Community Support Navigator

Voamass•Lawrence, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Support Navigator provides community-based case management, care coordination, and recovery support to people experiencing mental health or substance use challenges, homelessness or housing instability, or justice involvement. Supporting VOAMASS Community Support Programs and the Essex Medication Re-Entry Grant Expansion (EMRGE2), the Navigator connects participants with behavioral health treatment, recovery services, housing, employment, healthcare, and other essential resources. The role also provides specialized re-entry support to individuals transitioning from Essex County correctional facilities, including individualized planning and coordination before and after release. The Navigator collaborates with correctional staff, clinicians, program leadership, and community partners to reduce barriers to care, promote recovery and independence, and support community reintegration. The position maintains a mixed caseload, including up to 30–40 participants transitioning from Essex County correctional facilities. It provides pre-release planning and post-release case management for up to six months, along with screenings, assessments, Wellness Plans, service coordination, and mobile community-based support. Services may take place in correctional facilities, VOAMASS offices, residential programs, community locations, courts, housing appointments, and other appropriate settings. Telehealth may be provided case by case. The role requires travel to multiple locations during the workday and a flexible schedule. Services and records must comply with program eligibility, insurance billing, and grant funding requirements. The position is full-time and on-site, with an annual salary of $58,000. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred; at least two years of social-services experience, a valid driver’s license, and reliable transportation are required.

Requirements

At least two years of experience working with social service organizations, including experience with multiple levels of care, service coordination, and referrals.
Excellent communication, organizational, and computer skills.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, healthcare administration, or a related human services field is preferred, not required.

Nice To Haves

Experience or familiarity with correctional facilities, justice-involved populations, re-entry services, and supporting people transitioning from incarceration to the community.
Knowledge of system navigation, Massachusetts community-based resources, behavioral health and substance use treatment services, and re-entry support services.
Proficiency with required assessment tools such as ORAS, CAAPE-5, and MSDP following appropriate training.

Responsibilities

Maintain a mixed caseload of Community Support Program participants, including up to 30–40 people transitioning from Essex County correctional facilities into the community.
Provide intensive, individualized case management, care coordination, and community-based support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, substance use, co-occurring disorders, homelessness, housing instability, or justice involvement.
Engage incarcerated individuals before release to assess needs, identify barriers, establish goals, and develop comprehensive re-entry and transition plans.
Provide post-release case management and follow-up for up to six months, helping participants pursue goals, overcome barriers, and remain engaged in treatment, recovery, and community support services.
Conduct screenings, assessments, and ongoing evaluations; assist with diagnostic evaluations and administer required tools such as ORAS, CAAPE-5, and MSDP after appropriate training.
Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized Wellness Plans, re-entry plans, and service goals with participants across behavioral health, recovery, housing, employment, education, healthcare, and independent living needs.
Help participants access and coordinate primary care, mental health and substance use treatment, Medication-Assisted Treatment, recovery support, housing assistance, employment and workforce development, transportation, public benefits, and other social supports.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with correctional facilities, probation and parole departments, courts, community providers, and other criminal justice partners to coordinate re-entry planning and continuity of care.
Provide flexible, mobile services in correctional facilities, VOAMASS offices, residential programs, community locations, courts, housing appointments, and other appropriate settings; provide telehealth case by case as appropriate.
Document services and ensure they align with program eligibility, insurance billing requirements, and grant funding guidelines.
Maintain a flexible schedule and travel to multiple locations throughout the workday to provide timely, responsive services.
Perform other related duties supporting VOAMASS’s integrated care model, community support services, and re-entry programming.

Benefits

Health, vision, and dental insurance; the employer pays 90% of the medical deductible and certain co-pays.
Pre-tax flexible spending options for healthcare, childcare, transit, and parking.
403(b) retirement plan with employer match.
24/7 nurse hotline.
Employee assistance program.
Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance.
Pet insurance.
Tuition remission programs.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Vacation starting at three weeks and increasing to four weeks after three years of employment.
14 paid holidays.
Fitness and wellness reimbursement, including eligible gym membership expenses.
Employee discount program.
Cash bonus for referring qualified employment candidates, with no annual cap.