Care Navigator - Waukesha Women's Heath and Recovery Program

Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
Department: Waukesha (Full‑Time)

Job Summary

The WCS Care Navigator is located at the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The role provides person‑centered navigation and support to women receiving services who may have substance use, behavioral health, and other identified needs. The navigator collaborates with clients, WCS, DHHS, treatment providers, and community partners to identify needs, strengths, goals, and barriers, connect individuals with appropriate resources, and support successful engagement with those services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain a flexible schedule, including community‑based and evening work as needed.
• Provide individualized, person‑centered navigation based on each person’s needs, strengths, preferences, and goals.
• Engage individuals in identifying priorities and determining services and resources that support health, well‑being, stability, and recovery.
• Assist individuals in understanding available services and options to make informed decisions.
• Connect individuals with community resources such as substance‑use treatment, behavioral health, medical care, recovery supports, housing, transportation, benefits, employment resources, food assistance, and other identified needs.
• Help individuals navigate treatment and service systems, including referral processes, eligibility, appointments, and next steps.
• Identify and address barriers that may prevent successful connection to care.
• Provide follow‑up after referrals to determine successful connection and identify additional support.
• Assist with scheduling and coordinating appointments and support skill development for independent navigation.
• Accompany individuals to appointments or community resources when appropriate.
• Support individuals in strengthening natural, family, and community supports of their choosing.
• Advocate with and alongside individuals when barriers arise, promoting self‑advocacy, independence, voice, and choice.
• Maintain current knowledge of community resources throughout Waukesha County and surrounding areas.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with treatment providers, healthcare providers, recovery organizations, housing providers, and other community agencies.
• Coordinate services with WCS staff, the DHHS clinical team, and other providers in accordance with confidentiality requirements.
• Participate in DHHS treatment team meetings, case consultations, supervision, and other requested meetings.
• Communicate relevant information about service engagement, barriers, and care coordination while respecting confidentiality and individual choice.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of all services and contacts in required WCS and Waukesha County systems.
• Complete program spreadsheets, activity reports, and other documentation within established timelines.
• Participate in community outreach activities, health fairs, and events to increase awareness of services and program resources.
• Complete all required WCS and DHHS training within established timelines.
• Attend WCS team meetings, in‑service training, conferences, and other required meetings.
• Travel throughout Waukesha County and surrounding communities as necessary to provide navigation services, attend meetings, and conduct outreach.
• Maintain professional boundaries and provide services in a respectful, culturally responsive, trauma‑informed, and person‑centered manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, criminal justice, behavioral health, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in human services, behavioral health, substance‑use services, care coordination, case management, community outreach, or a related field preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources and service systems related to behavioral health, substance‑use treatment, healthcare, housing, benefits, and basic needs.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable automobile, and automobile insurance meeting agency requirements.
• Pass a driving‑record background check.
• Ability to meet all WCS and DHHS employment requirements (references, criminal background checks, drug testing, driver’s‑license requirements).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Effective oral and written communication with diverse populations, peers, supervisors, and partners.
• Proficiency with standard technology (email, internet, Microsoft 365, Windows, Word, Excel).
• Strong organizational and follow‑through skills; ability to coordinate multiple referrals, appointments, services, and documentation.
• Critical thinking and solution‑oriented problem solving in a fast‑paced environment.
• Judgment in crisis situations.
• Adaptability to change and ability to work independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Teamwork with WCS, Peer Navigator, and DHHS Clinical Team while managing independent duties.
• Commitment to mission, core values, and a respectful work setting.
• Professional conduct, integrity, ethics, and boundary maintenance.
• Cultural sensitivity and strong interpersonal skills when interacting with diverse populations.
• Program‑specific abilities: psychoeducation, relapse‑prevention planning, recovery action planning, resilience training, social‑support building, coping‑skill teaching, health/telehealth engagement assistance, post‑overdose outreach, harm‑reduction linkage, communicable‑disease screening and education.
• Agency‑specific knowledge: Employment Handbook, Employee Code of Conduct, UKG payroll system, Power DMS policies, Avatar database, SharePoint resources, and related administrative tools.

Physical Demands

The position is not remote. Majority of work is performed at the DHHS office with some community‑based outreach, including home visits. Must be able to go up and down stairs, stand, sit, get in and out of a vehicle, and drive personal vehicle. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment

Primarily an office setting at an assigned DHHS location, involving desk work and computer use. Limited travel is required for community engagement and documentation of billable activities. Typical schedule is flexible, generally 8:00 am – 4:40 pm, with occasional evenings or weekend work for crisis response (mostly phone contact). All non‑standard hours must be pre‑approved by the Peer Support Program Manager.

Schedule

Full‑time, 40 hours per week. Flexible schedule to meet DHHS requirements, including possible evening groups and occasional weekend work for crisis response.