Community Health Substance Use & Recovery Support Navigator

Divine Truth Unity Fellowship Church•Inland Empire, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Health Substance Use & Recovery Support Navigator provides trauma-informed outreach, prevention education, recovery support, and care navigation services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults impacted by substance use, mental health challenges, housing instability, family rejection, and barriers to care. Reporting to the Outreach Director and working closely with RPYA’s Behavioral Health Department, this role supports youth connection to counseling, recovery services, wellness resources, crisis support, and community-based care. The Navigator builds trusted relationships with youth through street outreach, Wellness Center engagement, community events, and field-based support. This position also provides education related to overdose prevention, harm reduction, relapse prevention, and wellness planning, while helping youth access supportive services including behavioral health care, housing resources, treatment programs, peer support, and other community resources. RPYA is seeking someone with strong relationship-building skills, a commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming and culturally responsive care, and experience supporting youth and communities impacted by trauma, substance use, housing instability, or system barriers. Lived, professional, or community-based experience connected to recovery support and LGBTQ+ communities is highly valued. This is a grant-funded position through September 2027, with continuation dependent on funding availability and organizational need.

Requirements

Experience working with youth, young adults, LGBTQ+ communities, or individuals impacted by substance use, behavioral health challenges, housing instability, trauma, or other barriers to care.
Knowledge of substance use prevention, overdose prevention, recovery support, behavioral health resources, peer support, or community health navigation.
Ability to build trust and maintain professional relationships with youth and community members from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
Strong commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and nonjudgmental care.
Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Strong communication, organization, documentation, and follow-up skills.
Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
Ability to work in field-based and community settings, including occasional evenings or weekends as needed.
Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance may be required depending on assignment.

Nice To Haves

Training, certification, or coursework in substance use counseling, prevention, recovery coaching, peer support, community health work, social work, psychology, public health, or a related field.
Certified Peer Support Specialist, Community Health Worker, Substance Use Disorder Counselor, Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician, or willingness to pursue certification.
Lived, professional, or community-based experience connected to LGBTQ+ communities and/or substance use recovery.
Experience providing outreach, prevention education, recovery support, or care navigation.
Experience supporting youth or communities impacted by housing instability, trauma, family rejection, community violence, foster care involvement, justice-system involvement, or other significant barriers to care.
Familiarity with harm reduction approaches, naloxone education/distribution, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, or crisis de-escalation.
Familiarity with Inland Empire behavioral health, housing, recovery, or youth-serving systems.
Experience using case management systems, HMIS, EHR platforms, or outreach tracking tools.

Responsibilities

Conduct street outreach, community engagement, and wellness check-ins with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
Build trauma-informed, nonjudgmental relationships with youth experiencing substance use challenges, housing instability, family conflict, or other barriers to care.
Participate in outreach activities at schools, parks, community events, resource fairs, shelters, and other community-based locations.
Support youth engagement within RPYA’s Wellness Drop-In Center through welcoming, affirming, and recovery-supportive practices.
Assist with de-escalation and crisis support using restorative and youth-centered approaches.
Provide education related to substance use prevention, overdose prevention, harm reduction, relapse prevention, and wellness planning.
Support naloxone education and distribution in accordance with program guidelines and applicable laws.
Help youth identify personal goals related to wellness, safety, recovery, and healing.
Provide recovery support that respects multiple recovery pathways and youth-led approaches.
Assist youth with connection to counseling, treatment programs, peer support services, support groups, and community-based recovery resources.
Assist with screenings, intake support, referrals, and service navigation.
Coordinate warm handoffs to behavioral health providers, housing resources, medical providers, benefits programs, and community partners.
Support youth in addressing barriers including transportation, technology access, scheduling, identification documents, and system navigation.
Follow up with youth after referrals to encourage continued engagement and connection to services.
Collaborate with RPYA staff and community providers to support continuity of care and youth well-being.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of outreach activities, referrals, services, and follow-up efforts.
Enter required information into approved case management, outreach tracking, or funder-required systems.
Participate in supervision, staff meetings, trainings, case conferencing, and program evaluation.
Support Wellness Center groups, workshops, prevention activities, and community events as needed.
Maintain compliance with organizational policies, confidentiality standards, mandated reporting obligations, and documentation requirements.