Campus Peer Navigator

at  Harbor Interfaith Services

The Peer Navigator is responsible for connecting community college students and foster age youth in the DCFS System who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness with resources that can end their housing crisis. This includes potential resources within the CES such as Next Step Assessment and referrals to Youth CES programs. The peer navigator will be responsible for increasing linkages between existing college campus-based resources to students experiencing homelessness.

EXPERIENCE / EDUCATION:

Ø Lived experience of housing insecurity
Ø Previous or current college student
Ø Previous or current foster youth
Ø Computer literate organized with attention to detail.
Ø Self-starter that takes initiative and completes tasks in a timely manner.
Ø Able to take direction and handle multiple tasks.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Ø Strong people skills and ability to work effectively with people of varying racial, ethnic, cultural, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Ø Ability to listen with sensitivity to other people’s feelings, needs, and point of view; demonstrate tact and courtesy in expressing opinions or ideas, projecting a positive image of Harbor Interfaith Services, and recognizing opportunities to enhance community relations.
Ø Strong oral and written communication skills
Ø Creative problem-solving skills
Ø Ability to work as a member of a team.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Work with Department of Children & Families Services (DCFS).
• Work with El Camino, Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbor College.
• Co-locate at the DCFS and community college locations in the South Bay as mentioned above and at Harbor Interfaith Services.
• Utilize problem -solving skills to help foster youth and students identify housing options outside of CES.
• Conduct CES Surveys Next Step Tool (Youth) assessments with clients entering CES System.
• Navigate foster youth and students to existing resources on campus.
• Enter client information into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) including case notes, exit information, progress made in the program and follow up information.
• Attend agency staff meetings, case conferences, the Higher Education and Homelessness Workgroup, training workshops and community meetings as scheduled.
• Maintain Tracking log and reporting tools on students served at the South Bay community colleges identified.
• Other duties as requested.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND REVIEW

Position reports to: SPA 8 Coordinated Entry System (CES) for Youth Regional Coordinator (through Harbor Interfaith Services)
Performance review: six-month introductory period, followed by annual performance reviews