What You Can Do With a Degree in Community Psychology

With training in research and action, evaluation, and design and delivery of innovative community-based services, Community Psychologists are employed in a variety of worksites and have a broad range of job titles. People with training in Community Psychology at the masters level work in a variety of human service agencies, government offices, planning and research units, public policy making roles, and non-profit organizations. Community Psychologists value interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaborations. Thus, individuals with a Community Psychology orientation might work in hospitals, schools; human services programs focused on homelessness, domestic violence, alcohol and other drug abuse, aging, mental health, criminal justice, children and families; or public health settings. However, except for university faculty positions, you are not likely to see a job announcement asking for a Community Psychologist per se.

With a masters degree Community Psychologists might:

work with a community service agency for children, families, the homeless, older citizens, disabled persons or those with mental illness
work with local, state, or national government agencies assisting in policy analysis and policy making roles, e.g., serving as staff to elected officials
conduct evaluations of community programs and policies
provide consultation on community development and change initiatives
work with not-for-profit and grass roots organizations
work on initiatives to solve community problems and improve quality of life in communities
work with prevention programs in a variety of settings

Recent Career Postings

Here is a listing of recent job advertisements that people with training in Community Psychology and relevant experience are amply qualified.

Community Psychologist

The Association for the Study & Development of Community (ASDC), involved in research & capacity building initiatives to develop the health, economic equity, & social justice of communities.

Job responsibilities:

Involvement in research & capacity building initiatives to develop the health, economic equity, & social justice of communities Managing project tasks;
Conducting research & evaluations;
Providing technical assistance to agency representatives, community leaders, & evaluators;
Supporting community change & projects that promote healthy communities & prevent social problems such as crime, violence, HIV, & substance abuse.

Prevention Specialist

Stop It Now!, Project Pathfinder; mission is to prevent the sexual abuse of children before a child is harmed and before an adult, youth, or child acts in a sexually inappropriate way towards a child.

Job responsibilities:

Ongoing program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Conducting, synthesizing, and applying research findings to develop and/or improve prevention initiatives.
Designing, implementing and evaluating single and multi-session training tools, curricula and presentations.
Providing technical assistance and consultation to communities, government agencies and other organizations regarding adult and community responsibility to prevent the perpetration of child sexual abuse.

Program Associate for Community Change Initiatives

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization dedicated to build better futures for disadvantaged children & their families.

Job responsibilities:

Managing the design, development, & implementation of resources, support & technical assistance for the foundation;
Helping local sites & staff to accumulate, portray & communicate the results in developing community capacities of change & in achieving results for children, families, & neighborhoods.

Community Outreach Coordinator

Macalester-Groveland Community Council

Job responsibilities:

Build and maintain an effective system of block leaders and other volunteers united to educate residents about crime prevention strategies and programs that keep the neighborhood safe;
Organize and develop, in conjunction with area youth, meaningful youth programs and events that encourage leadership and creativity and promote positive self-esteem;
Develop and recruit for volunteer positions according to organization's needs;
Manage a successful chore service program that matches youth and adults with vulnerable adults who need assistance with household chores;
Participate on a staff team united to achieve the purpose and goals of the Macalester-Groveland Community Council through effective citizen participation efforts, programs, public communication and education.

Health Promotion Specialist

Hennepin County

Job responsibilities:

Develop, manage and implement population-level health promotion strategies to address health issues in children and adolescents
Provide consultation and technical assistance to schools and community organizations
Develop and conduct presentations, training sessions and conferences for professionals who work with youth
Represent the Hennepin County Human Services & Public Health Department on internal and external committees, coalitions and collaboratives
Oversee grants and contracts, including researching external funding options, serving on grant preparation teams, and managing grant funded programs
Prepare reports and other technical documents, including the use of evaluation tools and data to strategically drive program interventions

Program Coordinator

Sexual Violence Center

Job responsibilities:

Community education: coordinate and conduct community education programs for youth and adults.
Support groups: develop and implement marketing program for support groups coordinate support groups; facilitate groups as necessary.
Training: conduct Speakers Bureau training for volunteers and staff; conduct support group facilitation training for volunteers; assist with other volunteer trainings.
Supervision: supervise volunteers on a daily basis; supervise interns as necessary; attend monthly staff supervision.
Community outreach: coordinate community outreach; develop and maintain crisis resources and community networks; attend weekly and monthly community meetings.
Direct services: provide telephone, individual and other crisis services as needed.

Resource Development Coordinator

County's System of Care for children & families.

Job responsibilities:

Developing support networks to meet the needs of children with severe emotional disturbances (SED) & their families;
Building & utilizing community resources from the faith communities, businesses, service organizations & neighborhoods;
Consulting with community-based organizations to better address the needs of children & families from underserved groups.

Director of Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement

Hennepin County.

Job responsibilities:

Directing strategic initiatives to ensure effective implementation & achievement of goals;
Developing partnership among local officials, nonprofits, foundations & financial institutions;
Planning of comprehensive service delivery activities across the county departments & community programs;
Directing innovative policy/program initiatives & services;
Representing the County's position on current issues in local, state & national settings.

Program Director

Breaking Free, Inc., organized to serve women and girls involved in systems of prostitution.

Job responsibilities:

Directs and coordinates all program activities and functions utilizing knowledge of program goals and objectives and organization's policies.
Ensures all programs are operating in compliance with funding agencies' and Breaking Free, Inc.'s rules and regulations.
Provide supervision, professional development and conducts performance appraisals of assigned staff.
Directs all applied research, planning, development and implementation of pertinent programs and initiatives in the areas of affordable housing, case management, family health and empowerment, employment development, mental health, prevention of juvenile prostitution; volunteer and intern services.
Responsible for program evaluation including: developing the design and format of program reports; developing data collection forms; monitoring data collection; completing data analysis; finalizing program reports; and distribution of program reports to Executive Directors, staff, as well as to funding agencies.
Maintains regular communication with the Executive Directors on issues affecting old and new program development.
Communicates Breaking Free Inc.'s philosophy and goals to clients, staff and community and others with whom Breaking Free interacts.
Works closely with the Executive Director to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy to expand philanthropic support for the organization.

Civic Engagement Organizer

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Job responsibilities:

Planning & implementing MCN's 2006 Minnesota Participation Project (MPP);
Developing public information & training materials;
Recruiting & expanding the number of nonprofit organization participating in MPP;
Organizing activities & recruiting volunteers;
Training board, staff & volunteers
Maintaining update website & contribute to MPP newsletter.

Research Program Manager

Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco.

Job responsibilities:

Providing management support to MPAAT's research & evaluation programs;
Managing grants monitoring, surveillance, research demonstration projects & evaluation programs.

HIV Services Planning Council Coordinator

Hennepin County

Job responsibilities:

Provide leadership and community visibility for all Minnesota HIV Services Planning Council efforts.
Maintain Planning Council operations by providing support of committees facilitating meetings, monitoring adherence to bylaws, developing work products and coordinating communication between committees and government grantees.
Provide leadership for community planning process including the development and communication of a strategic plan for HIV services.
Coordinate/conduct research and evaluation activities of the Council including working with Council committees to develop required research and evaluation products, manage contracts to perform research and evaluation and assure research and evaluation results are used effectively by Council in HIV community planning.
Develop and implement an outreach plan to increase participation in Council activities.
Recruit, orient and work to retain qualified Council members and community participants. Develop an annual training plan for the Council and provide comprehensive training and leadership development for Council members.
Provide leadership on public relations efforts including the development of materials that explain and promote the work of the Council and Ryan White funded HIV services and develop a public relations plan to reach varied communities.
Provide direction for office support staff.

Director of Family Support Services

Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota

Job responsibilities:

Lead the development, training, and support of the Circle of Parents Program and other family support activities.
Supervise and support program coordinators, develop new family support initiatives, foster parent leadership development, and offer technical assistance and guidance to chapters as needed.
Represent the organization in local, statewide and national collaborative activities, including serving on committees and task forces.
Organizing and facilitating support groups
Training of facilitators and leaders as well as training trainers
Leadership of volunteers
Development of collaborations among agencies
Parent and family support activities
Development and management of training programs/conferences
State and federal contract management
Program development and project fundraising

Field Researcher

New York University's Institute for Education & Social Policy.

Job responsibilities:

Participating in a national study on community organizing & school reform;
Conducting primary research through observations of events & interviews with people involved in community;
Organizing group work including parents, youth, teachers, organizers, principals, administrators & policy makers;
Conducting monthly phone update with sites;
Preparing field notes & analysis;
Coordinating computer-based survey administration with study sites;
Participating in development of research instruments, analysis of field data & drafting & reviewing drafts of working papers.

Project Director

Adolescent Medicine Trials Network (ATN) for HIV/AIDS Interventions Program.

Job responsibilities:

Directing the intervention development study for newly diagnosed youth with HIV;
Developing intervention to improve the physical & psychological health & functioning of newly diagnosed youth by assisting in their adjustment to the HIV diagnosis;
Supervising the project & maintaining study documentation;
Coordinating multi-site communication activities between ATN sites;
Interviewing subjects & co-facilitating focus groups;
Coordinating transcription & creating coding system for qualitative data analysis.

Research Assistant

The Center on Education Policy, a national advocate for public education & effective public schools.

Job responsibilities:

Supporting the work on the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act;
Researching the impact of state-level high school exit exams policies;
Supporting the Center staff & consultants in the new areas of work;
Administering surveys,
Analyzing & writing reports based on CEP & related data sources;
Assisting case studies;
Creating, maintaining, & managing databases.