Kinship Navigator I, Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP)

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.  

Program and Role Summary:

Wayfinder’s Kinship Support Services Program is a kinship navigation service for grandparents, extended family members or close family friends who step up to raise children so they avoid the trauma of separation from their birth family. The program also assists kinship families that form voluntarily, without the assistance of a child welfare agency. Our program offers counseling, assistance with basic needs, support groups and workshops, respite resources and more. Kinship families are more stable, and children maintain their family connections, which produces better long-term outcomes.

The primary focus of the Kinship Navigator is to provide family support and case management services for kinship families. Develops, coordinates, and supervises family service plans, assesses and identifies family needs and connects families to available kinship resources.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Orients and educates parents with the program.
• Plans and attends social events for families.
• Conducts assessments to identify family needs.
• Case management of an average 8-10 families.
• Develops appropriate family service plans.
• Makes appropriate referrals to community resources.
• Provides emotional support to families.
• Assists family in locating funding for services if possible.
• Maintains records of all services provided and document all assessments, meetings, decisions, and reports.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college preferred. Bachelor’s degree from an unrelated field and related experience will be considered in conjunction with relevant experience.
• A minimum of 18 units of Psychology, Sociology or Communications and a minimum of two years of experience in a case management position, working with families, or equivalent experience will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Bilingual (Spanish), required.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and the unique needs of kinship care are highly desired.
• Valid CA Driver License with a minimum of three (3) years good driving history and must be approved by the agency’s insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.

Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4% 
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development 
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans 
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.