Community Engagement Specialist – Northwest Connecticut and communities along the Route 8 corridor Region
Salary: $50,000–$65,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications
Job Type: Full-time, salaried
Schedule: 37.5 hours per week; some evening and weekend work required
Work Setting: Primarily field-based, with remote administrative work and required in-office attendance at the Farmington, CT office - a minimum of three days per month.
Travel: Approximately 50% travel, primarily throughout Northwest Connecticut and communities along the Route 8 corridor region, with statewide travel as needed. Residence within the Western Connecticut region this position will serve is STRONGLY preferred.
About the Role
The Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP) is seeking a motivated, relationship-driven Community Engagement Specialist to serve the Northwest Connecticut and communities along the Route 8 corridor region. This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about community engagement, health equity, and improving access to oral healthcare.
This is a primarily field-based community outreach position, not a traditional office-based role. The Community Engagement Specialist will spend a significant portion of the workweek traveling throughout the assigned region, meeting with community partners, attending events, conducting outreach, and developing new relationships in person. Administrative responsibilities are completed remotely or during required in-office days.
The Community Engagement Specialist develops partnerships with community organizations and healthcare providers and represents CTDHP at community events, trainings, coalitions, and stakeholder meetings. The specialist also helps connect HUSKY Health members with dental services and oral health navigation support.
We are looking for a proactive self-starter with prior experience conducting field-based community outreach. Candidates must be comfortable independently planning and managing a regional field schedule, traveling to different communities, initiating new relationships, and identifying opportunities to expand CTDHP’s reach. The successful candidate will be adaptable, resourceful, culturally responsive, organized, and committed to building meaningful partnerships throughout Western Connecticut.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations serving HUSKY Health members.
- Identify and engage new community partners through proactive outreach, including cold calls, direct outreach, meetings, and relationship-building activities.
- Serve as a trusted resource for community partners seeking information about oral health and CTDHP services.
- Support the development of oral health programs, assessments, referral pathways, and formal partnerships, including Memoranda of Understanding.
- Connect community organizations with CTDHP’s oral health navigation referral process.
- Create opportunities for medical-dental integration, including the Access to Baby Care Program and chronic disease management initiatives.
- Distribute educational materials, posters, brochures, and other resources to community organizations.
- Meet established monthly community engagement goals and support statewide outreach initiatives.
- Facilitate oral health trainings and presentations for community providers, organizations, and HUSKY Health audiences using CTDHP training materials.
- Represent CTDHP at health fairs, clinics, community events, and other outreach activities.
- Conduct monthly telephone outreach to assigned HUSKY Health members to introduce the dental program, assist members with obtaining a dentist, and refer members to an Oral Health Navigator when needed.
- Provide oral health navigation support to an assigned group of members when needed to support departmental and organizational priorities.
- Represent CTDHP and HUSKY Health at local and regional coalitions, workgroups, community organizations, and stakeholder meetings.
- Partner with the Network Development team to build and maintain relationships with dental providers.
- Deliver updated program materials to dental providers within the assigned region. Promote and administer provider surveys when needed.
- Accurately document outreach, partnership, event, and member engagement activities in CTDHP reporting systems within required timeframes.
- Collaborate with the Community Engagement Manager, Communications team, and other internal departments to coordinate outreach materials and align activities with CTDHP’s mission and strategic goals.
- Contribute to a team culture centered on collaboration, open communication, continuous feedback, accountability, and solution-focused thinking.
- Support special projects, pilot programs, time-limited campaigns, quality improvement activities, data collection initiatives, and statewide oral health observances.
- Assist with the planning and execution of large community events and other high-priority outreach opportunities.
- Provide regional or statewide support when urgent needs or staffing gaps arise.
- Participate in training and professional development opportunities.
- Completion of Community Health Worker certification during employment is encouraged.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, healthcare, social services, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
- Two to three years of professional experience conducting field-based community outreach, public health engagement, social services outreach, healthcare outreach, or similar work within community settings.
- Demonstrated experience independently managing a field-based schedule, traveling throughout an assigned territory or region, and conducting in-person outreach with community organizations, providers, stakeholders, or community members.
- Experience building relationships with community organizations, providers, stakeholders, or the populations they serve.
- Knowledge of community-based outreach practices and an understanding of health equity, social determinants of health, health literacy, and trusted-messenger approaches.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including active listening and the ability to provide clear information and instructions.
- Experience or comfort presenting and facilitating discussions for varied audiences in person and virtually.
- Ability to represent CTDHP and the Connecticut Department of Social Services professionally and diplomatically in community settings.
- Ability to work independently in the field and collaboratively as part of a team. Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate and respond to changing priorities.
- Strong time-management, organizational, recordkeeping, and data-entry skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and use related computer and reporting systems.
- Reliable personal transportation and an active driver’s license in good standing. Mileage reimbursement is provided for work-related travel. A motor vehicle record check may be conducted as a condition of employment.
- Availability to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet community outreach goals and program priorities.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry outreach materials and supplies weighing up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with training, meeting facilitation, community program development, outreach, or network development.
- Experience working in rural communities or an understanding of the needs of rural populations.
- Community Health Worker certification preferred but not required..
- Familiarity with customer relationship management systems and data-collection tools.
- Experience in oral health or dental programs preferred but not required.
- Residence within the Northwest Connecticut and communities along the Route 8 corridor region this position will serve is strongly preferred.
- Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Join Our Team
If you're passionate about building meaningful relationships, connecting people to resources, and improving access to oral health care for Connecticut families, we encourage you to apply. Join a collaborative team dedicated to strengthening communities, advancing health equity, and making a lasting impact across the state.
About the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership:
The Connecticut Dental Health Partnership is the Dental Plan for HUSKY Health and is administered by BeneCare Dental Plans under a contract with the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS). It operates a responsive Member Services Call Center for over 900,000 Connecticut residents who benefit from dental and oral healthcare as a part of HUSKY Health (Medicaid) programs. There are also a team of statewide Oral Health Navigators and Community Engagement Specialists to provide training and help members with more complex oral healthcare needs. The Partnership oversees a broad network of dental providers who provide quality services to HUSKY Health members.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to enable all HUSKY Health members to achieve and maintain good oral health. The Connecticut Dental Health Partnership is committed to achieving Oral Health Equity. We work to ensure all members have equitable access to oral health services.
CTDHP is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, and without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other status protected by law.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Farmington, CT 06032
