Compton & SW College Peer Navigator

Department: Housing & Support Services
Reports to: Youth Coordinated Entry System (YCES) Regional Coordinator
Status: Non-Exempt

SUMMARY

Under the direction of the YCES Regional Coordinator, the College Peer Navigator will provide navigational coaching and crisis intervention linkage to mainstream or CES resources for students who are experiencing housing instability or at-risk of homeless while enrolled at Compton College or Los Southwest College. The College Peer Navigator will be co-located on both campuses to minimize barriers to accessing CES (e.g. transportation, schedule conflicts with classes) and they are able to provide direct CES services for students, including administration of CES Survey.

In addition, the College Peer Navigator will serve as a liaison with key college staff at Compton College and L.A. Southwest College to streamline services for youth and increase linkages between post-secondary education systems and homelessness services. Through this goal, the Peer Navigator program aims to improve referral processes, increase communication across systems, and increase future partnership opportunities to expand housing resources for students experiencing homelessness. College will provide case management services to students at both campuses Compton College and Los Angeles Southwest College ongoing as necessary to help students with problem solving, linkage, and any additional support to students.

The College Navigator will spend 60% of their time providing high-touch engagement services to the students by providing light case management ongoing as needed, 10% of their time will be spent on coordination with the College, 10% of their time will be spent on collaborative strategy development and workshops, 10% of their time will be spent on data entry and the final 10% of their time will be dedicated to external and internal department or training meetings. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Provide weekly high touch engagement and linkage activities for students experiencing housing instability or at-risk of homelessness college students by fist conversational problem solving and/or Problem-solving tracking tool.

  • Conduct group or individual information sessions for prospective program students.

  • Facilitate intake and assessment processes for all prospective program participants.

  • Meet with program students as needed to update on progress, identify resources & navigate systems (child welfare, financial aid, etc.), provide crisis/emergency management, and troubleshoot challenges as needed.

  • Assist students with building an attachment to campus-based support programs including but not limited to: Associate Student Body, St. Johns Medical Clinic, the Pantry, DPSS (Calfresh), Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOP&S).

  • Conduct quarterly barrier assessments to gauge student progress in multiple areas by conducting a Conversational Problem Solving and/or Problem-Solving tracking Tool assessment as needed.

  • Provide follow-up services and regular check-ins to students at the beginning and end of the First Year Support phase of the program.

  • Input timely & accurate data into our data system – Efforts to Outcomes.

  •  Proactively and consistently participate in meetings to assess, evaluate, and improve Peer Navigator Program and to co-develop strategies for improving linkages with community colleges.

  • Connect students with a “warm hand-off” to internal and external resources such as housing placement, Summer Youth Employment Program, childcare etc.

  • Complete all documentation on Clarity HMIS, such as but not limited to Conversation Problem-Solving and/or Problem Tracking tool and notes.

  • Identify relevant resources for program participants and support students in accessing those resources.

  • Participate in local collaborative meetings and conferences as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • 2+ years’ experience in related work and BA Degree in Education, Social Work, Public Administration, or related field.
  • Experience working with students on college campuses.
  • Familiarity with Housing Resources, DPSS, financial aid is a plus.
  • Knowledge and proven practice of trauma-informed care and strength-based approach to engagement and outreach.
  • Reliable, flexible team player who works well with minimal supervision, who has a good work ethic, and an ability to set and maintain personal boundaries.
  • Demonstrated ability to work multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of community resources.
  • Reliable transportation: valid driver’s license, and car insurance as required by law, as appropriate.
  • Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus.

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