Navegador/a

Programa: Alas de Esperanza Indígena, Departamento de Bienestar – Oficina de MICOP, Santa Maria. Tiempo completo, 30 horas semanales.

About the Organization

Founded in 2001, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) assists, organizes, and empowers the indigenous migrant community residing on California’s Central Coast. This is achieved through improved access to community and health resources, community organizing, language interpretation, education, direct assistance, cultural advocacy, and our indigenous-led community radio station, Radio Indígena. MICOP offers a fast-paced, multilingual, and multicultural work environment dedicated to carrying out our mission.

About the Role

Mental Health Navigators conduct mental health awareness and work with indigenous immigrant families whose mental health is at risk. They assess client needs and connect program clients to appropriate services and support. Direct work with eligible families will include addressing immediate health and basic needs that increase mental health risk factors. Navigators will provide linkages, referrals, and ensure appointments are kept and case management goals are met with service providers. Educational components incorporate psychoeducation around mental well-being, substance abuse disorder, depression, and anxiety, among others. This approach is essential to support self-awareness about these conditions and better empower indigenous migrants to recognize and respond to them.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally and linguistically competent case management/navigation of available services for the community.
• Be available daily in person and/or by phone to assess client needs.
• Develop a case management plan for each client.
• Seek, create, and maintain collaborative partnerships with local service provider networks, key local public agencies, and other nonprofits offering necessary services for clients with a case.
• Conduct follow-up as needed to ensure services are provided to clients in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
• Play a key role in disseminating information about available navigation/case management services at MICOP’s Santa Maria office.
• Conduct peer-to-peer in-person outreach activities, including canvassing, presentations, and participation in community events/health fairs.
• Outreach includes door-to-door visits in neighborhoods with large concentrations of indigenous migrants, as well as visits to locations where the migrant farmworker community gathers, such as bakeries in the early morning, laundromats during the day, and at the end of the day.
• Combine verbal and visual activities, including distributing flyers and providing direct information about MICOP services.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Passion for MICOP’s mission to support, empower, and organize the indigenous migrant community on California’s Central Coast.
• Language skills: Ability to speak and write Spanish and English. Ability to speak an indigenous language, required.
• Cultural competency necessary to provide case management and outreach services to clients.
• Previous experience in case management.
• Ability to navigate social service programs and provide successful referrals to clients.
• Ability to manage time effectively, meet deadlines, and demonstrate excellent follow-up.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a variety of community members.
• Ability to work at outdoor events and/or activities.
• Have own transportation.
• Flexibility to travel long distances when necessary.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite and Google Workspace.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience.
• Direct experience working with Mixtec/indigenous families and/or the community.