Person-Centered Services Family Navigator

About the role

The Person-Centered Services Navigator provides person- and family-centered navigation, service coordination, and individualized planning support for DDS-eligible children, young adults, and adults with autism, developmental disabilities, and/or complex support needs. This role supports individuals and families in accessing services, building skills, increasing independence, and participating more fully in home, school, work, and community life.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centered navigation, supports in a family-centered, culturally responsive, and aligned with DDS and agency requirements.
• Partner with individuals and/or families to identify strengths, needs, priorities, goals, and barriers related to service access, skill development, independence, and community participation.
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized service plans, goals, budgets, and support strategies in collaboration with individuals, families, DDS staff, schools, providers, and other team members.
• Support families in understanding DESE/DDS, Agency with Choice, flexible funding guidelines, staffing models, documentation requirements and budget utilization.
• Aid families in identifying, arranging, onboarding, and sustaining approved staff and services, including Skills Trainers, respite, community integration supports, family training, professional supports, and other approved services.
• Maintain regular contact with individuals and families through phone, email, text, virtual meetings, home visits, and community-based meetings, with increased outreach during periods of transition, crisis, or service disruption.
• Support individuals and families in implementing individualized strategies that build skills, promote independence, strengthen routines, and increase participation across home, school, and community settings.
• Build trusting, respectful relationships with individuals and families to support engagement, service planning, and continuity of support.
• Aid individuals and families in identifying goals and practical strategies that support skill development, family capacity, community integration, and progress toward the individualized service plan.
• Coordinate with DDS Service Coordinators, school teams, clinical providers, therapists, ABA providers, healthcare providers, and community resources to support consistent planning and reduce service fragmentation.
• Participate in IEP meetings, DDS meetings, Support Plan reviews, ISP meetings, case reviews, and team planning meetings as appropriate and with required consent.
• Provide responsive support during emergent or crisis situations, connection to clinical, psychiatric, behavioral health, emergency, school-based, or DDS supports as needed.
• Monitor service delivery, documentation, billing, budget utilization, expenditures, ancillary requests, and required program records to ensure compliance with DDS and agency expectations.
• Prepare and maintain required documentation, including service notes, contact logs, individualized plans, goal progress updates, budget materials, quarterly, mid-year, and year-end reports, indirect time forms, and other required DDS or agency documentation.
• Promote self-determination, informed choice, dignity, safety, inclusion, and the individual’s/family’s role as the primary decision-maker in service planning.
• Complete required documentation, service notes, indirect time forms, communication with DDS, and other paperwork in accordance with program and contract requirements.
• Attend training assigned; maintain necessary certifications (CPR, First Aid, Safety Care).
• Attend and actively participate in supervision and staff meetings.
• Ensure that individuals we support are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with Advocates’ Human Rights Policy.
• Perform all duties in accordance with the agency’s policies and procedures.
• Strictly follow all agency performance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, education, special education, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent experience supporting individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and/or complex family support needs may be considered in lieu of degree.
• Experience working with individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and/or complex family support needs.
• Knowledge of DDS services, DESE/DDS programming, Agency with Choice, family navigation, self-direction, IEPs, community-based support, and service coordination preferred.
• Strong understanding of person-centered planning, family-centered practice, self-determination, cultural responsiveness, and community inclusion.
• Strong communication, documentation, organization, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills are preferred.
• Must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• Able to communicate effectively in writing and able to use good judgment.
• Must have sensitivity to the needs of the population.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to function in a team atmosphere and independently.
• Must have valid driver’s license, car insurance, and access to auto.