Community Liaison

Location: Candidates must reside within one of the following counties: Paint Valley (Pickaway-Fayette-Highland-Pike-Ross)

Organization: The Ohio Children's Alliance

Position Type: Full-Time, Hybrid--Staff residing within Fayette/Highland/Pickaway/Pike/Ross county. Staff will be expected to attend meetings and events as required by their position or requested by their supervisor. These meetings may be held anywhere within the counties noted above and in Columbus.

Compensation: $40,000-$45,000, negotiable commensurate with experience. Generous paid time off, health/dental/vision/life insurance coverage, 401(k) retirement benefit, professional development opportunities, public service student loan forgiveness options.

This is a one (1) year grant funded position and is contingent upon continued grant funding.

About Us:

Through its mission, the Ohio Children's Alliance fosters a brighter future for Ohio's children and families through advocacy, innovation, and collaboration with health and human services organizations.

Collaborate and advocate with great people! We are a team of talented and diverse people, who are passionate about building innovative solutions to challenges facing kids and families. With community agencies as our partners, we are empowering families to raise Ohio's next generation of leaders. Join us!

Role Overview: We are seeking an enthusiastic and community-connected individual to assume the newly created role of Community Liaison for the Behavioral Health Respite Care Capacity Building Initiative. This is a new Alliance initiative to grow BH Respite capacity in three identified regions in Ohio: Logan-Champaign, Belmont-Harrison-Monroe, and Paint Valley (Highland-Pike-Fayette-Pickaway-Ross)

This position, which reports to the Program Manager of Behavioral Health Services and collaborates closely with the Program Coordinator, is ideally suited for an individual who possesses strong relationships within their assigned county region, the ability to build collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders, and a passion for connecting families with needed behavioral health respite services.

The Community Liaison will serve as the regional point of contact for the initiative, working directly with families, community stakeholders, service providers, and local partners within one of three geographic county regions outlined above. This role focuses on grassroots engagement, relationship building, building awareness of behavioral health respite, and supporting families as they navigate the respite care system.

The ideal candidate will be deeply connected to their local community, demonstrate cultural humility, and excel at building trust with families and community partners. This individual should be comfortable working both independently in the field and collaboratively as part of a statewide team and serve as a passionate champion for behavioral health respite care for the families who could benefit from this service.

Key Responsibilities:

Community Relationships & Partnerships: Actively build and maintain relationships with behavioral health agencies, identified behavioral health and recovery county boards, certified providers, and other community partners. Be an active participant on the Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

Outreach and Awareness: Coordinate and facilitate monthly awareness meetings, education sessions, executing regional campaigns, and distributing promotional materials via local channels to reach target audiences, such as tabling at community events. Assist in the development and implementation of community outreach plans.

Capacity Building: Support regional efforts to recruit and retain respite care workforce by connecting potential workers with agencies, promoting workforce opportunities through local networks, and partnering with institutions of higher education to build a pipeline of qualified practitioners.

Service Navigation & Technical Assistance: Provide crucial information, support, and navigation assistance to families throughout the referral process. This includes facilitating warm hand-offs to respite care providers and following up to ensure successful service connection.

Reporting and Program Improvement: Accurately document and track all outreach activities and outcomes. Gather family testimonials, success stories, and feedback to drive continuous program improvement, through focus groups, needs assessments, and collection of client stories. Actively contribute regional insights to statewide capacity building and for informing program strategy.

Collaboration: Collaborates closely with the Program Coordinator(s) and fellow regional liaisons to share learnings and align strategies, ensuring consistent service delivery across the state. Participate in all required team meetings and training sessions.

Qualifications:

High School diploma and at least three (3) years of professional work experience in social services, community outreach, health care, family support, or a related field

A commitment to advancing equity

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking

Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships with diverse families and community stakeholders

Understanding of community dynamics and knowledge of community engagement strategies

Ability to pivot and adjust to changing priorities

Highly organized; resourceful and proactive; pays close attention to detail

Strong time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks

Ability to collaborate with multiple teams of people, simultaneously

Strong customer service orientation and empathy for families facing challenges

Comfortable facilitating small group discussions and community meetings

Strong knowledge of and connections within the assigned regional community

Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, and as a member of a team

Travel regularly throughout assigned region for community events, meetings, and family support

Professional attitude and appearance

Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

Ability to work some evenings and weekends as needed Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 products (Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Copilot)

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Public Health, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field

Experience in behavioral health respite care, child welfare and/or behavioral health systems, or family or peer support programs

Knowledge of local behavioral health system and community resources

Experience with community organizing/outreach or grassroots engagement

Why Join Us?

Impactful Work: Be part of making a real difference in the lives of children and families across Ohio.

Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning and career advancement.

Supportive Team: Work with a passionate and dedicated team committed to excellence.

Flexible Environment: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with flexibility.

Diversity: The Ohio Children's Alliance is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome and value the contributions of people from different backgrounds, cultures, identities, and experiences, and we strive to create a work environment where everyone can belong, thrive, and grow.

How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience and passion for the role.

A background check will be run prior to hire.