Community Resource Navigator

FamilyWorks; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

FamilyWorks is seeking a Community Resource Navigator to connect participants with benefits, programs, and resources from the Roosevelt Family Resource Center and satellite sites. This full-time role focuses on needs assessments, referrals, and enrollment, with occasional after-hours support and community events.

The Navigator builds relationships with families, schools, and partners, advancing equity and cultural competency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, Psychology, Education or related field or 4 years’ experience providing human services.
• Experience working with diverse communities and language barriers is preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office, database entry, Zoom, and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist families to access referrals and applications for benefits and services such as Apple Health, SNAP, childcare, utility discounts, rental assistance, and employment.
• Provide assessments and screen families for programs and help with enrollment.
• Respond to referrals from schools, healthcare providers, and community partners; follow up to connect to services.
• Engage in outreach events and partnerships to connect families with resources.
• Maintain accurate participant records and data across multiple systems.

Skills

Diversity & inclusion

Communication

De-escalation

Organizational skills

Data management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field

4 years’ experience in human services

Tools

MS Office

Database entry

Zoom

Microsoft Teams

Job description

MISSION

FamilyWorks partners with families to alleviate food insecurity and ensure they have resources and support to overcome systemic barriers to equity, build stable communities, and thrive.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Community Resource Navigator connects FamilyWorks’ participants to services that help stabilize their lives. Working in person from the Roosevelt Family Resource Center and the St. Luke’s satellite site, the Navigator performs needs assessments and refers, applies, and enrolls individuals and families in benefits, programs, and resources. This work happens during site-specific drop-in or distribution hours, programs, events, virtual settings, and at other locations. While these are the primary sites, the Navigator may also be asked to support other FamilyWorks locations as needed, including food access sites, family support program sites, school-based locations (such as Seattle Public Schools), satellite sites, and Mobile Food Pantry sites. Work locations may change based on funding availability but will remain within North Seattle.

The Navigator builds strong, positive relationships with participants, schools, community partners, and other key stakeholders, both within the agency and in the broader community. They will learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism and cultural competency, and will take part in ongoing training to stay current on changes in benefits eligibility, processes, and tools. The Navigator reports to the Supportive Family Programs Manager and supervises volunteers as needed.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position paid at $32.69/hour. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with periodic evening and/or weekend commitments to support community engagement, events, and program operations. This position is partially grant funded.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Community Resource Navigation Key Responsibilities

• Assist families to access referral and application processes for service or benefit programs such as Apple Health, SNAP, childcare, utility discount, locally available financial assistance, rental assistance, employment, and other programs to help families meet their basic needs.
• Provide assessments and screen families for other eligible programs and provide application assistance when needed.
• Accept, review, and respond to referrals from schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, government agencies, and other referral partners; conduct outreach and follow-up to connect participants with appropriate services and resources.
• Support in community partnership building and facilitating outreach events to connect families to additional resources.
• Create a welcoming and accessible environment for families to receive support.
• Participate in mobile sites and community outreach events which include our school-based sites, mobile food pantries and more.
• Work with volunteers and staff to conduct outreach for Community Resource Navigator services.
• Collect and track data on participant service access and enrollment rates.
• Remain up to date and trained on key processes, eligibility, and other tools to provide appropriate referrals to social services and other benefit programs. When appropriate, obtain certifications to directly offer enrollment.
• Foster partnerships and connections with other organizations to meet peoples’ needs.

Other Key Responsibilities

• Distribute, collect, and analyze surveys for participants who utilize FamilyWorks’ support services and outreach events.
• Attend weekly and bi-weekly team meetings, monthly staff meetings, quarterly training courses, partnership meetings, and other meetings as required. Contribute to quarterly program reviews.
• Work occasional evening and/or weekend hours to accommodate participant schedules and outreach events.
• Enter, maintain, and update participant and program data in a timely, accurate, and complete manner across established data management systems; maintain required documentation and paperwork in accordance with organizational, funder, and reporting requirements.
• Actively participate in furthering agency cultural competency goals including race and equity work.
• Utilize multiple data management systems and databases to document participant interactions, referrals, service connections, outreach activities, and program outcomes while ensuring compliance with organizational and funder requirements.
• Other duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required for this position.

• Ability to work effectively within a diverse community of individuals and families; being culturally and linguistically competent.
• Have experience working with individuals and families who face language barriers.
• Commitment to equity and social justice and understanding the effects of system-based inequities on marginalized populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively both interpersonally and in written/graphic formats.
• Proven ability to de-escalate tense or emotionally charged situations with empathy, professionalism, and effective communication strategies; formal de-escalation training strongly preferred.
• Possess and/or be willing to acquire engagement skills such as active and empathic listening, responsiveness, and trauma informed care.
• Be organized, have coordination skills and pay attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records, manage data across multiple systems, and meet documentation and reporting deadlines with a high degree of attention to detail.
• Have extensive knowledge of available social services.
• Capable of effectively responding to participants’ needs and determining appropriate referrals.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Ability to maintain focus in a complex environment.
• Must have access to reliable transportation throughout North Seattle.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bi-lingual-speaking, a plus (English, Spanish, and/or other language). Bilingual candidates will be compensated at $1/hour above the posted rate.
• Bachelor’s degree in social services, Psychology, Education or related field; or 4 years’ experience providing human services to a diverse community; or a combination of education and/or training and/or work experience which provides the ability to perform the work of the Community Resource Navigator.
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office applications, database entry, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
• Must be able to pass background check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Most work is done sitting at a desk or table; moderate lifting / carrying (40 lbs. or less) required.
• May require standing, walking, bending, kneeling or reaching
• Can work in different settings and is highly flexible.
• Comfortable working in a shared workspace
• Must be capable of the physical exertion required in interactions with young children.
• Ability to work occasional evening or weekend hours to accommodate families’ schedule.

BENEFITS

FamilyWorks offers a full benefits package to regular employees working 20 or more hours per week:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance (portion paid for by FamilyWorks with the option to add dependents)
• Employer-paid life and AD&D insurance
• A free, confidential Employee Assistance Program for you and your family
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 24/7 virtual healthcare and identity protection
• An ORCA transit pass