Youth Navigator

About the role

The Children’s Network of Hillsborough is committed to working with the community to protect children and preserve families. The Youth Navigator promotes timely access to and engagement in behavioral health, medical, and community-based services for children and youth involved in the child welfare system. This position partners closely with Case Management Organizations (CMOs), caregivers, service providers, and multidisciplinary stakeholders to coordinate care and facilitate service referrals. The Youth Navigator serves as a resource to case management by assisting with navigation of behavioral health providers and community resources, reducing barriers to service engagement, and promoting continuity of care. The position participates in multidisciplinary staffings, including Integrated Family Support Team (IFST) meetings, to support collaborative care planning, service coordination, placement stability, and positive outcomes for children and youth. Through a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and family-centered approach, the Youth Navigator builds collaborative relationships with behavior-focused foster homes, healthcare providers, community partners, and internal stakeholders to improve communication, strengthen service delivery, and enhance system coordination. The position demonstrates professionalism, initiative, sound judgment, and accountability while fostering teamwork, promoting youth-centered advocacy, and contributing to continuous quality improvement and network development initiatives.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. All employees are required to complete fifteen (15) hours of training annually, which may be completed online or in a classroom setting. Employees who hold a credential or license relevant to their position must ensure that all training and continuing education requirements are met to maintain their credential or licensure.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate professionalism, cultural humility, trauma-informed practices, and a strengths-based approach in all interactions.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community agencies, service providers, and advocacy organizations to expand available resources for youth.
• Participate in community outreach events, trainings, and educational opportunities that promote awareness of available youth services and transition resources.
• Meet with Medicaid behavioral health service providers periodically to enhance communication and reduce barriers to services.
• Work with the Case Management Organizations (CMO’s) and service providers to remove barriers to services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary staffings, transition planning meetings, and other case-related meetings to advocate for the youth's needs and support continuity of care.
• Provide crisis support and resource navigation as appropriate, escalating concerns to leadership and partnering agencies when immediate intervention is required.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation of contacts, activities, referrals, and outcomes in designated data systems in accordance with organizational policies and contractual requirements.
• Attend Integrated Family Support Team (IFST) staffings and other multidisciplinary meetings to assist Case Managers with identifying appropriate providers, coordinating referrals, and navigating behavioral health