School-Based Navigator

Centerstone•Chattanooga, TN

About The Position

The School-Based Navigator (SBN) serves as a liaison among schools, families, and Centerstone. The role facilitates students’ access to behavioral health services, supports intake and insurance processes, and promotes continuity of services through collaboration with internal teams and community partners. The SBN conducts work in accordance with regulatory standards, person-centered practices, and Centerstone’s mission. The position supports referrals, family outreach, Medicaid eligibility and insurance screening, intake scheduling and documentation, regulatory tasks, administrative and clinical-record maintenance, ongoing eligibility checks, and connections to community resources and crisis services when indicated. The SBN participates in training, team meetings, and continuous improvement activities and follows organizational privacy, confidentiality, security, ethical, and operational requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Understanding of mental health systems and school-based service models.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
Proficiency in documentation, electronic records, and telephonic engagement.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to coordinate support services.
Successful completion of background checks, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks.
Complete New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment and required training, including Relias, at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance.

Responsibilities

Accept and respond to referrals from assigned schools within three business days, initiating family contact and documenting activity.
Assist families with Medicaid eligibility screening and applications, verify private insurance benefits, and screen for alternative funding as needed.
Schedule intake appointments with school-based therapists or refer students to appropriate access points if they are not eligible for school-based services.
Ensure intake and compliance documentation is complete, accurate, and electronically filed according to operational standards.
Collaborate with Billing, Health Information Management, Quality, and other teams to complete non-billable regulatory tasks and meet timelines.
Answer incoming calls and make and document non-billable calls on behalf of school-based staff; maintain accurate clinical records.
Conduct ongoing insurance checks and support paperwork updates to maintain eligibility and access to care during treatment.
Partner with schools and community agencies to connect families with appropriate support, including crisis services when indicated.
Follow organizational privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and applicable professional ethics.
Follow organizational operational guidelines and contribute to program quality through routine self-evaluation and adherence to CARF-aligned standards.
Participate in required training, team meetings, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.