Community Developer - Lancaster

Counseling and Research Associates, Inc.; Lancaster (CA); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Remote-friendly days

Job summary

Masada is seeking a Community Developer to strengthen the Full Service Partnership–High Fidelity Wraparound (FSP-HFW) program by building and coordinating natural supports and community resources for youth and families in California. The role focuses on culturally relevant, family-driven, community-based supports to sustain progress beyond formal services.

The position collaborates with HFW teams without replacing core roles, providing resource navigation, fund coordination, and cross-system

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's level education, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop natural and community supports to assist FSP-HFW teams.
• Consult with teams regarding resources, referrals, and barriers to access services.
• Assist in Flex Funds requests and linkages to community resources.
• Support transitions and sustainment of community resources post-Wraparound.

Skills

Resource navigation

Community engagement

Cross-system collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

Job description

The Community Developer is an ancillary support role for Masada's Full Service Partnership - High Fidelity Wraparound (FSP-HFW) program. The position strengthens the HFW team's ability to identify, develop, coordinate, and sustain natural supports and community-based resources that are responsive to the individualized needs, strengths, culture, values, and preferences of youth and families. Consistent with the California High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) Standards, the Community Developer supports HFW staff in increasing the use of natural and community supports, reducing unnecessary reliance on formal services, strengthening cross-system and community partnerships, supporting access to flexible resources, and helping families build sustainable connections that can continue after formal Wraparound services end.

The Community Developer does not replace the required HFW team roles or the responsibilities assigned to the HFW Facilitator, Family Specialist, Parent Partner, Youth Partner, Fidelity Coach, Clinical Supervisor, or HFW Supervisor/Manager. Instead, the position provides supplemental resource-development and coordination support so required HFW staff can remain focused on direct engagement, planning, implementation, and transition activities with youth and families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. NATURAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS: Identify, develop, and maintain a broad network of natural and community-based supports that can be used by FSP-HFW teams to address youth and family needs in the communities where they live. Assist HFW teams in identifying natural supports such as relatives, mentors, neighbors, faith or cultural communities, recreational programs, civic organizations, schools, clubs, and other individuals or organizations that can provide sustainable support. Support teams in developing and updating natural and community support inventories and in identifying resources that can be incorporated into individualized HFW strategies and Plans of Care. Prioritize resources that are culturally relevant, family-driven, community-based, individualized, and capable of continuing beyond formal HFW involvement. Identify community programs that can benefit Wraparound youth and families and coordinate presentations by appropriate community partners during staff meetings. Maintain current information regarding community-resource eligibility, referral processes, availability, contact information, and geographic service areas.
2. FSP-HFW TEAM CONSULTATION AND RESOURCE COORDINATION: Make available consultation to HFW teams, Managers, and Supervisors regarding community resources, natural supports, service linkages, and barriers affecting youth and families. Assist teams in locating resources that address health-related social needs, including relevant Medi-Cal Community Supports and other community-based services when appropriate. Coordinate with HFW staff so resource development supports, rather than replaces, the team's responsibility to ensure family voice and choice, individualized planning, and collaborative decision-making. Assist the team in tracking and navigating contact with minors' attorneys and related processes needed to obtain Releases of Information (ROI), consistent with agency policy, confidentiality requirements, and the direction of assigned program staff. Support resource-related follow-up on team action items when assigned, while maintaining clear role boundaries and avoiding duplication of Facilitator or direct-service responsibilities.
3. FLEX FUNDS AND INDIVIDUALIZED RESOURCE SUPPORT: Assist Managers and Supervisors with Flex Funds requests and provide linkage, resource navigation, and supporting information related to requests being considered by the HFW team. Help identify alternatives when a requested need can be met through existing community, natural, public, or private resources. Support use of Flex Funds in ways that add value to the team mission and individualized Plan of Care, build on family strengths, address identified needs, are culturally relevant, build natural or community capacity, represent responsible use of resources, and support sustainability. Help identify alternate resources when funding limitations or service barriers interfere with access to needed supports.
4. DCFS, SYSTEM, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Assist in developing and maintaining working relationships with Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) offices for each Service Area covered by Masada's FSP-HFW programs. Attend Service Area Leadership Team (SALT) meetings and other approved system or community meetings as assigned. Coordinate with program leadership to strengthen relationships with child-serving systems, schools, Tribes when applicable, community-based organizations, and other partners that may support youth and families. Identify system or community barriers that affect access to services and resources and communicate those barriers to program leadership for follow-up through appropriate leadership or collaborative structures. Support cross-agency collaboration, community resource-sharing, and partner education that strengthens understanding of HFW and improves participation in the Children's System of Care.
5. TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABILITY: Identify and develop sustainable community resources and natural supports that can remain available after a youth and family transition from formal HFW services. Assist teams in identifying programs such as mentoring, recreation, educational, cultural, neighborhood, civic, and other long-term community supports that reduce reliance on formal services over time. Support transition planning by confirming resource availability, access requirements, and continuity of community-based supports when requested by the HFW team. Assist with community resourcing and partnership coordination that may support culturally meaningful transition or commencement activities, including Flex Fund-related resource navigation when appropriate.
6. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS: Coordinate with appropriate Masada team members on approved community events, resource fairs, partner meetings, and relationship-building activities that support FSP-HFW youth and families. Attend approved community events when participation is expected to strengthen partnerships, expand knowledge of community resources, or improve access to supports for FSP-HFW youth and families. Represent Masada professionally and communicate HFW-related information within the scope of the position and in coordination with program leadership.
7. HFW TRAINING, FIDELITY, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Complete all initial, ongoing, annual booster, and role-specific High Fidelity Wraparound training required by DMH, UC Davis, Masada, and/or other applicable program requirements. Complete required ICWA and Tribal sovereignty training and other training identified to support populations with specific and unique needs. Apply HFW principles in resource-development activities, including family voice and choice, strengths-based practice, individualized and needs-driven planning, cultural relevance, team-based collaboration, persistence, community-based support, natural supports, and outcomes-based practice. Participate in coaching, supervision, case consultation, team meetings, and continuous quality improvement activities as assigned, including review of resource gaps, partnership opportunities, and barriers affecting HFW implementation.
8. SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supports and maintains a safe, hazard-free workplace and complies with agency safety policies, OSHA safety requirements, established procedures, and applicable workplace health and safety regulations. Follows established safety protocols and promptly reports injuries, illnesses, hazards, unsafe conditions, workplace incidents, or other safety concerns to the appropriate supervisor or designated agency representative. All employee-related injuries or illnesses must be reported immediately to Human Resources, and Nurse First Response (NFR) should be notified for assessment in accordance with agency procedures. Nurse First Response is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at [phone]. The Community Developer promotes client, employee, and community safety by following established safety procedures, communicating urgent concerns promptly, and seeking supervisory or emergency assistance when circumstances require additional support.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's level education, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, with demonstrated experience identifying community resources and addressing health-related social needs, including familiarity with Medi-Cal Community Supports.
• Valid California Driver's License, proof of automobile insurance, good driving record. Driving is an essential function of the position.
• Experience in community resource navigation, social services, behavioral health, child and family services, community-based organizations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with public agencies, community organizations, service providers, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to identify culturally relevant and individualized supports and to work respectfully with youth, families, natural supports, and diverse communities.
• Strong organizational, follow-through, communication, documentation, and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond flexibly to program needs.
• Ability to work independently while remaining closely coordinated with FSP-HFW staff, Managers, Supervisors, and program leadership.
• Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with High Fidelity Wraparound principles, phases, activities, and the Children's System of Care.
• Experience with DCFS, Wraparound, Full Service Partnership programs, child welfare, probation, behavioral health, schools, or other child- and family-serving systems.
• Familiarity with Medi-Cal, CalAIM, Community Supports, social determinants of health/health-related social needs, and local community resource systems.
• Knowledge of California Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT), the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), and BH-CONNECT initiatives.
• Experience coordinating community partnerships, resource presentations, or cross-agency collaboration.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

When performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to:

• Remain in a stationary position for extended periods while completing documentation, participating in meetings, or working at a computer.
• Move throughout agency offices, clinic locations, homes, schools, and community settings to provide services and participate in meetings.
• Operate a computer and standard office equipment and communicate frequently in person, by telephone, email, and virtual platforms.
• Occasionally move routine work materials and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Travel to other sites and Service Areas as requested.

Work Environment:

The work environment is primarily an office, clinical, and remote or hybrid setting and may include community-based locations when required by operational needs. The position may involve contact with individuals experiencing significant behavioral health symptoms, psychiatric crises, or acute emotional distress. Work schedules and in-office attendance are based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs. Availability to work evenings and weekends as required for approved community events, meetings, and engagement activities.

This is a hybrid position requiring in-office attendance a minimum of three (3) days per week, with the ability to work remotely up to two (2) days per week based on operational needs and approval from executive leadership.

Core Competencies:

• Natural and community support development
• Community resource navigation and sustainability planning
• Family-driven, culturally responsive, and strengths-based practice
• Cross-system partnership development and collaboration
• Flex Funds resource support and problem solving
• Organization, documentation, and follow-through
• Adaptability, sound judgment, and professional communication