meetings with other CFI staff.
• Serves as a resource to the CFI and PPD by bringing Tribal/Indigenous perspectives, training, and technical assistance to ensure the delivery of appropriate services to organizational clients; and
• Assists, develops, and participates in programs or projects assigned by the supervisor.

Professional Development

• Attends mandatory PPD, CFI, and/or VCU employee orientation and on‑going staff development opportunities.
• Participates in at least two face to face or virtual training, seminars, courses and/or a state conference every year to improve service knowledge and skills.
• Actively participates in discussions by sharing experiences, training information, resources, etc. with other team members and identifying gaps in services and possible solutions; and
• Meets at least one time per month with the CFI director.

General Position Information

The work hours can be flexible, given the needs of the community (for example, evening hours, weekend hours, daytime hours).

The position will be renewed each year, dependent upon performance and funding.

Partnership staff receive mileage reimbursement according to CFI policies; a small wireless monthly stipend (if approved); and equipment (i.e., laptop, printer as necessary) to meet job requirements.

This Community Connections Specialist position may be based in the Richmond office or work remotely, depending on the successful candidate's location. The final work arrangement will be confirmed with the selected candidate.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Have a minimum of 2 years of experience supporting people with disabilities or special health care needs and their families.
• Demonstrated experience building partnerships with American Indian/Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations, or Indigenous‑serving organizations to support families.
• Knowledge of tribal health systems, community resources, and barriers that may affect families' access to health care, developmental services, and other supports.
• Possess working knowledge of disability service delivery system, particularly with local Tribal associations, groups and organizations, and other disability service providers.
• Practice effective collaboration, emotional intelligence, and teaming skills.
• Be self‑directed, self‑motivated, organized, and able to multitask; and
• Have good computer skills (experienced in using current technology to communicate and prepare materials, including website navigation and data entry).

Preferred Qualifications

• Personal or familial experience with disabilities

Salary Range: Up to $24 per hour

Benefits

All full‑time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax‑deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non‑Exempt

Hours per Week: 16 hours a week

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Coordinator

Contact Information: [phone]

Contact Name: Dana Yarbrough

Contact Email: [e-mail]