Safe Babies Court (SBC) Community Coordinator

Job Summary:

The Safe Babies Court (SBC) Community Coordinator works in collaboration with judicial and child welfare leadership, community partners, and stakeholders to plan, implement, market, manage, and evaluate the local Safe Babies Court (SBC). In an effort to effect community and system’s change, the Community Coordinator facilitates coordination and collaboration among community stakeholders, organizes and facilitates Family Team Meetings, provides community- wide and Safe Babies Court specific educational opportunities, tracks monthly follow-up activities for each case monitored by the Safe Babies Court Team™, conducts on-going data collection for outcome tracking, and is a champion for the voice of infants, toddlers and their families within the

child welfare and court’s jurisdictional purview.

Job Details:

Program Coordination of Safe Babies Court

• Support the development of policies and procedures to implement the local Safe Babies Court (SBC).
• Maintain an appropriate caseload of SBC-identified families to engage them in the SBC process and ensure their input is shared throughout their child welfare/court journey.
• Seek creative solutions that address barriers families face in accessing formal and informal support to complement case management services.
• Using tact and diplomacy, support the neutral facilitation of the multidisciplinary SBC Site Leadership Team that meets regularly to assist children and their families in developing strategies to mitigate the circumstances that brought them to the court’s attention.
• Develop relationships with community providers to establish referral processes and problem solve barriers to expedite access.
• Model practices that help the SBC Site Leadership Team maintain focus on the unique developmental needs of infants, toddlers, and their families.
• Assess the training and technical assistance needs of the SBC Site Leadership Team and serve as a liaison with the state and local content matter experts for the provision of educational opportunities to meet those needs.
• Work with the SBC Site Leadership Team and state Safe Babies Court leadership to implement the SBC Core Components and adhere to best practice policies.
• Remain current on latest research/best practice recommendations/policies and share pertinent information with the SBC Site Leadership Team and community partners.
• Create connections with community partners to recruit and develop an Active Community Team (ACT) to support identification of needed resources and services for participating SBC families.
• Support SBC judicial leadership in the convening and facilitation of the monthly ACT

meetings to promote collective impact for systems change.

• In collaboration with SBC Site Leadership Team, develop, compile, and distribute SBC communications and informational literature to families and partners.
• Support the SBC Active Community Team to identify community service gaps that could be bolstered to support families before they become engaged in child welfare.
• Work with SBC Site Leadership Team and SBC State Manager to continually evaluate the SBC team’s effectiveness by collecting and interpreting data and on-going reflection of practice through data exploration and strategic planning.
• Network and communicate with Community Coordinators in other Safe Babies Court communities.
• Actively participate in community-based initiatives that correlate with the SBC mission and promote the wellbeing of young children and their families.

Other Responsibilities

• Adhere to Dee Norton’s Vision, Mission and Core Values.
• Attend appropriate training workshops and conferences.
• Ensure direct supervisor and/or the Executive Director is knowledgeable about any issues that impact the safety, functioning and management of Dee Norton.
• Attend departmental and organizational meetings.
• Meet any other needs as identified by the Executive Director and/or Leadership Team.
• Abide by federal and state confidentiality and privacy requirements, as well as all Dee Norton Policies and Procedures.
• Abide by and meet all grant requirements and objectives.
•  Adhere to Dee Norton’s Vision, Mission and Core Values.
• Attend appropriate training workshops and conferences.
• Ensure direct supervisor and/or the Executive Director is knowledgeable about any issues that impact the safety, functioning and management of Dee Norton.
• Attend departmental and organizational meetings.
• Meet any other needs as identified by the Executive Director and/or Leadership Team.
• Abide by federal and state confidentiality and privacy requirements, as well as all Dee Norton Policies and Procedures.
• Abide by and meet all grant requirements and objectives.
• Participate in a minimum of four public awareness programs and/or fundraising events annually on behalf of Dee Norton.

Requirements:

Background Experiences

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required in the field of child development, social work or other related subject; master’s degree in the same is strongly preferred.
• At least five years of professional experience focused on vulnerable young children and their families.
• Experience working with range of multidisciplinary professionals in community collaboration to affect systems change.
• Experience working within court systems preferred.
• Experience in program development and implementation.
• Working knowledge of community resources in the Lowcountry area.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Demonstrated knowledge of human development with specialized knowledge of infant/early childhood social-emotional development
• Understanding of child abuse dynamics, intimate partner violence, racial equity and the generational impact of trauma, as well as vulnerabilities such as poverty, mental illness, and substance use disorders
• Knowledge of the social determinants of health, as well as local resources available to assist families to achieve them
• Knowledge of factors that help protect infants from the impact of trauma and disruptions in caregiving relationships and ability to incorporate that information in community capacity building and case planning
• Working knowledge of local, state, and federal child welfare policies, practices, and laws is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in interpersonal communication, public speaking and in creating and delivering professional presentations
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team member with a commitment to collaborative work across agencies and disciplines; strong networking skills
• Demonstrated ability to navigate difficult conversations and facilitate consensus building among diverse groups; flexibility and strong problem-solving skills
• High quality written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage projects and events from conception through completion
• Strong computer skills with knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Ability to work independently, be self-directed and to take initiative
• Ability to work well in multicultural teams and with people of diverse educational, professional, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds

Competency Profile/Core Values Alignment

• Recognize the influence of workplace relationships on outcomes and contribute to an environment of trust, mutual respect and compassion.
• Maintain a high level of personal responsibility and accountability; ability to receive and incorporate feedback from supervisor and peers.
• Commitment to the practices of critical thinking and self-reflection.
• Ability to work as a team member with a strong commitment to collaborative work with coworkers, external professionals and families.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and promote positive collaborative relationships with professionals, and actively contribute to creating a highly cooperative work environment.
• Desire to continually learn and remain current on best practices in the area of

infant/young child development.

Physical Requirements:

In this position an employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 lbs. Must be able to work on a computer

and/or telephone for extended periods of time.

Employee Conduct

It is the responsibility of every employee at the Dee Norton Center to contribute to a positive work environment through: teamwork, positive, honest and effective communication, and professional interactions with co-workers, volunteers, clients and community partners. 

The Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center promotes a culturally diverse and culturally competent community response network. The Center strives for diversity regarding gender, age, ethnicity, race, faith and experience among its Board Members, staff and volunteers. Dee Norton abides by all Federal Equal Opportunity guidelines.

Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center