Community Health & Housing Navigator

Wherever there is a need in La Crosse County you'll find The Salvation Army. We not only strive to help our community with shelter and food, but to also empower our youth as well. The Salvation Army strives to meet our residents where they are at and to help them in their journey. With everyone who passes through our doors we welcome with arms. We want to be a place that our residents can call home until they are ready for their next steps in life. If you want to help make a difference by serving your community and helping those in need, apply now!

The Community Health & Housing Navigator will provide social, behavioral, and resource support to clients as they navigate the health care and social service systems. This position will be primarily working with current shelter residents and those recently moved into housing to provide systems navigation services in which an individual's needs are identified and the medical, psychosocial and rehabilitative services designed to meet those needs are coordinated in collaboration with other professionals.

About the role :

• Finds and engages with shelter residents and recently housed former residents to assess risks, eligibility for services, and provide referral information. Communicates with clients in-person, by telephone, electronically or by mail.
• Documents in a timely and accurate manner all encounters, referrals, and follow up in the SIMS database.
• Tracks client progress towards identified outcomes with community agencies and assist in obtaining services required for risk reduction.
• Maintains knowledge of available community-based resources and programs to assist in meeting client needs.
• Meets clients at minimum, monthly for appointments.
• Assists in scheduling and accessing health and service appointments for client as needed.
• Assists in ensuring that services provided yield the expected outcomes through education, communication, collaboration, and client advocacy, while preserving confidentiality.
• Acts as a liaison between the client and care team to support and provide resources for individuals.
• Accompany clients to appointments as needed.
• Provide guidance and resources to prevent future evictions.
• Manage and coordinate group recreational activities for shelter residents and alumni.
• Assist case managers in connecting current & former residents with peer-to-peer agencies.
• Follow through on assigned quality (QA) assurance activities.
• Provides support and educational activities for clients in order to motivate and promote health knowledge, self-sufficiency, self-care and to assist individuals in developing skills related to better health. Educational activities include but are not limited to community resources, health education, social support, and daily living skills.
• Plays a consistent and active role in identifying project inefficiencies and finding collaborative solutions to the problems.
• Identify and apply appropriate role definition and skilled boundaries.
• Maintain skill and competence levels by attending department / staff meetings, Community of Practice meetings, and by participating in continuous training as required and appropriate.
• Maintain confidentiality of client-related information and maintain respectful treatment of clients.

Education : Two years of college required in a related field; bachelor's degree preferred .

Certifications : Peer Support Specialist or Community Health Worker certifications preferred. Willingness to obtain if not already certified.

Experience : Minimum one-year working or volunteering in human services, healthcare, community outreach, health education, or related direct service.

The Salvation Army is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who are back-to-work, US Veterans, people with disabilities, people who have been impacted by the justice system, and / or people without a college degree are encouraged to apply.