Job Opportunities

Dunamis Synergy Family Coach

Exempt Salaried Full Time – 35 Hours a week

Background Information

Dunamis Synergy is a new initiative to support expectant and parenting teens and students ages 15-24 years old, and their children, as they strive together to achieve their educational potential and establish a legacy of prosperity that passes from one generation to the next.

Dunamis Synergy comprehensive two generation service model, will complement and leverage existing efforts to address the needs of Rhode Island families and increase college access, persistence, and completion in the state. West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation is seeking Full Time Family Coaches who will work directly with expectant and parenting teens, students, and their families.

Essential Functions:

· Assess current needs and use of resources among expectant and parenting teens and students.

· Provide counseling to expectant and parenting teens on matters related to gaining access to postsecondary.

· Support expectant and parenting teens transition into postsecondary

· Provide referrals and empower students to leverage existing resources at the institutions of higher education and within the community

· Assess, understand, and document situational, dispositional and situational barriers that prevent students and persistence in postsecondary

· Empower individuals to identify and gain access to resources to meet their and their family’s specific needs and goals.

• Develop and maintain client case records, plans and reports; compile data for statistical purposes.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following education and/or experience.

· Bachelor’s degree in human services, education or related field

· Experience in direct service with adolescents or young adults

· Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance required.

· Previous lived experience as a young parent or parenting secondary or post-secondary student is strongly desired.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to satisfactorily perform essential duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· High level of interpersonal skills and excellent writing and oral communication skills.

· Ability to utilize personal experiences to enhance support to families while maintaining professional boundaries.

· Knowledge of public education system, community resources and higher education preferred.

· Bilingual skills are strongly desired.

· Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and partners.

· Ability to logically resolve problem situations and develop alternative solutions when faced with obstacles

· Must possess the ability to multitask and prioritize time and activities.

· Must be organized and effectively manage time and commitments.

TO APPLY

Send your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications via email to contact@westelmwood.org. Please include “Dunamis Synergy Family Coach” in the e-mail subject line.

Dunamis Synergy Initiative Director

Background Information:

Dunamis Synergy is a collective impact initiative to support expectant and parenting teens, student parents and their children as they strive together to achieve their educational potential and establish a legacy of prosperity that passes from one generation to the next. Dunamis Synergy, via a comprehensive “two generation” service coordination model, works to complement and leverage existing efforts to address the needs of Rhode Island families and increase college access, persistence, and completion in the state.

The Initiative Director will be responsible for establishing and leading the day to day operations of the Dunamis Synergy initiative to serve expectant and parenting teens, students, and their families living in Providence and state-wide and for facilitating the larger Dunamis Synergy collaboration. The Initiative Director will have primary responsibility for working with partners to implement and regularly update the Dunamis Synergy work plan to achieve the goals of the initiative.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Parent Engagement and Advocacy

· Work with WEHDC community engagement staff to place student parents at the center of the initiative.

· Support strong participant voice in the ongoing design and implementation of the initiative.

· Maintain and grow the initiative’s Parent Leadership team, utilizing parent leaders as both thought and implementation partners.

· With parent leaders and partner organizations regularly deliver a Parent Leadership Academy designed to create student parent advocates.

· Work with student parent advocates and partner organizations to develop a comprehensive systems change agenda designed to significantly increase the number of parents earning post-secondary credentials.

· Advocate alongside expectant and parenting teens and students and partners to secure needed systems changes and resources.

Program and Staff Development/Management

· Work with the Executive Director, consultants, and senior staff at WEHDC to establish, grow, and sustain all elements of the program.

· Work collaboratively with program partners to hire, manage, and supervise staff positions including a Family Coaching team.

· With staff and partners, serve a cohort of approximately 150 teen and student parents in community, secondary, and post-secondary settings.

· Coordinate training and ongoing professional development to ensure that staff are highly skilled at their jobs and support positive outcomes among participants.

Network Management

· Support the creation of a network of systems partners and student parents to advance the initiative.

· Convene and staff the Dunamis Synergy Steering Committee and initiative workgroups to implement the Dunamis Synergy work plan and to build trust and shared accountability.

· Serve as a strong, neutral, and skilled facilitator to guide staff, partners and parents towards consensus.

· Serve as the primary liaison between WEHDC and partners to ensure effective collaboration and program operations.

Communication:

· Develop and implement effective communication strategies to support networks and to ensure stakeholders remain informed of the initiative’s goals, objectives, progress, results, and successes.

· Track progress towards key results and report progress to partners, community members, funders, and other key stakeholders

· Represent the initiative and build support in the community.

Resource Development and Management

· Work with Dunamis Synergy partners and consultants to secure investments to help build and sustain the initiative and implement priority strategies and activities.

· Work with consultants and staff to document community-based resources available to participants.

· With support from Family Coaches and Dunamis Synergy partners, build off existing relationships and establish new partnerships to advance the initiative and better meet participant needs.

· Work with partners, participants, parent leaders and consultants to document and address program and system related challenges and barriers.

· Work with WEHDC staff to support grant related administration.

Data, Innovation and Learning

· Model the use of data to inform planning and decision-making, including the development of an initiative dashboard to monitor and measure progress.

· Ensure innovation and continuous quality improvement through the effective use of data and evaluation resources.

· Work with the initiative evaluator and others to generate high quality data and evidence required to sustain the effort.

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS)

· A Masters degree and a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in one or more of the following areas: Education, social work, human services, healthcare/public health, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Previous experience developing and managing complex programs, ideally involving service coordination across multiple partners.

· A history building consensus among diverse stakeholders working toward a common goal.

· Demonstrated project management skills

· Experience engaging in policy and systems change work.

· Previous experience with grant writing, management and resource development.

· Must be culturally competent and value diversity, equity, and cultural differences.

· Lived experience as a teen or young student parent is preferred.

TO APPLY

Send your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications to contact@westelmwood.org.

Neighborworks HomeOwnership Center Manager

Summary of Responsibilities:

The HomeOwnership Center (HOC) Manager is responsible for leadership and administration of comprehensive pre and post purchase homebuyer education and financial counseling to individuals and families. This position will oversee the administration of the Home Ownership Center lending and financial capability programs. The HOC Manager supervises Housing Counselors who provides comprehensive group and individual counseling services to prospective homebuyers and existing homeowners. The HOC Manager establishes and articulates overall objectives for the HomeOwnership Center and develops a comprehensive plan to include performance measures and a timeline for meeting incremental benchmark goals and achieving the overall objectives.  Attaining excellence in the quality of all homebuyer education and meeting established homeownership production goals are of paramount importance in achieving the overall objectives of the Center.

The HOC Manager implements and oversees the service delivery system and internal controls to ensure that the Center operates in an organized, coordinated, and efficient manner.  The HOC manager will provide leadership and guidance to the staff to achieve these ends.  The HOC Manager develops and implements comprehensive strategies for enlisting investing partners, and cultivates such relationships to create sustainability for the Center.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage the operation of the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center; supervise HOC staff; monitor the lending, Matched Savings Incentive Program and Homebuyer Education Programs.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with lenders and clients to ensure objectives are met.
• Maintain data system to ensure the accurate documentation of all program activities and to ensure the timely submittal of reports to funding and financing agencies.
• Direct homeownership education activities to ensure quality of curriculum, consistency and competence of performance among instructors, and availability of classes in response to need.
• Monitor lending activities to ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and agency regulations.
• Assists with the maintenance and updating of kiosks and bulletin boards within the Center
  featuring partners and Center activities, maintains and updates referral lists.
• Maintains welcome packs and distributes to appropriate partners and clients.
• Recommends improvements in products and procedures as necessary to ensure the
  optimum efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivery systems.
• Maintains and updates customer records after each counseling session in CounselorMax
  and/or other pertinent customer-tracking systems.
• Ensures HOC filing practices and contents of files align with HUD regulations.
• Ensures that quality-control measures are followed and that customer satisfaction is a priority of the counseling program.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with loan servicing, investigation, verification and underwriting guidelines.
• FHA mortgage experience a plus.
• The ability to meet deadlines, pay attention to detail, handle multiple tasks concurrently and work independently.
• Understand marketing and home purchase process.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with representatives from diverse races, religions
  and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to attend NeighborWorks America trainings annually in order to obtain the necessary certifications required for position. Upon completion of certifications, traveling requirements will decrease.
• HUD Certified a plus,
• Bi-lingual capacity preferred.

TO APPLY:
Send your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications via email to contact@westelmwood.org by Monday, April 5, 2021. Please include “HomeOwnership Center Manager” in the email subject line.

Temporary HEZ Community Health Worker  

POSITION SUMMARY:

West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation (WEHDC) serves as the backbone agency of the 02907 Health Equity Zone (HEZ). A Health Equity Zone (HEZ) is an innovative, place-based approach that brings people together to build healthy, resilient communities across Rhode Island.

The 02907 community has seen a disproportionately high number of COVID-19 cases as compared to other parts of Providence and across the state of Rhode Island.

The 02907 HEZ is seeking temporary Community Health Workers to begin immediately. The Community Health Worker will work with the 02907 Health Equity Zone to provide culturally appropriate support to 02907 residents related to COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and service delivery. Based upon the status of the COVID-19 pandemic as of the Fall, the need to continue this program will be reevaluated

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

The CHW will report to the Resident Health Specialist.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Establish relationships with trusted community leaders to identify and document cultural and structural barriers that interfere with accessing testing and adhering to response guidance.
• Assess the barriers that exist for those who need to seek COVID-19 testing and provide language, transportation, and/or employment support.
• Assess the needs of residents in isolation and provide community-based referrals to the necessary supports.
• Collect and relay essential needs information to the 02907 HEZ and state agencies to ensure supports are being addressed in real time.
• Relay vital COVID-19 information to residents through multiple channels and address frequently asked questions related to testing, contact tracing, and/or isolation.
• Identify community driven solutions to testing and contract tracing barriers.
• Act as the liaison between residents, the 02907 HEZ, and the contact-tracing team at Rhode Island Department of Health.
• Gain insights about needed resources and changes required to improve COVID-19 response in the 02907 community.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Community Health Worker in the state of Rhode Island, or actively working to become certified preferred.
• Extensive networks within the 02907 community and relationships with 02907 community leaders.
• High level of interpersonal skills and excellent writing and oral communication skills to collect data and engage residents.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in English and at least one other language commonly spoken by residents of the 02907 zip code.
• Resident of the 02907 zip code (Providence’s West End, Elmwood, Reservoir Triangle, or South Providence neighborhoods) preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Comfort working with diverse communities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to satisfactorily perform essential duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Familiarity with the assets, needs, challenges, opportunities present in the 02907 zip code.
• Knowledge of the direct service organizations in Providence.
• Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and partners.
• Ability to maintain sensitivity to individual, system, and cultural dynamics that affect behavior and relationships
• Ability to build and sustain trust and rapport with community members based on listening and respect.

This is a full time position and will require evening and weekend work. Continued work will be contingent on available funding and initiative priorities.

To apply, please send your resume and a brief cover letter via e-mail to Dominique Resendes at dresendes@westelmwood.org by January 29, 2020.