Community Outreach Navigator

Job Title: Community Outreach Navigator 

Job Type: Full-time/Part-Time        Pay Range: $16 - $18/hour; based on experience

Location: Grand Rapids, MI Deadline: Posted until position is filled

Organization Description: 

Family Futures’ mission is to shape the West Michigan community so that all children are supported to reach their full potential. We help children ages 0 through 5 by supporting parents, providing connections to resources and programs, and offering ways to monitor and enhance each child’s early childhood development. We believe in supporting our employees as much as we support the families we serve. Family Futures offers a strength-based, learning-driven, quality improvement-based culture that celebrates equity and diversity, and an opportunity to grow while making an impact in your community. Family Futures values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

Job Overview: 

The Community Outreach Navigator meets families where they are in the community to offer support and information on available resources and programs. Community Outreach Navigators work with our community partners to develop relationships and recruit families, as well as provide case management and referral coordination for families in our Connections program. They will specialize in guiding families to the appropriate community resources based on each family’s individual needs. Our Community Outreach Navigation team guides families forward by identifying the barriers parents face, developing strategies to address any barriers, and recognizing patterns of needs for resources. Because this position is active in the community, there will be times when the use of a personal vehicle to travel within Kent County and lifting of boxes (roughly 25 lbs.) may be required. In addition, Family Futures requires all staff to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Roles and Responsibilities: 

• Build and maintain relationships with community partners
• Serve as spokesperson for Family Futures and its programs at events, presentations, and meetings
• Complete intake assessments with newly enrolled families 
• Provide case management to families  
• Refer families to community resources and programs 
• Communicate with families via phone, text, and email 
• Research programs and services that meet the needs of families serviced 
• Advocate for families by participating in workgroups and community meetings 
• Document all case-related information  
• Support outreach efforts  
• Be willing to travel throughout West Michigan on an as-needed basis

Education and Experience: 

The candidate should have a minimum 2 years working with families or equivalent experience. The ideal candidate will also have familiarity with resources for families located in West Michigan and/or lived experience navigating early childhood services and resources. 

Required Skills: 

• Organized and detail oriented  
• Must be able to manage multiple projects at one time 
• Written and verbal communications skills 
• Public Speaking
• Microsoft Office Suite 
• Adaptable and a self-starter 
• Culturally competent and knowledgeable when working with diverse populations 
• Flexible schedule to meet the needs of families- this includes occasional nights and weekends
• Comfortable working in fast paced environments 
• Ability to learn early childhood landscape and terminology  
• Ability to learn new technology/software applications 

Preferred Skills: 

• Fluency in English and Spanish 
• Data entry and/or database usage 
• Community resource knowledge 
• Experience working in the following zip codes: 49507 - 49506 - 49503
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field