Youth Systems Navigator

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Ninos provides education and wraparound support, serving over 10,000 children, youth, and families annually in some of the most underserved areas in Los Angeles. PLN fosters pathways to success by striving for excellence in education, family support, and comprehensive social-emotional, and community-based services.

Through early education, TK-8th grade education, youth workforce services, and family and community services Para Los Nino's' model provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to break the cycle of poverty and help children and youth thrive.

The Youth Systems Navigator will work with students and families to connect them to resources while supporting them through the enrollment process of federal meal programs including CalFresh and WIC.  

Duties 

• Support youth and their families with enrollment in meal and benefit programs including CalFresh, WIC, EBT, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKS.
• Conduct intake meetings to assess needs for appropriate referrals. 
• Creates educational material for youth and their families.  
• Work with peer navigators on Cal-fresh application and WIC application sessions, and referral to appropriate resources. 
• Tracks deliverables, monitors progress and reports data.  
• Coordinate participant outreach, drop-in hours, workshops and individual appointments.  
• Meet face-to-face, via phone, and/or virtually with youth and young adults to assess needs related to housing, mental health, education and employment resourcesand other support services required to succeed in school and/or work. 
• Provides crisis intervention for students with immediate needs such as shelter, food, financial, transportation and legal support.  
• Participates in collaborative meetings, resource fairs and partner meetings.  
• Work with peer navigators to refer students and/or family members to community services such as a medical, vision, or dental clinic, mental health, or other services designed to meet specific social/emotional, academic or health needs. 
• Identifies partners that provide food insecurity assistance. 
• Assist in collecting client stories for grant reports.  
• Participate in all required trainings, meetings and supervision meetings. 
• Facilitate various workshops to participants and staff on resources and support services. 
• Assist and work collaboratively with other support services programs. 
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements  

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. English proficiency supporting professional-level verbal and written communication to children, parents and other staff members required. 

Education and Certification Requirements 

• Bachelor's Degree required; human services related degree strongly preferred. 
• Successfully pass all post offer, pre-employment screening requirements, including criminal background check, drug test and provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.  
• Current certification in CPR/First Aid.    

Other Requirements  

• Must have reliable transportation and State required automobile insurance coverage and valid Class C California driver's license (mileage to be reimbursed).  
• Clean driving record.  

Physical Requirements

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. 

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
• Must be able to speak and hear well. 
• Good vision is imperative. 
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. 
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.

Expectations for All Para Los Ninos Staff

Candidates for employment at a Para Los Ninos, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Ninos.
• Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
• Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationship with parents and children marked by sensitivity to the students' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
• Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
• Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.

Para Los Ninos is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

It is the established policy of Para Los Ninos (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver's license issued under Vehicle Code 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.