Community Engagement Coordinator

MAB Community Services is a non-profit human service organization serving adults with developmental disabilities, adults with acquired brain injuries, individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and adolescents with autism.   MAB is currently building our team with enthusiastic professionals with the desire to rebuild lives and grow professionally.

SUMMARY 

MABVI’s Community Engagement Coordinator is an exciting new position. We are seeking a skilled and enthusiastic individual to foster awareness of and access to MABVI’s vision rehabilitation services for older adults who are blind or low vision, especially those who traditionally experience barriers to receiving community and health services. Our ideal candidate is bilingual or multi-lingual with experience working in community or public health environments to foster inclusion of underrepresented populations.

This individual will work closely with MABVI’s Interim Executive Director, Director of Social Services, and other team members. 

This role involves direct outreach to older adults who have visual disabilities as well as to partner agencies across Massachusetts who are important advocates for healthy aging and health equity. They will coordinate MABVI’s Age Friendly and Health Equity/Healthy Aging initiatives and serve on key virtual and in-person committees. This involves agencies that serve older adults including but not limited to: community health centers, ethnic and cultural organizations, age-friendly city partners, senior centers, other elder service providers such as the state Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs). 

The Community Engagement Coordinator will also be a crucial member of MABVI’s social services team and will participate in identifying access barriers and solutions. 

This role includes travel to locations across the state, with a focus on the City of Boston, Springfield and New Bedford. This on the ground work will include meeting with partner agencies, making presentations, connecting with older adults, and conducting home visits. Coordinate outreach efforts and build new community partnerships that promote MABVI and deepen our relationships in underserved communities. Coordinate day to day activities with current partners and new partners in identified communities. In this outreach capacity, this person will further promote MABVI’s other services including volunteer opportunities, to build awareness statewide. This person will also ensure that effective MABVI referral processes are in place. Coordinate MABVI’s Age Friendly and Health Equity/Healthy Aging initiatives. External relations/travel: 40-50%.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Enhancing consumer experience: 40%. enhance support for consumers who are newly experiencing loss of their vision, and those who encounter barriers to transportation and other related health and social services. In close collaboration with MABVI’s social services and intake team, the Community Engagement Coordinator will identify barriers to service access, follow up with participants who are referred from partner agencies in underserved communities or through general inquiries, and assist in developing and conducting culturally appropriate solutions for these individuals. 
• Data collection, evaluation and improvement: 10-20%: Writing, tracking and documenting success of new outreach efforts (e.g., number of partner referrals, percent of new referrals who enroll in services, documenting anecdotal feedback from consumers through 1:1 interactions and focus groups, etc.). Enter data, prepare reports from database, and offer guidance on strategies for continual improvement.
• Assist team in developing robust regional outreach priorities and strategies including development of materials, communications, and presentations/trainings. Work with MAB’s advancement department to execute consistent and accessible messaging.
• Make presentations to existing and newly identified community partners about MABVI’s services and provide introductory information about aging, disability and vision loss.
• Conduct consumer outreach and provide information about MABVI services in participants’ homes, in neighborhood community centers (such as senior centers) and local ethnic/cultural agencies, and community health centers.
• Assist with targeted regional outreach to organizations that promote volunteerism to encourage new volunteers, volunteers of color, and those who are multilingual to consider working with older adults with visual disabilities.
• Ensure MABVI is listed in elder service databases and other resources as a means of increasing awareness of our services, especially in traditionally underserved communities.
• Provide assistance in languages other than English, as necessary. Provide translation and/or utilize MABVI’s existing translation services.
• Assist MABVI in strengthening MABVI's translation services and make recommendations for improvements based on participant needs.
• Follow up with assigned participants to assess whether they have enrolled or participated in any of MABVI services and gather information on their experience to date to improve their experience and enhance our programs.
• Participate in assigned health equity/health aging/Age-Friendly partnership meetings (both internal and external). Document these discussions and identify actionable next steps for the MABVI team. Follow up on completion of these action items.
• Participate in, coordinate, and provide guidance on relationships with community health centers and other public health and elder service partnerships (e.g., Dimock Eye Health). Others TBD.
• Develop strategies for tracking success, including necessary documentation and reporting and entering consumer interactions in MABVI’s database. Assist with program evaluation, as necessary including collecting feedback from participants and community partners through survey responses and anecdotes. May conduct focus groups.
• Prepare written narrative and quantitative status reports on efforts with identified populations and/or partners, when requested to provide impact results to funders and help strengthen MABVI services.
• Assist MABVI in developing an Older Adult BIPOC advisory group to ensure ongoing feedback is integrated into MABVI's work. Provide incentives for participation (e.g., gift card/small stipend).
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

• Bilingual or multilingual (Spanish or Portuguese preferred)
• Strong collaborator and effective team players
• Prioritize inclusion and cultural sensitivity in working with diverse populations

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with diverse populations, individuals with disabilities and/or older adults
• Experience and/or interest in public health  
• Experience as a community advocate and establishing effective working partnerships with community-based agencies
• Experience with program evaluation and impact assessments
• Experienced user of technology platforms and database systems to document/track success
• At least one year of supervisory experience preferred.

MAB Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

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In accordance with MAB’s ADA policy, MAB will engage in an interactive dialogue with individuals to determine if the essential functions of the position may be fulfilled with or without a reasonable accommodation.