Community Navigator

(Hybrid Full-Time Position in Oakland, CA)

About the Homecoming Project

Using the sharing economy model, the Homecoming Project (THP) at Impact Justice (IJ) pairs individuals returning home from prison with welcoming community residents (hosts) who have a room in their homes to spare. The Homecoming Project pays each host a daily stipend for housing the participant for up to 6 months. And, THP participants are provided acommunity navigator that works to connect them to the needed resources, supports, and wraparound services necessary for community re-entry. This innovative reentry housing project began in 2018 and to date has housed over 125 returning individuals into homes within the community. The Homecoming Project is currently in Alameda, Contra Costa and Los Angeles counties. By providing stable housing for people leaving prison, THP provides a base from which people can begin to build a new life, save money, find employment, and reconnect with family. See more here.

Who You Are

You have an orientation and belief that criminal justice involvement should not be animpediment to employment, career, and personal growth opportunities. You haveexperience working directly with vulnerable and marginalized populations.

 That said, we know there are great candidates who may not think they fit into what we’vedescribed above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that is you, don’thesitate to apply and tell us about yourself! And if you’re a formerly incarcerated individual, someone who has a family member who is or has been incarcerated, or otherwise have directexperience with the criminal legal or juvenile legal systems, we will be particularly excited tohear from you.

What You Will Do

The anticipated start date for this position is May 6, 2024. You will report to the ProgramManager for The Center. You’ll be the owner of being the main point of contact for activeHomecoming Project participants returning to the community from prison, and your core responsibilities will be:

• Case Management – You will manage a caseload of up to 25 participants. This meanstracking, recording, and updating participant notes; providing ongoing support to participants including performing periodic check-ins to monitor home conditions andhousing arrangements; maintaining up-to-date progress notes and reports; collaboratewith participants to create an individual reentry plan which includes goals, objectives,and needed services/treatment; and utilize care coordination to connect participants to partner agencies through linkage/referrals.
•  Interviewing and Matching – You will conduct participant intakes, assessments, andmatching. This means conducting interviews via teleconference or in-person; and assisting with compatibility meetings between hosts and participants.
•  Participant Accessibility– You will be accessible to participants via phone or text. This means being accessible on a daily basis to participants; and supporting participants and hosts to resolve conflicts, as needed.
• Parole Agent Engagement – You will contact/engage with a participant’s assignedparole agent. This means contacting agents to update on participant housing/reentry changes.
•  Partnerships – You will research, network, and engage with potential referral/service provider organizations. This involves contacting and coordinating with other organizations, as needed.
•   Continuing Care – You will ensure active and graduated participants receivenecessary resources. This means working closely with staff in The Center to connectparticipants to resources during and beyond their participation in THP.

Additional Responsibilities for Lead

•  Coverage– You will provide additional coverage when other Community Navigators are out of the office. This means being available on a daily basis.
•  Training – You will train THP Community Navigators. This involves training other navigators in Homecoming community navigation and case management processes.
•  Review and Guidance – You will support other Community Navigators in supporting participants. This involves ongoing review of other Navigators’ case notes/caseloads and providing professional guidance.
• Support – You will provide support to the Program Manager, as needed. Thisinvolves aiding in planning additional supportive services and training.

Education / Experience Level

Successful candidates typically have at least four years of work experience in direct servicewith the reentry population or other marginalized communities.

Required Qualifications

1.       Case management experience: developing, monitoring, and workingindependent case plans; writing strong case notes; experience working in a casemanagement system; service referrals/linkage; advocating; guiding and supporting participants as they navigate their reentry journey, while also holdingthem accountable for completing tasks; maintaining confidentiality.

2.       Communication Skills: excellent verbal and written communication; highly developedinterpersonal skills with good rapport-building techniques; motivational interviewing;ability to network, maintain, and establish relationships; de-escalation and conflict resolution experience.

3.       Time Management: proven ability to meet deadlines.

4.       Computer Literate: ability to use Google Suite and learn other information database systems quickly.

5.       Problem-solving: High level of critical/analytical/interpretive thinking and problem-solving skills.

6.       Values-driven: direct experience of being impacted by the criminal justice system(either through a personal or family history of incarceration) and/or a demonstratedcommitment to serving and working with the reentry or other vulnerable populations.

7.       License and Vehicle: a valid Driver’s License with a clean and reliable vehicle, withcurrent registration and proof of insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

1.       Certifications: in Harm Reduction, Case Management, and/or Counseling

2.       Professional Experience: experience in the human services, social work, psychology, or related field; or working in or with the criminal legal system.

3.       Reentry Experience: comprehensive understanding of the reentry transitionalprocess, including obstacles and barriers that formerly incarcerated people must go through when first released; experience in rental housing programs for formerly incarcerated populations.

Applying

The position will be paid $55,000-$63,000 for Community Navigator and $60,000-$68,000 for Community Navigator Lead. The benefits that come with working at Impact Justice include medical, dental, and FSA plans, significant vacation and wellness leave, and immediate vesting in our 401K with a generous match. This is a full-time, salaried position. The candidate should be located in our Oakland CA office and will work under a hybrid schedule. We are not considering remote staff for this position.

COVID-19 Vaccination is a condition of employment for all employees (office-based and remote). We require employees to have received all recommended doses in the primary series and at least one booster. This is a bargaining unit position with Impact Justice United represented by OPEIU, Local 29.

 If this all sounds like a good fit for you, please include your resume and instead ofsubmitting a traditional cover letter, answer the following three questions to help explain yourqualifications and interest in the position:

• Why do you want to work for Impact Justice’s Homecoming Project? (100-word limit)
• Provide an example of when you successfully served a participant by utilizingcreative relationship-building strategies. (150-word limit)
• List the top qualification(s) listed above that you feel you meet, with a VERYbrief explanation or further detail. (1 sentence or less!)



We plan on making decisions on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply the better.

Hiring Process

Elements of the Impact Justice hiring process may include phone screen interviews, candidate exercises (written or presentations), Zoom interviews, in-person interviews, and reference checks.

Candidates are welcome to ask for alternative arrangements in the process if needed(for example, conducting an interview via phone rather than Zoom), Impact Justice willdo our best to accommodate reasonable requests. Please communicate any alternativearrangements requested to the hiring manager.

The benefits that come with working at Impact Justice include medical, dental, and FSA plans, significant vacation and wellness leave, and immediate vesting in our 401K with a generous match.