Permanency Navigator

Position Summary

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

Permanency Navigators (PNs) work as part of a team to provide navigation services focused on supporting youth and young adults experiencing homelessness by helping them find resources to end their homelessness and become safely and stably housed. PNs will relentlessly engage and build relationships with youth as they navigate different systems, programs and challenges until the youth has achieved stability. PNs will have a strong working knowledge of available resources to connect youth and young adults to appropriate programs will support warm handoffs to needed service providers whenever possible. Under the direction of Housing Success Managers and Success Managers the PNs will support the case plan to help youth develop skills required to effectively utilize resources to support their permanent housing. PNs have many roles often working as advocates, referral agents, and/or facilitators with Success Managers, landlords, government agencies, and community partners' systems on behalf of the youth.

Essential Functions

• Relentlessly engage and be present in young people's lives. Be a stable and consistent resource for youth as they move through and between programs.
• Provide community resource navigation to youth experiencing homelessness. Assist youth in connecting to comprehensive, holistic services for youth to achieve long term stability and success, including physical health, mental health, substance abuse treatment, applications for benefits, income, education, vocational training, transportation, stable housing, etc.
• Have authentic, intentional, regular contact with Youth across multiple settings to establish and maintain stable placement for as long as a youth needs, up until the age of twenty-five.
• Work with Success Manager to help navigate to appropriate housing, providing referrals to supportive services as needed.
• Utilize a client-centered approach that emphasizes youth choice while recognizing the innate resiliency and unique strengths and abilities of every young adult.
• Guide and support Youth through the housing process and connect them to CHA Housing Success Manager and Community Managers as needed.
• Understand housing resources and community resources. Understanding the required documents and steps towards completion.
• Develop strong working relationships with a wide range of service providers and related stakeholders such as landlords, service providers, employers, etc. through active outreach and networking efforts.
• Help youth develop permanent connections in the community, including mentors, family members, volunteers, and other caring adults.
• Participate in community meetings to advocate for and assist youth, including (but not limited to) Coordinated Entry meetings and child welfare team decision meetings (TDMs).
• Utilize task-oriented engagements to assist Youth in achieving goals outlined in their case-plan and by their case management.
• Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with the general public, including placement agencies and families of the youth we serve.
• Maintain and update all data points in all required systems.
• 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 or disadvantaged populations preferred; life, volunteer, and internship experience will be considered. Lived experience considered an asset. Experience providing case management or closely related service provision is required.

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.
• 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 personal vehicles
• 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 in order 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

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