Bridge Navigator Coordinator - Midlands / 61143676

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Social Services is seeking a Bridge Navigator Coordinator to provide transitional support to former foster youth, working within the Extension of Foster Care program under the Transition Services and Support Division of Child Welfare Operations.

The role focuses on youth-centered planning, trauma-informed approaches, and a continuum of care across life skills, stability, safety and well-being.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required; three years of professional experience in social services programs, correctional, education, business administration, general administrative management, or related field.
• Master's Degree preferred; one year of professional experience in social services programs, correctional, education, business administration, general administrative management, or related field.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have access to and be able to operate a motor vehicle; field work may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide transitional support for current and former foster youth in the Extension of Foster Care (EFC) Program under the Transition Services and Support Division of Child Welfare Operations.
• Collaborate with county foster care staff and regional TSS staff to ensure access to assessment tools and develop individualized plans with youth.
• Attend and support Transition Plan Meetings and assist with transition age youth services, including relational permanency and education/career goals.
• Complete and maintain certification to conduct EFC Young Adult Transitional Teaming (YATT) reviews and uphold permanency-focused processes.
• Establish and nurture community partnerships; broker new partnerships and provide service navigation to connect youths with resources.
• Participate in youth engagement projects and training, including readiness workshops and webinars, to support life skills, housing stability, and employment.
• Complete required trainings and maintain self-care to minimize secondary trauma and protect privacy.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Job description

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful work in the community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of children, families, and vulnerable adults? Then the South Carolina Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you.

Job Duties:

• The Bridge Navigator Coordinator perform transitional support for current and former foster youth in the Extension of Foster Care (EFC) Program under the Transition Services and Support Division of Child Welfare Operations in accordance with DSS Policy, Mission and GPS Practice Model. The Bridge Navigator will implement the utilizing of a youth centered approach to engage and partner with teens and older youth utilizing adolescent and emerging adult development, the impact of trauma, and methods/strategies to support young adult’s capacity to thrive and to provide a continuum of care in the areas of life skills development, self-sufficiency, stability, safety, permanency, and well-being. The Bridge Navigator will be a broker of community partnerships and serve as a resource navigator.

• Collaborate with designated county foster care staff and regional TSS division staff on a monthly basis to ensure teen/young adults ages 14 until 18th birthday receive access to all assessment tools, including CANS, Transition Planning, and CFTM Transitional Teaming, to collaboratively develop an individualized and strength based partnership with the young adult. Provide training and technical assistance to county and regional staff, providers, resource parents, and young people on appropriate planning, documentation,and provision of services. Utilize a teaming approach with staff, providers, and teen/young adults to ensure cross collaboration.

• Attend a current foster youth Transition Plan Meeting and support its facilitation prior to 17th and 18th birthday, support youth voice, encourage EFC enrollment, share Chafee, ETV, YEA!, and EFC benefits. Support CM with transition age youth services including relational permanency, education success, career pathway supports, and other life domain goals to achieve self sufficiency. Provide opportunities to life skills development and connections to TSS division staff.

• Complete and maintain certification to be a Child Family Team Meeting (CFTM) facilitator to conduct EFC federally required Young Adult Transitional Teaming (YATT) every 6 month reviews for those enrolled in Extension of Foster Care. Uphold the policies and procedures for a permanency focused process and periodic case review of the status of each young adult in extension foster care, using an individualized, youth-guided, and strengths-based approach and provides a forum to create and sustain lifelong relationships and supportive adult teams.

• Establish community partnerships, through supporting and nurturing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. Broker new partnerships within the communities that serves and further connects young adults to available resources. Represent TSS within the communities to share our mission and find services that meet the needs of the agency and young adults to support successful transition into adulthood. Provide Service Navigation to young adult by identifying community resources, assist with referral or application processes, obtaining timely, essential, and appropriate support resources based on the young adult’s assessment and plan. Follow up with received services and ensure connection is solidified to the support services.

• Support Youth Engagement and YEA! Leadership development by participating in youth focused projects, activities, and events. Partner effectively with young people to support the development of strategies for developmentally appropriate and identity affirming youth engagement. Authentically engage with teen/young adults and provide ongoing assistance, training and transition support to teens/young adults that are receiving continuum of care services. Provide assistance, training, readiness workshops, webinars, and on going support to young adults in various life domains including, but not limited to life skills development, academic, vocational programs, employment, transportation, and housing stability.

• Complete all required trainings assigned by HR, SD&T, and supervisor, including adolescent training track for professional development of this role.

• Maintain an active routine of self-care and pursues support when necessary to minimize the threat of secondary trauma to physical and mental health.

• Ensure personal identifying information (PII) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protect the agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.

• Perform Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duties/services as directed.

• Other duties as assigned.

A Bachelor's Degree and three (3) years of professional experience in social services programs, correctional, education, business administration, general administrative management, or relevant program experience.

A Master's Degree and one (1) years of professional experience in social services programs, correctional, education, business administration, general administrative management, or relevant program experience.

Child welfare experience preferred.

Must possess a valid driver's license and have access to and be able to operate a motor vehicle. Individuals must comply with necessary field work assignments.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

DIVISION: Child Welfare Services / Richland County