Family Support Navigator

Reports to: Family Resource Center Coordinator or designee Classification: Hourly, Full-Time

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Position Summary:

The Building Strong Families Program (BSF) is a collaboration of DCFAS and First 5 to enhance child and family well-being through expansion of successful programs currently operating in the neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID. BSF will utilize Family Support Navigators to reduce stress and social isolation and to increase community connections and well-being for all adults & children.

The Family Support Navigators acts as a communication and trust bridge between the family, child protective services, social services, and mental health systems. All duties will be performed in a strength based, culturally responsive, and trauma informed manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Navigation (50%)

• Meets individually with adults & children experiencing high levels of stress due to COVID.
• Provide linguistically and culturally sensitive care to promote the reduction of cultural barriers to all communities impacted by COVID while acknowledging and addressing personal biases as they arise.
• Administers BSF intake, referral, and follow up form.
• Performs intake via phone/in person to determine level of need, engages in intervention and refers adults & children to interagency programs or outside community resources based on the situation.
• In collaboration with the Family Resource Center (FRC) Intervention Specialist, maintain an up-to-date directory of community resources to support adults & children hardest hit by COVID by identifying resources and appropriate services
• Ensures adults & children are connected to referred services.
• Provides follow up visits to adults & children and additional services as needed.
• Track referrals & outcomes through the use of Persimmony data management system to ensure referrals are accessed to overcome barriers due to COVID.

Outreach (20%)

• Conducts program outreach into the surrounding communities to identify adults & children hardest hit by COVID.
• Work jointly with Community Incubator Leads (CILs) to develop presentation and outreach materials for BSF Program.
• Connect with local county agencies, schools, clinics, and hospitals to deliver presentations to build awareness of BSF Program.
• Provide follow up with community partners to ensure a robust referral pipeline to BSF.

Collaborations, Trainings, Supervision (25%)

• Works closely with various community partners and program components and establishes formal/informal points of contact with area service providers to ensure a network of support for adults & children.
• Attend program trainings as a cohort with the Community Incubator Leads (CILs).
• Participate in Multi-Disciplinary Resource Team Meetings as scheduled
• Attend weekly supervision meetings.

Other Duties (5%)

• Model nurturing attitudes and behaviors in all contact with program participants and teammates.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and enriching work environment for families and staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be able to meet the Background Clearance standards of First 5 Sacramento and lead agency requirements

Must reflect those who reside in the service neighborhoods identified in contract with First 5 Sacramento.

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required and/or 2 years’ experience and knowledge of community being served.

Personal or Professional experience with culturally diverse communities and families with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work in a team approach with diverse sectors of the community, including but not limited to, government officials, residents, children, parents, school personnel, and community-based providers.
• Has awareness regarding race, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and other cultural identities, with an ability to communicate and collaborate with diverse workgroups and serve families with diverse economic, social, racial, and cultural backgrounds with dignity, humility, and respect.
• Willingness to gain cultural understanding necessary to work sensitively and appropriately with a diverse population.
• Familiarity with the community and neighborhood where the Family Resource Center is located and surrounding communities and neighborhoods.
• Knowledge, understanding, and/or willingness to learn values, beliefs, and practices of cultural groups within diverse communities.
• Willingness to actively grow skills relating to cultural responsiveness.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• Possess exceptional mediation skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with families as established by the lead agency.
• Ability to develop and sustain partnerships and collaborations with schools, churches, and other community agencies.
• Ability to serve as a catalyst for change by modeling and mentoring behavioral change, which can break down bias, prejudice, and other institutional barriers that exist.
• Knowledge of child abuse issues.
• Knowledge of child development and behavior.
• Knowledge of family dynamics.
• Knowledge of substance abuse issues.
• Knowledge of local cultures.
• Skill to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
• Good organizational skills.
• Skill to maintain a professional, confidential work environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks at one time in an efficient manner.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word/Outlook.

Licenses, Certifications, Registrations:

Driving is an essential function of this job, and as such, employees in this position must possess a valid California Driver’s License, a reliable automobile and auto insurance.

Must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean DMV record with no more than 4 driving violations and free of DUI or DWI convictions for the last 5 years.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Physical/ Psychiatric Requirements:

Must be able to report to work on a regular and reliable basis.

Special Working Conditions:

• Able to deal with stressful situations.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, which may include evening, night, holidays, or weekend shifts.