Community Navigator

Community Navigator

The Community Navigator helps individuals and families navigate the front door of Intellectual Disability Services and waiver enrollment in community-based settings. This position is intended to reduce barriers to access by helping people understand the IDS registration and waiver enrollment process, including obtaining the necessary records and documentation, and by helping them move more successfully through both.

The Community Navigator serves as a bridge between the community and the IDS Registration and Administrative Services Management Teams (ASMT). The Navigator provides education and practical support to individuals, families, hospitals, schools, providers, and other referral sources regarding what is needed to register for IDS, including basic identity documents and category-specific clinical or medical documentation. The position also helps individuals access existing records, understand which documents may still be missing, and connect to the appropriate next step. This role is not responsible for making eligibility determinations, but for helping individuals better understand and navigate the process.

The Community Navigator also provides general education regarding service pathways beyond registration. This includes helping families understand that registering with IDS is the first step to connecting to waiver-funded services, and that eligible individuals receive support coordination or targeted service management to support waiver enrolment and service planning. The Community Navigator collaborates with support coordination organizations to obtain waiver-related documentation and provides a warm hand-off for service planning.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work to strengthen collaboration between the IDS Registration Team, ASMT, Visions for Equality, and community partners, including families, schools, hospitals, community providers, service coordination organizations, and other referral sources.
• Provide timely, clear, and effective communication with individuals, families, and referral partners regarding the IDS registration process, required documentation, and next steps.
• Meet with individuals and families in community settings, as appropriate, to provide navigation support related to IDS registration.
• Help individuals and families gather, or access required basic documentation for registration, including birth certificate, Social Security card, medical insurance card, photo identification, and proof of residence and financial information as needed.
• Help individuals and families obtain existing evaluations, medical records, school records, and other supporting documentation needed for IDS review.
• Explain the documentation pathways for different registration categories, including Intellectual Disability, Autism, Developmental Disability for children under age 9, and Medically Complex Condition for individuals under age 21.
• Provide education regarding required clinical and medical documentation, including signed evaluation reports, adaptive functioning measures such as the Vineland or ABAS, evidence of age of onset, and forms such as the MA 51 and DP 1090 when applicable.
• Assist families in the completion of adaptive functioning measures such as the Vineland or ABAS.
• Support individuals and families in organizing records and preparing materials for submission to the IDS Registration Unit.
• Identify barriers delaying registration, including difficulty obtaining records, confusion about documentation requirements, limited system knowledge, or trouble understanding next steps, and help problem-solve around those barriers.
• Coordinate closely with Registration staff so that outreach, follow-up, document collection efforts, and case updates are communicated and tracked appropriately.
• Maintain ongoing follow-up with individuals or families, as needed, to support progress toward registration readiness and the completion of waiver enrollment documentation.
• Conduct outreach and education in the community regarding IDS access, registration pathways, and how to start the process through IDS contact points.
• Provide general education on next-step service pathways, including that IDS registration is the first step toward PFDS Waiver access and assists with waiver-related documentation processes based on identified service needs.
• Provide basic guidance on waiver-related documentation expectations at a high level, including awareness that Medical Assistance, County Assistance Office financial review, and financial records may be needed later in the waiver process; refer individuals to the appropriate staff or support coordinator for detailed waiver processing.
• Enter and maintain accurate outreach, navigation, and participant data in designated systems or tracking tools.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision, and required training.
• Collaborate with Vision for Equality Navigator to support similar Registration and Waiver Enrollment processes through monthly meetings and ongoing communication.

Skills Required:

• Strong clinical and case management skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to navigate the community systems in Philadelphia.
• Knowledge of and or ability to understand Intellectual Disability and Behavioral Health disorders, and co-occurring challenges.
• Cross-cultural skills and experience with culturally diverse populations.
• Knowledge of benefits, how to activate benefits, and how to leverage benefits to access treatment and resources.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills. Knowledge of multiple languages a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals and agencies representing varying perspectives and interests.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field with at least 3 years of experience working with individuals.
• Candidates must have a working knowledge of systems within the Philadelphia area.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions:

• Employee must be able to work in an office environment that may include varying levels of distraction, noise, lighting, and privacy.
• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the work environmental conditions required, such as maneuvering in office space — reaching file cabinets, fax, and copier machines when necessary.
• Must be able to navigate local travel within the City of Philadelphia via public transportation as needed to support individuals and families to connect with systems to support obtaining.
• Valid driver's license and use of a personal licensed and insured vehicle during work hours as needed.
• Must be able to sit for up to 2-hour timeframes.
• Must be able to complete work tasks by looking at a computer monitor and using a keyboard and mouse to perform data entry.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check and a background check as required.
• Ability to effectively utilize computers, databases, and related common office software packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.