The Health Systems Navigator will join one of the largest providers of services forfamilies experiencing homelessness in the Metro Boston Area. Founded in 1988,Hildebrand is solely focused on families experiencing homelessness. Hildebrand’smission is to transition families out of homelessness to safe, affordable, permanenthousing while working to disrupt the systems that lead to poverty and homelessness.Hildebrand operates 157 units of emergency shelter throughout the neighborhoods ofBoston and Cambridge and 22 units of affordable housing in four buildings, and anarray of services that include case management, housing search, and stabilizationservices to ensure families remain stably housed. Hildebrand is a rapidly growingorganization with a staff of 60 employees and operates on a $9.1M budget.Our vision is Every Family Has a Home.SUMMARY:Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Health Navigator (HSN) is an integral part ofHildebrand's Management Team and is the subject matter expert for all health-relatedmatters for the clients and tenants of Hildebrand. The HSN will take a leadership rolewithin the Programs Department, helping to identify needs, improve client supportsystems and support the overall department. The HSN will help families connect toCommunity Health Centers and other resources that families can access while in shelterand continue to access once they are stably housed. The HSN role aims to lessenduplication of efforts in attempting to forge connections to community resources,increase the ability to provide training on and develop expertise in system offerings, andultimately, improve family well-being. While health issues are the primary focus, theHealth Systems Navigator will develop expertise in other system offerings that intersectwith health-related issues. The HSN will balance high-level macro systems work andcollaboration with direct client support.RESPONSIBILITIES:● Respond to challenges in identifying available services and making effectivereferrals – particularly for families with complex needs.● Develop and maintain an approach and internal system for dealing with client’scomplex medical issues.● Provide greater context to staff, including management and case management,on how client issues are related to social determinants of health.● Develop and maintain connections to Community Health Centers, helping todevelop partnerships and collaborations leading to greater access, resources,and training for Hildebrand clients and tenants.● Coordinate client care plans with hospital social workers for complex clientmedical issues.● Support Case Managers, ensuring clients are connected to MassHealth or otherhealth insurance, accessing its benefits, and clients are up to date on physicalsand immunizations.● Ensure staff are trained in signing clients up for MassHealth and benefits and inconjunction with program supervisors and managers, are tracking all relevanthealth information.● Act as a specially trained, on-demand connections expert who is knowledgeableabout service availability and eligibility and connects with key individuals in othersystems, including regional CoCs.● Ensure the client board and ETO is up-to-date with the latest client information.● Function as the organization’s ADA Coordinator for the purposes of HLC ADArequests. Track and follow up on ADA requests and support clients directly ifadditional ADA navigation is needed. Act as an intermediary between HLC andstaff regarding ADA concerns.● Connect with new clients and/or homeless coordinators at intake to ensure newhousing placements accommodate individual ADA requirements.● Address ADA needs across all of Hildebrand’s portfolio, including permanenthousing.● Review and update Hildebrand’s permanent housing ADA and pet policies on anannual basis.● Review and update intake procedures for healthcare and ADA information.● Lead the review and certification process for verifying disabling conditions forpermanent supportive housing disability status.● Provide ADA support for stabilization clients, helping to inform landlords ofclients' accommodation needs and legal protections.● Ensure clients are staying connected to their health services when transferringinternally or moving to a new permanent housing address by confirming clients’MassHealth ACOs and health centers are still appropriate● Ensure permanent housing follows ADA guidelines for tenants and provideoversight to the tenant selection process around disabilities.● Review all SIRs with health-related issues and develop preventative plans tominimize the use of Emergency Services.● Coordinate health-related workshops.● Set up vaccination clinics with partners.● Triage contagious disease situations alongside public health departments andmedical guidance.● Provide support for permanent housing families with health-related questions andneeds.● Ensure Program staff is up-to-date on First Aid CPR, and other client safetytraining.● Ensure all clients are provided with safe sleep information and program staff aredocumenting safe sleep instructions with staff.● Participate in 1 round of unit inspections annually with an eye on the health andwell-being of each family.● Ensure Hildebrand is meeting the Health and Safety requirements for families inshelter in line with the scope of services.● Interface (virtually and on-site) with shelter staff and act as in-house consultantsand support systems to case managers, housing search and stabilization staffwho are struggling to help families navigate complex bureaucracies.● Focus on the most complex or unique cases where standard case managementapproaches are insufficient.● In collaboration with the Education/Health Navigation Consultant, support andmentor health-focused interns.● Specific Health Navigator activities include (but are not limited to):
Aiding case managers in identifying available services and helping
navigate eligibility requirements, especially for families with particularlycomplex needs, with the focus on making connections to permanentservices that can be maintained post-placement.
Developing community linkages with CoC’s and other state and non-profit
entities to ensure effective connections to services, including but notlimited to services providing:a. Health Care; Mental Health; Substance Abuse; Food and Nutrition;
Provide trainings to shelter staff regarding the above community resources
and other resources alongside community-based organizations andcommunity health centers.
Participate in HLC-facilitated trainings and knowledge-sharing on
navigating services across the Commonwealth.
Help inform HLC ongoing work with Executive Office of Health and Human
Services (EOHHS) agencies and CoC’s by identifying areas wherecoordination could be improved and where service gaps exist.
Continue aiding families in connecting to appropriate services and
navigating complex Health systems once housed.
Track and aggregate data and report out monthly on Health and system
navigation efforts.QUALIFICATIONS:● MSW, MPH or related Masters● 1 - 2 years of experience in case management and direct client work.● Current working knowledge of homelessness and Continuum of Care Programs.● Proven ability to successfully manage several projects simultaneously,quickness, agility, and ability to exercise sound judgment in managing a crisis● Excellent verbal and written communications skills.● Possesses excellent communication and interpersonal relationship skills in orderto collaborate effectively with staff members, general public, and representativesof other organizations.● Demonstrated commitment to use innovative ideas in order to address and meetneeds of families experiencing homelessness.● Experience working with people from broadly diverse ethnic, social and culturalbackgrounds.● Understand and uphold the highest level of confidentiality on all levels includingthe ability to uphold HIPAA compliance standards.● Computer knowledge and proficiency required including Microsoft Officeapplications, including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.● Experience providing trainings.● Experience with data reporting.● Previous experience working in or in conjunction with community health centersor hospitals and or strong knowledge of public health.● Demonstrated commitment to use innovative ideas in order to address and meetneeds of families experiencing homelessness.● In depth knowledge of MassHealth, Massachusetts hospital systems, andMassHealth ACO benefits.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:● As with all Hildebrand staff positions, a CORI and SORI check is required.● Some non-traditional work hours may be required around the Holiday events.
