Kinship Navigator

Casey Family Programs, an Equal Opportunity Employer, is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America. Founded in 1966, we work in 50 states, the District of Columbia and two territories and with more than a dozen tribal nations to influence long-lasting improvements to the safety and success of children, families and the communities where they live. Casey Family Programs values diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and respect for individuals in the workplace. We encourage candidates with diverse lived experience and perspectives to apply.

Job Summary

Utilizing a collaborative, innovative, evidence-informed, trauma and healing approach to practice, we engage families and community partners in the urgent, relentless pursuit of legal and relational permanency and well-being for all children and families so that no youth ages out of foster care and all young people experience belonging and connection to family, community, and culture. Our clinical case management and support activities primarily occur within homes and in the community, with virtual options available, as necessary. The Kinship Navigator is primarily responsible for services to birth parents and kinship caregivers who are involved in, have been involved with, or are at risk of entering the child welfare system. They provide supports in system navigation, accessing of community resources and advocacy for the achievement of youth and family safety, permanency and well-being. This position works in partnership with the social worker and multidisciplinary team to engage in system improvement efforts that enhance natural resources and community connections for youth and families. The Kinship Navigator effectively teams with all other positions in the field office to ensure the best possible service delivery to youth and families and works as a valued team member with Casey staff, youth and families, and collaborators to help provide high quality direct service programs.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provides individualized direct service to birth parents, kinship caregivers and their children through strategic assessments, advocacy and system navigation and the development of individualized community support plans that strengthen networks as appropriate. Coaches and provides one-on-one skill building with youth and caregivers, including birth parents, kin and resource families, to navigate systems that influence or govern their safety, permanency and well-being. Conducts home and community- based visits with families. May provide supervision and/or transportation for scheduled sibling visits.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams and supports/provides training and coaching on trauma- and healing-informed care, culturally responsive services and community and natural supports. In partnership with the social worker and multidisciplinary team, helps assess the day-to-day basic needs and strengths of families to inform action plan goals that are culturally responsive, trauma- and healing-informed and family friendly related to improved well-being, inclusive of safety and permanency. Teams effectively with colleagues to assess relevant services, provide system navigation as well as advocacy for families to ensure quality services for youth and families and teams with the Family Developer to ensure the timely achievement of tasks related to the licensure of kin families. In partnership with the multidisciplinary team, coordinates with vendors the securing of and reimbursement for services and partners with direct service staff to coordinate youth and family logistics for various casework supports.
• Complies with all documentation requirements for internal and external audits of case records and documents work to inform best practice in expediting permanency in foster care. Manages compliance with standards and tracking of required documentation, engaging families, providers and other service team members as needed. Maintains up to date mailing list of Kinship families, family resources and trainings for caregivers and develops a periodic newsletter to share information with the community about available services.
• In partnership with the field office colleagues, identifies and builds networks with local programs and services and develops linkages among community programs for services such as caregiver support groups, respite care, tutoring, afterschool activities, legal assistance, housing and food services. Participates in planning and execution of field office and community projects and in the planning and execution of youth and family groups and events, resource parent trainings, recruitment and retention activities, etc. Coordinates and leads support groups, family education sessions, advisory groups, afterschool activities and events, volunteer events, vocational field trips and family events. Cultivates connections, teaches skills for self-advocacy.
• Collaborates with the field office team to coordinate process improvement activities to expedite improved outcomes for all youth and families served and to ensure field office goals are met in a continuous learning environment. This includes participation in clinical staffing processes as both recipient and contributor to service reviews, collaborating with field office staff to ensure that youth and families are effectively and actively engaging in ongoing learning activities. Participates in staff meetings to assess referrals, analyze data to inform practice/program improvements, including work to mitigate the disproportionate representations and disparity of outcomes of youth and families of color.
• May participate in local, state, tribal and other system improvement forums to assist in the development and implementation of new programs and services based on emerging and proven best practice. Contributes to Demonstration and Spread and partners with Systems Improvement in efforts around the country to demonstrate practices that improve safety, permanency and well-being outcomes of youth and families. Serves, by appointment, on various Casey work committees or task forces.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and personal experience navigating the child welfare system and/or training, coaching and/or serving, as a mentor to other families is required. Knowledge of the child welfare system, community resources for caregivers, basic technology skills and a demonstrated respect for multicultural approaches is required.
• The candidate must have demonstrated skills in collaboratively working as a part of a team and providing consultation and advocacy on behalf of youth and families with schools, government and/or community agencies.
• Skills related to system navigation and self-advocacy. Experience working with and supporting the development of youth that are known to the child welfare system.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, respect for tribal sovereignty, and respect for cultural, racial, and gender difference is required. Personal qualities demonstrating adaptability, curiosity, collaboration and a capacity for self-reflection and commitment to lifelong learning are a must. Ability to contribute effectively with and across teams and with external partners necessary.
• Ability to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information by learning and following all relevant policies and protocols and using sound judgment in the handling and sharing of that information.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills are important for this position.
• Experience working in or with state, county and other government agencies is preferred.
• Experience with MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) is preferred.
• Local travel required for home visits, meetings with families, and other required meetings and occasional out of town travel may be required. Driving on Casey business may require use of personal vehicle; adherence to vehicle safety guidelines and qualification for insurance is required. Additional out of town travel for professional development or Demonstration and Spread projects may occur.
• Physical requirements include the ability to lift and reach for light objects; close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures; ability to type utilizing a computer keyboard; ability to travel to outside locations; and the ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time as a primary job function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Bilingual skills in English and another language(s) preferred.

This position is based at our Joan B. Poliak Seattle Office. The salary range for this role is $54,995 to $64,700 annually.

Casey Family Programs offers comprehensive benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, 10 paid holidays per year and each employee receives one personal holiday to use each calendar year. Employees that meet certain tenure qualifiers are eligible for up to eight weeks of parental leave for the birth or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. After the completion of 10 years of continuous, full-time regular employment, employees in good standing are permitted for a three-month sabbatical with pay. CFP also offers many opportunities for continued learning, training, and development.