Family Navigator

Position Description – Family Navigator

JOB TITLE: Family Navigator

REPORTS TO: Manager of Clinical Operations

LOCATION: The Autism Collective

Position Summary

The Autism Collective Family Navigator is responsible for providing information, education, resources, and guidance to newly referred and established individuals and families as they navigate ASD services, programs, and supports.

The Autism Collective, currently a collaboration of Easterseals Central Illinois and OSF Healthcare Children's Hospital of Illinois, is working to end the isolation felt by those living with autism by uniting experts and connecting families. We coordinate early identification, diagnosis, therapy, services, and support close to home while collaborating and innovating to improve treatment, communication, and quality of life. The Autism Collective will be the relentless champion for every person living with autism.

Our family navigators help connect families with the most appropriate services for the needs they are experiencing. They will also help coordinate any appointments and therapies to ensure everyone on the care team, including the physicians, therapists, and educators, is on the same page with one coordinated, cohesive, and customized plan of care.

Qualifications

• Required
  • Bachelor’s in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Education, Health Sciences, Early Childhood or other related fields.
  • Experience in Case Management, Care Coordination, or Service Coordination.
• Preferred
  • 3 to 5 years of experience working with individuals and families living with ASD and/or other developmental disabilities.
  • Experience working with non-profit organizations.
  • Extensive knowledge of community resources available to individuals and families living with autism.
  • Experience with an EMR.

Core Functions

• Collaborate with all members of The Autism Collective Care Coordination Team providing care management/navigation/coordination.
• Process all new referrals within 72 hours of receipt.
• Initiate the intake process for incoming referrals to The Autism Collective within 72 hours of receipt, and complete assessments and reports according to the established timelines and parameters.
• Assist families who are living with ASD by providing access and education regarding available services, information, and resources.
• Review treatment plan recommendations and provide individualized strength-based planning, guidance, and support needed to cope with an ASD diagnosis, address barriers to care, and assist in the development and implementation of a family action plan.
• Educate individuals with ASD and family members to self-advocate.
• Maintain a thorough, current knowledge of services and resources in the coverage area.
• Maintain detailed, confidential client files related to the navigation process in the electronic medical record.
• Provide time for follow-up appointments, if required.
• Ensure family satisfaction with the navigation services provided.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with service providers, staff, and other cooperating professionals/agencies.
• Establish weekly/monthly work calendar tracking metrics and accomplishing goals as determined by supervisor.
• Complete required tools and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Participate in meetings as assigned, offering applicable agenda items and resources.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in autism by attending conferences and other work-related educational programs to enhance clinical, care management, and navigation skills.
• Support and participate in performance improvement activities and initiatives in addition to maintaining compliance with regulations of external agencies (i.e. CARF, OSHA, HIPAA, FERPA).
• Ensure The Autism Collective maintains a reputation for high-quality service through positive and professional interactions with stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Extensive knowledge of community services and resources related to ASD, as well as how to efficiently access services and resources.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, customer service, and organizational skills, as well as comfort speaking in front of groups.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and manage time wisely, as well as remain flexible and react well under pressure.
• Ability to communicate with individuals in a calm and compassionate manner.
• Ability to foster positive professional relationships with families, staff, and community members. Conducts self in a polite and professional manner with all.
• Ability to critically solve issues.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member, make sound judgments/decisions, and effectively prioritize work assignments.
• Extensive knowledge of ASD and other developmental disabilities, available intervention strategies, and efficacy of various interventions.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively with persons of various abilities and cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain consistent attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to adapt to changes and unexpected events in the work environment.
• Computer experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), as well as electronic medical record use.
• Ability to track and analyze data.

Easterseals Perks:

• Health Insurance
  • BlueCross Blue Shield of Illinois Medical Insurance
  • Guardian Dental Insurance
  • VSP Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Flexible Spending Account(FSA)
  • Medical Account and/or Dependent Care Account
• Life, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Critical Illness, and Accidental Insurance
• Exceptional PTO
  • Vacation time
  • Sick time
  • Personal time
  • Holiday Leave

All Easterseals employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees will be required to be fully vaccinated and provide documentation of their vaccination or receive an approved medical or religious exemption prior to their first day of work.

Easterseals is an Equal Opportunity Employer.