Housing Systems Navigator - Oak Lawn, United States - BEDS Plus, Inc.

Description

The Systems Navigator takes crisis calls and referrals of unaccompanied young people who are under the age of 25 and experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

The program provides immediate response for young people in suburban Cook County and provides each with an individualized safety and needs assessment plan, mobile case management, and connections with the variety of services they need.

Additionally, Systems Navigators use creative problem solving and, if necessary, flexible funds to divert and rapidly resolve unaccompanied people under 25 who are literally homeless and those immediately at risk of homelessness.

• Provide targeted outreach to the communities in suburban Cook County to identify and engage youth and young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• Collaborate regularly with other navigators and outreach providers to ensure thorough coverage throughout suburban Cook County.
• Identify unaccompanied minors and engage and collaborate as needed with the Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS) system.
• Assist participants in creating and executing individualized short and long term goal plans by utilizing evidencebased practices (e.g., motivational interviewing skills, SMART Goals).
• Screen and assess participants for basic and other needs using a strengthbased model, and provide resources, referrals and linkages to other social service venues and agencies, including shelter and daytime support centers as requested and as appropriate.
• Be attuned to risk factors and signs of domestic violence, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, and provide safety planning and speedy linkage to specialized support services as needed.
• Use Diversion to encourage and support safe, empowering and appropriate alternatives to entering the homelessness services system and/or help to immediately secure safe and reliable shelter when needed.
• Assist participants in signing up for HACC waitlists, the Statewide Referral Network and Family Unification Project/Fostering Youth to Independence.
• Maintain and administer flex funds to be used for client support and Diversion.
• Must be able to respond and be mobile across suburban Cook County as needed.
• Must be willing and comfortable using translation services when working with households in need of translation services.
• Attend ongoing training on Best Practices for Street Outreach, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competence, Positive Youth Development, Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Public Benefits and other applicable topics.
• Attend and participate in all required agency and regional meetings.
• Assist with all reporting requirements.

• Master's degree in social work, counseling or related field or 5 years of relevant experience, including lived experience of homelessness or equivalent.
• Demonstrated clinical skills when working with individuals with complex needs.
• Access to vehicle and ability to travel throughout Suburban Cook County
• Computer literacy, including knowledge of computer assessment tools and database systems. Proficiency in Excel, Outlook and Word
• Awareness of personal power and privilege, dedication to cultural humility, and demonstrated high value for diversity and inclusion in work team essential.

• 401(k)
• 401(k)

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

• Case management: 1 year (required)

• Oak Lawn, IL (required)

• Oak Lawn, IL: Relocate before starting work (required)