Reentry Navigator

The Safer Foundation is a social service provider to individuals with arrest and conviction records. Through a full range of services, including case management, educational instruction and advocacy, we focus on preparing individuals for the world of work by helping them find and keep productive and meaningful employment.

General Summary:

The Reentry Navigator is a member ICJIA/W4P team, a multi-disciplinary team engaged in outreach, referral response, brief screening referral and intervention, case management, and warm handoffs, concerning individuals released from jail or prison or who otherwise have an arrest and/or conviction record. The Reentry Navigator will respond to individuals referred to the Safer Foundation within 24-48 business hours upon receiving referral. The reentry navigator will complete the initial registration, screening, and determine appropriate steps for external or internal referrals.

Performance Results Description

The Position is properly performed when all essential duties and responsibilities are executed by following the Safer Values.

Exceeding Expectations, Communication and Collaboration, Integrity, and Evidence Based Innovation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Stakeholder Interface

• Respond to referrals within 24-48 hours.
• Conduct intake assessment to identify immediate and short-term needs.
• Utilize Salesforce and/or other database(s) to register clients.
• Referrals to medical, behavioral health, housing, and emergency housing agencies to assist participants with immediate needs.
• Co-create individualized service plans and provide cross-systems navigation to all participants and monthly service plan progress review.
• Assist participants with identifying and addressing external barriers to achieving set goals listed in the service plan.
• Advocate for participants in areas including but not limited to reentry, at risk for violence, and/or at risk for homelessness.
• Complete Medicaid/SNAP applications and, as necessary, assist with coverage redeterminations for recently released or whose benefits have lapsed.
• Based on emergent needs, assist clients with a range of services, such as housing, healthcare, substance abuse treatment, legal aid in preparation to reenter society.

Stakeholder Outreach and Recruitment

• Under the manager's direction, attend and participate in all identified outreach activities, community events as well as negotiate and establish new relationships with other agencies that welcome and are sensitive to the needs of the formerly incarcerated population
• Participate in any other duties assigned that are needed to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our organization's values
• Travel to various sites as needed.
• Works closely with Safer Foundation’s community network partners, hotline responders, SCWC staff members, clinical staff, reentry navigators/case managers, and another internal staff member to support program participants.

Tracking, Document and Reporting

• Complete all client documentation in a timely manner of service delivery.
• Ensure accurate data entry by completing mandatory self-file reviews weekly.
• Engage in individual supervision with the manager identifying any immediate client needs or barriers to the reentry work/tasks given.
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and other privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations for clients' protected information.
• Attend internal and external multi-disciplinary staffing’s.
• Participate in all internal and external meetings bringing forth innovative ideas and/or feedback supporting continuous quality improvement and service delivery.
• In Salesforce, monitor referrals and follow-up bi-weekly to confirm compliance for all internal and external referrals.
• All Safer standards are adhered to, including productivity standards.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to represent Safer Foundation professionally while developing rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds.

• Knowledge of common concepts, issues, and best practices concerning reentry populations.
• Hands-on experience and self-sufficiency with Microsoft productivity tools, including Outlook (for email), Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and online collaboration tools (video conferencing, Zoom/Teams, messaging).
• Knowledgeable in providing case management services in the following areas: behavioral health, reentry, corrections, and medical/primary health.
• Knowledge of Medicaid in the state of Illinois as well as other public benefits.
• Knowledge about resources in the community for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Knowledge about housing resources and eligibility requirements for various housing types
• Ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve.
• Skilled in active listening and conveying information to others effectively.
• Skilled in social perceptiveness.
• Skilled in critical thinking, judgment, and decision-making
• Skilled in de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution
• Telephone etiquette skills.
• Data entry skills

Education and Experience:

• Associate degree in social work, criminal justice or related field, with 3 years’ experience working as a case manager in a social service setting required.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice or related field, with 2 years of experience working as a case manager in a social service setting preferred.

• Bilingual in Spanish and English is highly desired
• Individuals with direct lived experience welcomed.
• Experience working with individuals recently released from jail/prisons is preferred.
• Experience referring clients to a network of community-based providers and resources.
• Experience completing applications for public benefits.
• Experience in substance use/mental health or care coordination.
• Experience in working on virtual platforms (salesforce, google, DocuSign, etc.).
• Knowledge in leveraging the internet and computer applications to obtain information.
• Experience using software/database to document services and progress notes.
• Skilled in active listening and conveying information to others effectively.
• Skilled in critical thinking, judgment, and decision-making.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and Rule 2060 governing substance use treatment services in Illinois; Knowledge of Rule 132 is a plus.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance – Care for you and eligible family members
  • Choice of two (2) Medical Plan options from BlueCross BlueShield
  • Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
  • Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
• Dental Insurance – Offered by BCBS
  • Individual coverage 100% paid by Safer!
    • Eligible family coverage available
• Vision – “See” how Safer cares for your eye health 
  • Low-cost co-pays for in-network exam, frames & contacts

• Life Insurance – Protection for you & your family 
  • Basic Life (equal to 1.5 times your salary.)
  •  100% paid by Safer!

• 403b Retirement Plan – Helping you save for retirement 
  • Generous Company match to help you save more!

• Vacation & Holidays – Refresh, rewind, & enjoy at Safer!
  • Vacation days (non-manager)
  • Company Holidays (2025); more than industry standard
  • Paid Leave Days 
    
    
• Other Benefits & Perks -adding value to You!
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
  • Benefits such as Pet Insurance, Critical Illness, & Travel

Safer Foundation is a drug-free workplace. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Veterans

www.saferfoundation.org 

No Phone Calls Please