Neighborhood Navigator

The Neighborhood Navigator program will train participants to work in focus neighborhoods where they will build relationships with people regularly living and/or spending time on the street who may have mental illnesses and/or substance use (behavioral health) disorders.

Neighborhood Navigators with lived and shared experiences will engage with participants who are acutely struggling with homelessness, behavioral health issues, and related challenges to help direct them into longer-term care and support, thereby avoiding potential contact with the justice system. In time, and with a foundation of earned trust, the navigators will offer linkages to behavioral health care, housing, and other needed services. 

Essential Position Functions:

• Conduct outreach throughout the neighborhood of focus; on the street, at soup kitchens, drop-in centers, parks, or wherever individuals experiencing homelessness may spend time.
• Engage individuals encountered in the areas where outreach is conducted or referred to by a partner agency.
• Complete Immediate Needs Assessments to determine what areas the participant identifies as needing assistance or support.   
• Provide intensive emotional and practical support to participants as they navigate the initial steps toward change.
• Establish collaborative working relationships with other community-based organizations in the neighborhoods to facilitate connections or re-connections to services and support.
• Connect participants with service providers who can address identified needs such as behavioral health treatment, substance use treatment, primary health care, entitlements, housing, etc.
• Accompany participants to initial appointments to address any possible barriers and to support them in making meaningful connections.
• Advocate with and for program participants to achieve personal goals and address barriers such as fear, stigma, and communication disparities with community providers and supports.
• Attend and participate in training, team meetings, and supervisory sessions.
• Develop short-term person-centered treatment plans to assist participants towards achieving their goals.
• Monitor and record participant’s progress and modify the plan according to needs and preferences.
• Perform ongoing needs assessment for essential ongoing community integration and support.
• Timely and accurate documentation of participant information within the electronic health record.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively use one’s personal story and role model recovery in a way that promotes personal growth and empowerment.
• Knowledge of resources in communities of focus.
• This position requires travel throughout Manhattan.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and ask for help when needed.
• Ability to participate on a team to work toward shared goals and accomplish shared tasks.
• Serve as a role model to participants, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to work with all community stakeholders: participants, network, families, and government staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences.
• Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to participants and their families.
• Knowledge of techniques for identifying risk, including crisis management techniques.
• Language: Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese is highly preferred.
• In-person position.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:  Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent, or higher. New York State Certified Peer Specialist, Certified Recovery Coach/Peer Advocate, or a Certified Recovery Coach preferred. Experience in providing advocacy services to people who have a behavioral health diagnosis (mental illness and/or substance use), have experienced homelessness, or have been involved or impacted by the legal-justice system. 

The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer