Community Engagement Coordinator na Behavioral Health System Baltimore

We are seeking a passionate Community Engagement Coordinator to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, and expand awareness of behavioral health resources in Baltimore City. You will attend community events, cultivate relationships with leaders, and collaborate with organizations to inform BHSB’s strategic priorities. You will also manage the 988 Ambassador Program, support community providers, and work on key behavioral health awareness activities. This full-time position requires some evening and weekend work, travel, and a proactive approach to community engagement, focusing on equity and inclusion. If you have experience in community organizing, and strong communication skills join our team to make a meaningful impact in the community!

This position is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with a diversity of stakeholders to expand BHSB’s presence in the community at the neighborhood level. The incumbent will increase BHSB’s presence in the community as well as awareness of behavioral health and how to access care in Baltimore City. The coordinator is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and providing leadership by engaging them in dialogues that inform and further BHSB’s work in, and for, the community.  The coordinator is tasked with extending BHSB’s reach into the communities in Baltimore City and the surrounding area by collaboratively engaging in existing meetings and events and interacting with groups across the region to listen and inform BHSB’s work.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Community Engagement, the Community Engagement Coordinator works collaboratively within the policy and communications team to implement community engagement strategies that advance BHSB’s mission and strategic priorities. All positions within the department work collaboratively in three areas: community engagement, provider relations, and communications. This position requires some work outside of traditional office hours on evenings and weekends as well as travel to meetings and events throughout the surrounding region. The candidate must have independent, reliable transportation in order to attend events throughout the region. BHSB reimburses staff for mileage incurred for work-related event. 

This is a full time position working in a hybrid work environment in Baltimore, MD.

BHSB will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

Essential Functions

Community Outreach and Engagement: 

• Serve as BHSB’s community liaison and attend community gatherings and events, including but not limited to resource fairs, festivals, and block parties. 
• Cultivate relationships with community leaders to help inform BHSB strategic priorities. 
• Identify and take part in community meetings and events throughout the surrounding region to increase BHSB’s presence and educate the community on behavioral health awareness and resources. Event activities may include tabling, presentations, facilitating meetings, managing the 988 Ambassador Program, and more. 
• Collaborate with community organizations and representatives to further inform BHSB’s mission.
• Create strategic partnerships by listening, seeking information, engaging in activities to understand community aspirations and support communities' efforts to address behavioral health. This position is expected to consistently be present and visible in the community. 
• Develop relationships with government agency liaisons to create an open channel for sharing information and resources.
• Participate in community planning activities and provide expertise on topics related to behavioral health. 
• In collaboration with the Associate Director, Community Engagement, respond to requests from elected officials to facilitate conversations with communities to address behavioral health related concerns or participate in community activities. 
• Partner with other teams and departments to create and implement strategies to engage communities in key behavioral health awareness activities, including but not limited to Recovery Month, Overdose Awareness Day, Mental Health Awareness Month, Prevention Week, and Children’s Mental Health Matters Week. 

Community Relations: 

• Manage a regional cohort of 988 Ambassadors by facilitating subcommittee meetings, coordinating with local behavioral health authorities, and overseeing ambassador participation in required events to ensure honorarium eligibility.
• Lead efforts to connect new community providers with community leaders and associations in collaboration with the Provider Relations Manager. 
• Develop relationships with behavioral health providers and assist them with building relationships with community stakeholders and elected officials through activities such as an open house or site visit.
• Facilitate conversations between behavioral health providers and the community groups in the area they serve to encourage collaboration and foster ongoing relationships. 

Communications:

• Support the communications strategy in collaboration with the Communications Manager that will keep community stakeholders engaged in and aware of BHSB activities and resources. 
• Assess on an ongoing basis the communications tools needed to promote behavioral health and wellness in the community. In addition, oversee the inventory of BHSBs marketing materials and resources in collaboration with the Communications Manager. 
• Assist in developing content for BHSB’s communications materials, including but not limited to the e-newsletter
• Must be available to attend evening and weekend events and community meetings as needed. 

Other:

• Work effectively and collaboratively with others, both internally and externally to BHSB.

• Foster open and honest dialogue within and across teams and between colleagues who have different backgrounds. Engage in honest dialogue and navigate conflict in day-to-day interactions.  

• Uphold and operationalize the values of BHSB, which are Integrity, Equity, Innovation, Collaboration and Quality.

• Consistently work to engage in open and honest dialogue, including with people from different teams and different backgrounds, and ask for support when needed. 

• Serve as part of BHSB’s disaster response team as needed, in any capacity that is needed. 

• To perform assigned work functions, this position and those it supervises may have access to protected health information (PHI). It is expected that the employee will operate from a place of integrity and assume an ethical obligation to protect the security and confidentiality of all PHI in accordance with BHSB’s policies. 

• An offer of employment for this position at BHSB is contingent upon the results of a thorough background check, including criminal history, which will require prior authorization from the candidate.   
• Perform other duties as assigned.   

Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a related discipline (public health, social work, counseling/psychology, health communications, human services, etc.) 
• Knowledge of Baltimore City and the surrounding region neighborhoods and communities. 
• Experience in community organizing and building strategic partnerships 
• Experience working with diverse communities and organizations, including diverse socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, religious, and ideological communities. 
• Experience and ability to be culturally competent, to understand, communicate, and work effectively and respectfully across all constituents that represent diversity of culture, such as demographics, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and language. 
• Strong oral and written communication skills, especially presentations at and facilitation of community meetings.
• Ability to interact with leadership in Baltimore City, and the surrounding region. 
• Ability to resolve complex issues and prioritize tasks
• Ability to work effectively with community organizations, community leaders, service providers, consumers, their family members, and other stakeholders. 
• Ability to adapt communication style to multiple cultural environments and perspectives. 
• Ability to interact in a hybrid/virtual environment.
• Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Supervisory Requirements: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Typical Physical/Mental Demands and Working Conditions

This job operates in diverse environments such as professional office as well as community and public areas. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. This role requires some physical labor as the incumbent lifts and transports giveaways, materials, inventory, etc.  Lifting up to 15 lbs, walking, bending, standing, and carrying supplies are required. 

This role requires travel to other locations for meetings and other business-related needs.  The ability to travel locally at least 40% of the time is required. It is important to have access to some form of transportation to travel to off-site meetings, conferences, and site visits.

Compensation:

BHSB values each and every employee as an important contributor to fulfilling the organization’s mission. The ongoing health and wellness of employees is critical to BHSB’s success, and we continuously assess employee benefits, policies and practices to ensure opportunities are available for all people. The organization offers its employees a competitive compensation package which includes base pay, a comprehensive benefits plan and  hybrid, family-friendly work practices.

BHSB is an equal opportunity employer and does not utilize practices that give preference to individuals in hiring or promotion. Salaries are based on the requirements of each job, are non-negotiable and step increases are offered at regular intervals. The starting hourly/ annualized salary rate for this position is $71,247.92.

The benefits plan includes comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, employer paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, a 403(b) plan with employer contribution, a choice of 4 FSA plans, an employee paid legal benefit, generous PTO and 13 days paid holiday. In addition, medical plan participants receive an employer paid HRA accessed by a $5,000/$10,000 debit card to cover eligible deductible and copay expenses, depending on chosen coverage.

BHSB - About Us

Behavioral Health System Baltimore, Inc. (BHSB) is a non-profit organization that serves as the Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) on behalf of Baltimore City. BHSB is responsible for planning, managing and monitoring resources, programs and policies within the larger Medicaid fee-for-service system, as well as services directly funded by BHSB through private and public grants. BHSB partners closely with Baltimore City and the State of Maryland to build an efficient and responsive system that comprehensively addresses mental illness and substance use and meets the needs of the whole person. BHSB serves as an “on the ground” expert to support the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), using our knowledge of the behavioral health needs of Baltimore City and services that are available, along with our expertise, to structure the system’s resources to meet the unique needs of our communities. BHSB has connections to other local systems, such as law enforcement, schools, social services, and courts, to ensure there is broad access to behavioral health services across systems and in communities.

Culture

BHSB is intentional about advancing a healthy work environment that builds trust, fosters a sense of belonging, promotes learning, and supports leadership opportunities for all. BHSB uses practices that honor the diverse perspectives of all people and cultivate authentic interpersonal interactions based on mutual trust. How BHSB conducts its work internally is directly connected to the organization’s impact externally. The principles that BHSB embraces in its everyday work are flexibility, empowerment, transparency, shared decision making, authentic communication, readily available information, promotion and support of individual growth, individual accountability and collective accountability. 

BHSB values all people and their experiences, including those who have had prior contact with the legal system. We are committed to providing individuals with criminal records, including formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals with arrest or conviction records, a fair chance at employment. 

BHSB also takes steps to proactively prevent and address conflict and discrimination by investing in organizational education to foster the development of an accountable and respectful workplace where all employees are supported and encouraged to do their best work.