Placement Navigator

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains seeks a Placement Navigator for URM foster care programs along the Front Range. You will identify safe, developmentally appropriate out-of-home placements for youth, coordinating with care teams, providers, and community partners to ensure sustainable outcomes.

You will build provider relationships, deliver training, monitor contract compliance, and maintain accurate documentation while aligning with URM program requirements and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social or behavioral sciences required.
• Two years' experience in child welfare, human services or youth services if degree is non-related.
• Combination of relevant education and experience considered in lieu of a qualifying degree.

Responsibilities

• Identify safe, stable, least restrictive, developmentally appropriate out-of-home placements for URM youth.
• Coordinate placement contracts, renewals and required documentation.
• Monitor provider compliance and provide training and technical assistance to providers and stakeholders.
• Maintain strong provider relationships and coordinate with care teams and community partners.
• Participate in rotating on-call coverage for after-hours support.

Skills

Coordinate services

Provide case management

Deliver services across cultures

Meet standards of practice

Provide crisis intervention

Communicate professionally

Document efforts

Education

Bachelor's degree in social or behavioral sciences

Job description

• Applicants who apply through third-party sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.) will receive an email from iSolved to complete their application.*

• Applicants who apply through third-party sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.) will receive an email from iSolved to complete their application.*

Agency Overview

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains is a nonprofit, human services agency where you have the opportunity to provide support to children and families across the Rocky Mountain region. We are passionate about what we do and dream of inspiring community through our commitment and mission. We are a welcoming agency that believes that ALL people from the newborn to the elderly are valued members of our communities. If you want to make a difference where you live while serving alongside other amazing professionals, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains invites you to apply.

Department Overview

Our Foster Care Programs include traditional and therapeutic foster care, Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) foster care, and Long-Term Foster Care for unaccompanied minors. With teams across the Front Range of Colorado, LFSRM foster care staff work diligently to support families throughout the challenges and joys of fostering and to provide trauma-informed interventions and services that help children flourish and grow.

Job Summary & Responsibilities

The Placement Navigator identifies safe, stable, least restrictive, and developmentally appropriate out-of-home placements for youth served through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program. Working collaboratively with program leadership, the youth's care team, placement providers, and community partners, the Placement Navigator identifies and coordinates appropriate placement options while supporting successful and sustainable placement outcomes. This position builds and maintains strong provider relationships, provides education, training, and technical assistance, monitors placement efficacy. This individual also monitors provider compliance and coordinates placement contracts, renewals, and required documentation. Through strong communication, sound judgment, attention to detail, and a solutions-focused approach, the Placement Navigator ensures placement services and provider practices remain responsive to the individual needs, strengths, safety, and well-being of each youth while operating in alignment with URM program requirements, contract regulations, and applicable standards.

Required Competencies

Occupational Competencies

• Coordinate services: Knowledge of currently available community resources, services, and supports, and ability to connect children, youth or families to appropriate resources to meet their needs through referral, application, or enrollment assistance.
• Provide case management: Familiarity with assessment, care planning, facilitation, coordination, and advocacy for support on behalf of and in collaboration with individuals or families.
• Deliver services within diverse cultural communities: Skills and sensitivity in working with children, youth and families from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Meet standards of practice: Familiarity with social work practice, human development, and the child welfare system, including applicable local, state and federal regulations and guidance.
• Provide crisis intervention: Experience with crisis management, problem solving, and mediation best practices.
• Communicate professionally: Ability to communicate professionally and cooperate with colleagues, other professionals, community partners, and other individuals involved in the care and coordination of services.
• Document efforts: Ability to maintain thorough and timely documentation of activities, services, and efforts.

Foundational Competencies

• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate.
• Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES

• Finds paid outofhome placements for children/youth in our custody while advocating for the least restrictive, most appropriate placements.
• Searches for other out-of-home options, such as foster homes, group homes and residential care.
• Works effectively with partners and stakeholders including but not limited to Department of Human Services, Counsel for Youths, CRSP, and CDHS.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with providers to ensure contract compliance.
• Monitors placement efficacy and educates providers and stakeholders regarding Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain's expectations.
• Provides initial and ongoing training and technical assistance to providers and stakeholders on program and contract requirements.
• Coordinates the completion and renewal of placement contracts to ensure all required documentation is executed for all third party placements.
• Participates in rotating on call coverage for after hours support.

TRANSPORTATION

Must maintain a valid driver's license and carry personal auto liability insurance at the level of $100,000/300,000/100,000.

• Frequent local regional travel. May be required to transport clients in personal vehicle.
• Local travel with company vehicle.

Required Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in social or behavioral sciences.
• If an individual has a degree in a non-related field, they shall have two (2) years' experience in a child welfare, human services or youth services related field.
• Individuals who do not have a qualifying degree may be considered based on a combination of relevant education and experience.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this job description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.