Community Engagement Specialist / Social Work Specialist I - Iowa CONNECT - Psychiatry
The University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry is seeking a Social Work Specialist I to serve as a Community Engagement Specialist, serving as the front door to the Iowa (CONNECT) Program, a new SAMHSA-funded program serving adolescents and young adults ages 12–25 who may be at clinical high risk for psychosis. The Supported Employment and Education Specialist will coordinate and facilitate the goals and educational interests of Iowa CONNECT participants.
The Community Engagement Specialist position combines approximately 75% community engagement, outreach, referral management, and partnership development with 25% clinical work. The Community Engagement Specialist will build referral partnerships across Iowa while also fielding and reviewing individual referrals, communicating with youth, families, and providers, and helping ensure that young people successfully move from referral to screening, assessment, and appropriate care.
This is a hybrid position combining in-person and remote work within the state of Iowa. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
Regular travel throughout Iowa for outreach, training, and partnership development will be required and approved program travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with University of Iowa policy.
About Iowa CONNECT
Iowa CONNECT is a multidisciplinary specialty program serving adolescents and young adults ages 12–25 who may be at clinical high risk for psychosis, along with their families. The program emphasizes early identification, youth- and family-centered care, shared decision-making, culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice, and helping young people remain engaged in meaningful relationships, school, work, and community life. Team members receive specialized training and work closely together through regular case consultation and program meetings.
The University of Iowa offers comprehensive employee benefits, retirement options, paid leave, professional-development opportunities, and the resources and stability of a major academic medical center and public university. For more information about Why Iowa?, click here
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
• Serve as a primary point of contact for incoming Iowa CONNECT referrals and inquiries from youth, families, clinicians, schools, and community partners.
• Review referrals, gather relevant information and records when needed, and help determine appropriate next steps for screening and assessment.
• Track each referral from initial contact through screening, assessment, eligibility determination, and connection to services.
• Proactively follow up with youth and families who have not completed next steps and help address practical, logistical, or other barriers to engagement.
• Communicate with referring providers and families regarding referral status and next steps.
• Facilitate warm connections to appropriate alternative services for individuals who do not meet Iowa CONNECT eligibility criteria or require a different level of care.
• Work closely with the Project Director/psychiatrist and clinical team regarding complex referrals and eligibility questions.
• Develop and lead Iowa CONNECT’s statewide community-engagement and referral-development strategy.
• Build and maintain partnerships with community mental-health providers, first-episode psychosis programs, primary-care practices, schools, school counselors and nurses, Area Education Agencies, colleges and universities, and other youth-serving organizations.
• Develop clear and accessible referral pathways into Iowa CONNECT.
• Provide education and consultation regarding clinical high risk for psychosis, early identification, screening, assessment, and referral.
• Develop and deliver trainings and presentations for healthcare providers, educators, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Travel throughout Iowa to meet referral partners, provide training and education, and strengthen regional referral pathways.
• Identify barriers to access in rural and underserved communities and help develop strategies involving telehealth, transportation supports, and community partnerships.
• Track referral sources, outreach activities, referral outcomes, and barriers to care and use these data to guide future outreach efforts.
• Work with an outreach-focused graduate trainee who will assist with contact tracking, materials, outreach logistics, and follow-up.
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary team meetings, program planning, and quality-improvement activities.
Clinical Responsibilities – Approximately 25%
• Provide clinical assessment and/or evidence-informed treatment to adolescents and young adults enrolled in Iowa CONNECT.
• Work collaboratively with adolescents, young adults, and families experiencing emerging changes in mental health and functioning.
• Participate in specialized CHR-P assessment and treatment training.
• Participate in weekly multidisciplinary case consultation and treatment planning.
• Provide consultation to community clinicians regarding youth with possible CHR-P presentations.
• Coordinate care with families, schools, clinicians, and other community providers.
• Support transitions to first-episode psychosis or other services when clinically indicated.
• Maintain timely and appropriate clinical documentation.
Classification Title: Social Work Specialist 1, PD25
Department/Division: Psychiatry
Working Title: Community Engagement Specialist
Staff Type: Allied Health Professional
Pay Level: 73
Type of Position: 50-100%
Required Qualifications
• Master’s degree in social work.
• Current license to practice social work in Iowa.
• Considerable (3-5 years) Social Work experience.
• At least one year of experience providing behavioral-health services to adolescents and their families.
• Experience providing clinical assessment, therapy, case management, or related behavioral-health services.
• Strong interpersonal, consultation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong public-speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with healthcare professionals, educators, families, and community organizations.
• Ability to independently manage multiple partnerships and referrals and follow them through to completion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly within Iowa.
• Current valid driver’s license and the ability to meet the University Driving Policy Standards.
Desirable Qualifications
• Two or more years of experience providing behavioral health services to adolescents and their families.
• Experience working with young adults.
• Experience with psychosis, early psychosis, clinical high risk for psychosis, serious mental illness, or coordinated specialty care.
• Experience conducting community outreach, professional education, provider consultation, or partnership development.
• Experience working with schools, colleges, primary care, community mental-health providers, or other youth-serving systems.
• Training in SIPS/Mini-SIPS, CBT for psychosis/CHR-P, or related approaches.
• Experience working with rural communities or developing regional or statewide referral networks.
• Experience supervising or mentoring students or trainees.
Application Process
In order to be considered, applicants must upload a Cover Letter and Resume (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.
Professional references will be required at a later time in the recruitment process.
For more information, contact lori-posey@uiowa.edu .
Equal opportunity employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
