Kinship Navigator

Devereux • Port Saint Lucie, FL

17h • Onsite

About The Position

As a Kinship Navigator, you will work directly with kinship caregivers to assist them in navigating the child welfare system. You will also provide support and advocacy to help ensure caregivers have the required resources to meet each child’s physical, emotional, financial, and basic needs. This position is part of Communities Connected for Kids, offering the opportunity to work with other dedicated professionals who share a passion for helping individuals in need. The program provides services for children and families in the child welfare system to ensure a community without abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Based out of Port Saint Lucie, FL, this role involves conducting home visits, educating caregivers about available resources, providing enrollment information for benefits, offering relevant training, assisting with legal options, providing outreach, fostering collaborative relationships, advocating for caregivers' needs, attending staffings, and participating in the development and facilitation of support groups. Data entry into the Statewide Child Welfare Information System FSFN is also required, along with other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of and proficiency in computer applications and digital communication tools.
• Ability to learn new technology and programs quickly.
• Strong interpersonal skills relative to diverse populations.
• Excellent skills in facilitation of collaborative problem-solving.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing deadlines.
• Analytical, decision making, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work/Human Services or a related field.
• Knowledge in Florida's Practice Model and Florida’s official electronic system of record, Florida Safe Family Network (FSFN).
• One year of kinship or child welfare caregiver experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct home visits to kinship caregivers.
• Educate kinship caregivers about available resources to meet the needs of the children they are raising, in addition to their own needs as caregivers.
• Provide enrollment information for federal, state, and local benefits.
• Provide relevant training to assist kinship caregivers in caregiving.
• Assist with navigating legal options available for child custody, other legal assistance, and help in obtaining legal services.
• Provide outreach to kinship caregivers, including distributing relevant guides or outreach materials.
• Foster and maintain collaborative working relationships and rapport with Kinship Caregivers.
• Advocate and liaison with kinship caregivers to ensure adequate support is provided and to facilitate positive outcomes for children served.
• Advocate for the needs of kinship caregivers by ensuring their voice is heard and that their needs are being addressed.
• Attend and participate in staffings to identify needed supports and services.
• Participate in the development, planning, and facilitation of virtual and in person support groups for kinship caregivers and children.
• Enter data into the Statewide Child Welfare Information System FSFN.
• Other duties as required.

Benefits

• Opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of children in need of support
• Unique rewards that come from seeing families improve and flourish with the services you referred them to
• Quality Low-Cost Benefits and 30-day benefit eligibility waiting period for new hires!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED