Community Navigator

Job Description

Job Description

OVERVIEW:
The Community Navigator engages homeless young people with the goal of increasing their
connection to natural safety nets and access to community resources designed to address the
medical, mental health, financial, emergency shelter and other basic living and safety needs of young
people on their own. This position will assist homeless youth and young adults in crisis intervention,
problem solving, action planning, and skill building, in order to address immediate life and safety
issues, reduce the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse, and reduce or prevent incidents of
homelessness. In addition to short-term crisis interventions, this position will partner with homeless
young people to strengthen their permanent connections with safe and healthy adults already in their
lives. This is a full-time position at 35 hours per week, including 2 evening shifts a week. There will
be community events and outreach opportunities on weekend days, so flexibility is needed. These
weekend shifts would be agreed up and scheduled based on staff availability. Valid NY State driver's
license required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
• Crisis Intervention
• Screening and Assessment
• Individual Counseling & Case Management
• Community Outreach to locations where youth are known to congregate
• Transport youth to appointments and services, as needed
• Maintain client confidentiality, consistent with Center policies
• Referral readiness and referral services
• Accurate and timely case and program record keeping
• Effectively manage time to meet responsibilities
• Engage youth to offer services and referrals
• Participation in supervision, staff meetings and trainings
• Other duties as assigned

EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES

Candidate must:
• Adhere to ethical conduct
• Demonstrate professionalism i.e., timely, dependable, responsible, flexible
• Be non-judgmental and respectful
• Model principles of inclusion and tolerance
• Be youth centered and positive
• Be family friendly
• Establish effective working relationships with supervisor and co-workers
• Develop positive relationships with all key stakeholders
• Have strong literacy skills (i.e., reading, writing, comprehension)
• Have excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Conduct research and apply best-practices and evaluation methods
• Effectively promote knowledge and skill development and positive behaviors
• Provide leadership and/or work independently as requested
Candidate must possess significant knowledge of -
• adolescent development including: positive youth development, asset development, risk reduction
and protective factors
• youth serving systems
• community resources
• client advocacy

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

The Center delivers services to youth and families from many racial, ethnic, cultural, social and life style
groups. We value differences in people and strive to understand diverse cultures, ethnic origins, sexual
orientations, abilities and beliefs. To this end, all staff are required to attend professional development
trainings and to continually enhance their understanding of cultural diversity.
Staff are expected to respect and honor cultural and human diversity. The annual Performance Appraisal
provides an opportunity for staff to evaluate how they are integrating culturally competent practices into their
everyday work.

QUALIFICATIONS

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in human services, education or a related field; and (1) one year
experience or an equivalent combination of education, employment and life experience.
In addition to the above, it is mandatory that candidates meet the following criteria prior to hire:
• Completion of State Central Registry Clearance form*
• Authorization for agency to complete criminal background check
• Authorization for the agency to obtain driving record information
• Proof of a satisfactory physical exam within the last 12 months including a PPD and annually
thereafter.
• Completion of fingerprinting process and clearance via NYS Justice Center
• A valid driver's license, regular access to a motor vehicle and automobile insurance at the level
of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident Bodily Injury and $50,000 Property Damage
• Access to a telephone

*Note: It is also mandatory that new employees be cleared by the NYS Central Register prior to
unsupervised interaction with clients.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must be able to be autonomously mobile in order to provide the required services.

COMPUTER SKILLS RECOMMENDED:

Microsoft Office- Advanced

Internet Explorer - Advanced

The Center for Youth provides equal opportunities for employment.