Housing Success Navigator I

Position Summary

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

The Housing Success Navigator I (HSN I) work as part of a team to provide navigation services focused on supporting youth and young adults experiencing homelessness work toward goals and ultimately ending the cycle of homelessness. The HSN I is responsible for building relationship and providing individual case management and resource navigation services for youth experiencing homelessness and highly vulnerable youth including survivors of human trafficking, within the CHA continuum. The HSN I will help youth find resources to end their homelessness and achieve safety and stability. Essential functions of the position include but are not limited to maintaining a case load of 8-15 youth ages 13-24, experiencing homelessness and/or trafficking, who may have multiple barriers (e.g. serious mental illness, substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, frequent contact with law enforcement, etc.). Other functions include crisis intervention and de-escalation, documentation in multiple databases, facilitation of psycho-educational and support group activities, community engagement and assist in providing desired referrals and work through their stages of change to drive toward long-term positive outcomes. The HSN I will work in partnership and collaboration with multiple agencies or programs and provide systems’ advocacy to help youth reach their identified goals.

The HSN I will relentlessly engage and build relationships with youth as they navigate different systems, programs and challenges until the youth has achieved stability.

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.  
• Have authentic, intentional, regular contact with Youth across multiple settings to establish and maintain stable placement for as long as a youth is enrolled in the RRH program.  
• Provide case management services in multiple settings and coordinate services with other agencies. Make appropriate referrals for services within CHA and to community agencies.
• Meet all minimum case management and documentation standards, including, but not limited to:
  • Perform intakes and discharge planning in line with CHA timeline and program model requirements utilizing a client-centered approach that emphasizes youth choice.
  • Have weekly meetings with assigned youth to collaborate on their Success Plans and assist in goal attainment. Revise and update the success plan as necessary.
  • Keep youth success plans, case management efforts, and all other required data points current while working with youth in our services in accordance with CHA Data Quality Standards.
  • Ensure Coordinated Entry Assessment is current, updating as necessary.
  • Complete data entry in all required data systems in accordance with CHA data quality standards, including ETO, AKHMIS, and any other required databases.
  • Perform trafficking screenings (Quick Youth Indicators for Trafficking). Assist youth in safety planning around a variety of vulnerabilities; coordinate with the criminal justice and youth protection systems as required by law due to youth age (under 18), youth vulnerability (APS standards) or at the request of the youth (ages 18-24).
  • Complete Social Emotional Wellbeing, Resiliency, and other identified assessments.
  • 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, and stable housing in accordance with the youth’s success plan.

• Depending on Placement Location. Participate in Coordinated Entry meetings and collaborate with other providers to identify, refer and place youth into appropriate housing placements and resource linkages. Provide case management services and coordinate services with other agencies. Duties may include conducting assessments, developing a Success Plan, monitoring client progress, group facilitation, and resource referrals.
• Depending on Placement Location. Apply the Housing First approach to locate and secure housing for youth without service requirements while meeting youth needs, promoting youth choice, and linking to proper supports.
• Depending on Placement Location. Provide progressive engagement with youth throughout the process of locating housing, reviewing and understanding the requirements of the lease, developing a household budget, assisting with finding employment and/or income source, and collaborating with community partners to provide resources the youth needs.
• Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with the general public, including other agencies and families of the youth we serve. Develop and maintain knowledge of and connection to community resources.
• Utilizing a personal vehicle, transport clients to appointments and agencies to receive services, as needed.
• Create and maintain consistent communication between several agencies (i.e. housing agency, landlord, mental health case manager, OCS caseworker, substance abuse counselor, creditors).
• Coordinate with Success Mangers throughout the CHA continuum to ensure smooth transition in case management services across the continuum.
• Effectively manage crisis situations through assessing, deciding, and acting in accordance with standards and laws in emergency situations involving the health and safety of youth being compromised.
• Following all data P&P’s and policies around protecting client data.
• Maintain a high level of ethical standards.
• Demonstrate an enthusiastic commitment to the job and the agency.
• Maintain consistent communication with leadership and success team members.
• Cultivate relationships with youth, community partner agencies, and landlords in the community.
• Communications must reflect a strength-based, trauma-informed, positive youth development approach.
• 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 Agency vehicles and 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