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Program Coordinator Position
Job Announcement:
Motherhood Beyond Bars invites applications from Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) for a Program Coordinator to join our Holistic Family Support team (HFS).
About Motherhood Beyond Bars and the Holistic Family Support Program
Motherhood Beyond Bars works to break cycles of incarceration in families and provides direct assistance and support to families impacted by the legal system. We work remotely with pregnant women and new mothers in Georgia’s prisons and jails and provide education and support with the goal of family reunification. In 2020, we launched a Holistic Family Support Program, which provides direct aid to temporary caregivers selected by incarcerated women to care for their children until their sentence is complete and the family can be reunited. We are the only non-profit in Georgia with a program that reaches every infant born to a woman in prison.
About the Position
The role of the Program Coordinator is to advance the work, mission, and programmatic goals of the Holistic Family Support program. The Program Coordinator will work directly with and report to the Program Director to implement programs that support the families we enroll in our programs. At this time, we are only accepting applications from individuals who are already Certified Peer Specialists (CPS).
Motherhood Beyond Bars seeks applicants who are highly motivated, detail-oriented, well-organized, communicate well with others, and have strong writing skills. We’re looking for someone who is a self-starter, driven and has a deep commitment to the work of MBB. The candidate should be able to work independently and as part of a small team. The following responsibilities are typical for this position, and some responsibilities may be added as the program expands.
Responsibilities
Communication with/Support for Mothers
Mail mother intake questionnaire and welcome her to the MBB family.
Communicate directly with incarcerated pregnant women (through mailed letters or phone) prior to the birth of her baby. Answer questions about our HFS program and facilitate a discussion about the importance of choosing a caregiver.
Maintain weekly contact with mothers who request ongoing support from MBB.
Research health concerns/illnesses and current or preexisting conditions as related by incarcerated mothers (we do not offer medical advice, just resources to help educate them about their condition).
When possible, coordinators may link participants to organizations that provide legal representation. We do not offer legal advice or counsel to participants.
Write mothers weekly in the first six weeks after birth to provide a compassionate listening ear.
Be a supportive presence to mothers who need compassion and understanding in the postpartum period.
Prepare a relapse plan for mothers in recovery.
Connect mothers with recovery programs and facilities to support their recovery when needed.
Communication with/Support for Caregivers and Mothers
Work with the Program Director to develop and execute a “contact strategy” for all new caregivers and mothers entering the program, including identifying a primary contact and creating a calendar for outreach.
At a minimum, make monthly contact with each caregiver family to assess any new needs (i.e. vital documents for infants, benefits eligibility, etc.) and ensure there are no communication issues (i.e. able to utilize JPay and Securus to communicate with mother).
Organize the monthly distribution of diapers to families in the program.
Assist with obtaining infant vital records, if needed.
Facilitate the sharing of pictures and infant milestones with incarcerated mothers.
Work with the Program Director’s guidance to create strategies for diversion opportunities for participants in our pre-trial program (county jails).
Partnerships and Community Resources
Work with staff to gather necessary supplies for families prior to the birth of the baby (i.e. car seats, clothing, etc.). Identify community partners and organizations that can help fill gaps.
Represent MBB at meetings with community and collaboration partners as requested.
Work with the program team to identify program participants who are good candidates for diversion and develop a diversion strategy in collaboration with the Program Director and other program staff, as appropriate.
Make contact with community supervision personnel, public defenders and community-based organizations to help build a strong network of support from program participants.
Additional Program Engagement and Support
Participate in quantitative and qualitative research projects (interviews that occur every three months), as instructed by the Director.
Attend weekly staff meetings and quarterly and annual planning meetings.
On occasion, attend conferences and events to present the work of MBB and help build wide support for our mission.
General Administrative
Use our CRM database (Salesforce) to enter new contacts and caregivers into the system and meticulously record interactions with contacts.
Add and create reports and monitor ongoing data collection.
Update and maintain CRM (routine and special projects). Case notes should be added after all substantive interactions with program participants or after receiving reports from childbirth educators in our pregnancy support program or other contracted employees/volunteers.
A Successful Program Coordinator is …
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and administrative skills that help him/her keep track of lots of balls in the air all of the time.
Able to work effectively from home; willing to travel to office 3-5 days per week.
Familiar with and skilled at using web-based tools (G-Suite, etc).
Willing to learn and use Salesforce.
Willing to work flexible work hours to match the needs/hours of the community we serve.
A careful listener, cool-headed in stressful situations, and a thoughtful communicator.
Comfortable working independently and is self-directed, while staying regularly connected to MBB staff and others in the organization.
Comfortable making strategic “big picture” suggestions about the program and how we might evolve to serve our community.
Someone who has 1-2 years of work experience (social work experience preferred).
Applicants directly impacted by the legal system are highly encouraged to apply (formerly incarcerated, family members of incarcerated people, caregivers of children whose parents are incarcerated, etc.).
Understands and implements the tenets of “intentional peer support.”
Applicant must be:
Trustworthy with confidential information.
Recognized as a Certified Peer Specialist (MH and/or AD).
Willing to travel by car throughout Georgia for occasional home visits and have a valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance for personal vehicles.
Committed to serving low-income communities and other communities targeted by the legal system.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time salaried position with an annual salary that is commensurate with experience, within MBB’s non-profit salary range of $49,000-$51,000. MBB offers a QSEHRA-funded health insurance plan for all full-time employees. This full-time position also offers paid vacation time and work-related travel expenses will be reimbursed.