Neighborhood Health and Safety Coordinator, UMKC Center for Neighborhoods

Hiring Department

The UMKC Center for Neighborhoods (Division of Natural and Built Environment)

Job Description

The UMKC Center for Neighborhoods (CFN) recognizes the need to develop sustainable approaches to healthy neighborhoods. Neighborhood organizations provide critical space for communication, social cohesion, collective organizing, the development of shared understanding about local health issues, and the implementation of programs and actions that address the causes and consequences of crime, violence, and neighborhood stability. The Neighborhood Health + Safety Coordinator – Neighborhood Social Worker will develop, build, and implement strategies and tactics to address community wellness and safety, while helping build a culture of health in our Kansas City neighborhoods.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Deliver customized services within the solutions-focused and strengths-based approach
• Actively participate in leadership cohort training sessions
• Lead the coordination with the Health + Safety cohort training sessions
• Provide technical assistance and evaluation to neighborhood organizations and leaders
• Establish strong community connections with neighborhood leaders, advocates, and residents
• Provide outreach and engagement to neighborhood organizations using the lens of social work to strengthen their capacity for self-governance, to build coalitions and to influence public decision-making that affects their communities
• Assist with activities to prioritize the community’s efforts that most influence social, economic, health, and behavioral factors.
• Assess neighborhood strengths and address current and future needs to help establish strength-based goals to move towards achieving resident-identified goals
• Assist with the creation of topic-specific workshops
• Assist with neighborhood profiles and analysis
• Maintain detailed information on programming, outreach and engagement activities

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related/relevant area or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work
• Ability to perform tasks involving high levels of cognitive function and judgment
• Ability to take prompt and appropriate responses to operating conditions
• Ability to cope with sudden changes in surroundings and/or emergency situations
• Ability to work in diverse environments and neighborhoods

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of working in the community, especially Communities of Concern
• Excellent organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to deal with individuals who may be in crisis
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Experience in problem-solving
• Actively demonstrate a high level of discretion and autonomy in regard to program development, and overall administrative tasks and duties as assigned