Prevention Navigator

Position Summary

All Covenant House Alaska program staff work as advocates and allies for youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking.

The Prevention Navigator will provide mobile navigation services focused on preventing families and youth from entering or reentering the child welfare system. The Navigator will have a strong working knowledge of available resources to link youth, young adults, and families to needed programs and will make warm handoffs to needed services/providers whenever possible. Navigators receive referrals from the Director of Prevention Services or other community partners and will work with young people and their families to work toward resolving the issue that has been flagged as a system intervention or pre-homelessness indicator.

Navigators will work closely with youth to help continue to develop the skills required to utilize the necessary resources to support permanent housing and prevent homelessness. The Prevention Navigator will have many roles, including building a strong support network in the community, working as advocates, referral agents and/or facilitators with landlords, child welfare organizations, other government agencies, and community partners’ systems on behalf of the youth.

Essential Functions

• Employ preventative strategies to keep young people housed and out of the child welfare systems. Relentlessly engage and be present in young people’s lives, especially through times of relapse and crisis. Be a stable and constant presence for youth as they move through and between programs.
• Provide community resource navigation. Assist youth and families in connecting to comprehensive, holistic services for them to achieve long term stability and success, including health, mental health, primary care, substance abuse treatment, benefits, employment, education engagement, vocational training, transportation, stable housing, etc.
• Have actual, intentional, regular contact with every client in multiple settings until and throughout stabilization.
• Provide clients with the direct support funds necessary to meet needs that may otherwise involve them in the child welfare system.
• Utilize a client-centered approach that emphasizes youth choice while recognizing the innate resiliency and unique strengths and abilities of every client.
• Understand housing and other resources available in the community and navigate clients to those resources.
• Develop strong working relationships, through active outreach, with a wide range of service providers and related stakeholders such as landlords, service providers, employers, etc.
• Participate in community meetings to advocate for and assist clients, including (but not limited to) Coordinated Entry meetings and child welfare team decision meetings (TDMs).
• Engage in goal setting with youth to help them achieve success in four core outcome areas: 1) Housing stability, 2) Education & Employment, 3) Permanent Connections, and 4) Wellbeing.
• Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with the general public, including placement agencies and other social service providers.
• Maintain a high level of ethical standards.
• Keep supervisor fully informed at all times.
• Maintain confidentiality of all clients.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

High school diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, or a related field is highly preferred. Experience can substitute for post-secondary experience on a year-for-year basis.

Experience

Experience working with adolescent, disadvantaged, or child welfare populations preferred; life, volunteer, and internship experience will be considered. Lived experience considered an asset.

Demonstrated familiarity with homeless systems and resources for housing, education, and employment and methods of access is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Understand and comply with all Agency policies and procedures, including Child Protection Policies.
• Understand and comply with all principles of Trauma-Informed Care. Willingness to acquire basic concepts in care coordination for adolescents and young adults and incorporate into service-provision.
• Understand the intersectionality of youth homelessness, mental health, substance misuse, human trafficking, and poverty.
• Strong knowledge of the factors that contribute to youth vulnerability to trafficking and demonstrate experience working with victims and awareness of their specific needs; ability to work with partner services and law enforcement to meet the needs of victims of trafficking.
• Knowledge of community and social service resources to assist youth with needs related to housing, employment, education, and social-emotional well-being.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and can address conflict between youth exhibiting challenging behaviors; able to respond quickly and safely while continuing to be a settling influence in crisis situations and emergencies.
• Is approachable, relatable, and practices active listening with individuals of varied cultural backgrounds, embracing differences in behavior and lifestyle choices.
• Willingness to passionately advocate for the right of all youth to be valued, supported, and housed, regardless of abilities, barriers, and challenges.
• Can maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, duty to warn, HIPAA, and other limits to confidentiality.
• High degree of sensitivity to and respect for diversity and cultural issues involved in working with individuals of varying ethnicities and income.
• Proficiency giving presentations, making public speaking or providing education in group settings.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fluid environment. High level of time management skills
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient with standard computer operating systems. Ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite, online databases, and other programs and websites as required.
• Willingness and ability to work outside normal business hours, holidays and weekends as needed.
• Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification.
• Possess a current and valid Driver’s License.
• Acceptable driving record assessed through CHA’s Drivers Acceptability Matrix.
• Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations.
• This position does not perform supervisory duties.

Working Conditions 

• Position will work in a variety of settings, both inside and outside, and at times in inclement weather (Snow, Rain, etc.). Position will be based out of the Navigation Center but will also provide mobile case management using their personal vehicle.
• Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.
• Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must have the ability to observe details within close range.
• Must be able to remain in stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.
• Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery.
• Must be able to ascend/descend stairways within a wide variety of facilities both commercial and residential, with and possibly without the assistance of an elevator.
• Must be able to manage traversing a wide variety of different terrains and gradient levels to meet youth within a wide variety of settings.
• Occasionally moves items up to 40 pounds while ascending/descending stairways to assist youth moving in and out.

Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer