Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator

Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator

San Diego American Indian Health Center, 2630 First Avenue, San Diego, California, United States of America

We are an FQHC community health center dedicated to embodying the values central to American Indian cultures. This includes respect for our patients, acknowledgement of the whole person, and a focus on working together to ensure health for the individual, and therefore the community. We invite persons of all tribes, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to experience the comprehensive care we deliver and to contribute to the services we provide for children, youth, families, adults, and elders.

The NC Program is funded by SAMHSA (HHS). NC was created to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance use/misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, up to and including age 24, by building a healthy network of systems, services, and partnerships that impact youth.

The Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator responsible for planning and implementing community outreach, education, and referral activities to increase awareness and utilization of program services. A core responsibility of this position is the development, re-engagement, and ongoing retention of the Interagency Advisory Council (IAC) and the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Working with the Program Director, the Outreach Specialist serves as a primary liaison between the project and community members, youth, and partner agencies to ensure outreach efforts are culturally responsive and aligned with program goals.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to perform all job-related activities as outlined below.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Primary Functions: (NC)

Community Outreach & Engagement

• Plans and conduct grant-allowable outreach, education, and engagement activities aligned with the approved SAMHSA work plan.
• Represents the program at community events, schools, tribal and urban Indian organizations, and partner meetings.
• Builds and sustains working relationships with:
  • Schools and youth-serving organizations
  • Tribal and urban Indian programs
  • Behavioral health, healthcare, and prevention partners
• Ensures outreach activities are culturally appropriate, youth-centered, and trauma-informed.

Advisory Council Development & Retention (Primary Responsibility)

• Leads recruitment, onboarding, re-engagement, and retention of:
  • Interagency Advisory Council (IAC)
  • Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
• Develops and implements structured engagement strategies to maintain active participation and quorum.
• Preparing agendas and materials
• Meeting reminders and follow-up
• Documentation of attendance and participation
• Serves as a consistent point of contact for council members to support continuity and prevent attrition.
• Ensures councils function as meaningful advisory bodies
  , not ceremonial groups, and that feedback is integrated into program operations.

Youth Engagement & Prevention Education

• Engages AI/AN youth in prevention-focused activities that promote protective factors, resilience, and help-seeking behaviors.
• Supports youth voice and leadership through YAC participation and feedback mechanisms.
• Distributes SAMHSA-approved, culturally appropriate prevention and wellness materials.
• Coordinates youth-friendly outreach approaches consistent with Native Connections principles.

Referral, Coordination & Navigation

• Provides information and referrals to youth and families seeking prevention, behavioral health, or supportive services.
• Coordinates with internal SDCHC departments and external partners to facilitate appropriate access to services.
• Maintains professional boundaries and operates within anon-clinical outreach scope.
• Maintains accurate, timely documentation of:
  • Outreach activities
  • IAC and YAC membership and participation
  • Meetings, events, and engagement outcomes
• Assists with data collection and reporting required for SAMHSA progress reports and internal monitoring.
• Ensures all activities are:
  • Grant-allowable
  • Aligned with approved objectives
  • Adequately documented for audit and OSV review

Program Manager Support & Continuous Improvement

• Supports the Program Manager in implementing the annual work plan.
• Provides regular updates on:
  • Advisory council status
  • Outreach progress
  • Engagement challenges and solutions
• Brings forward youth and community feedback to inform program improvement and sustainability planning.
• Participate in required staff meetings,…