Navigator - BBO-N Region E

Description

Position Summary:

The Navigator plays a vital role in the Better Birth Outcomes – Navigation (BBO-N) program, which supports pregnant and postpartum individuals and their infants (dyads) in accessing the medical, social, and community-based services they need to thrive. The Navigator works directly with families through in-person engagement to identify barriers, provide tailored resource navigation, and promote maternal and infant health and well-being. The primary goal of this position is to reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality with a strong emphasis on addressing racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct in-person visits with pregnant and parenting individuals to assess needs and build trusting, respectful relationships.
• Provide individualized, 1:1 navigation services to help clients connect with a variety of medical homes, social services, and community supports, including those offered through Illinois Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).
• Support clients in accessing MCO value-added services such as care coordination, transportation, maternal/infant supplies, case management, and more.
• Collaborate with families to identify and mitigate barriers to care, including transportation, childcare, housing, food access, and other social determinants of health.
• Facilitate shared decision-making and respect client autonomy in setting and working toward personal and family health goals.
• Provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive support tailored to the needs of each family.
• Educate clients about the importance of establishing and maintaining a medical home and preventive healthcare services.
• Offer prenatal education and support families before and after Family Connects visits; provide information and facilitate handoff to the Family Connects program when applicable.
• Promote and support:
  • Identification and treatment of maternal mental health and substance use concerns
  • Management of chronic medical conditions during and after pregnancy
  • Safe infant sleep practices
  • Adequate maternal and infant nutrition
  • Growth and development milestones for infants
• Conduct community outreach and engagement activities to promote program awareness and recruit new participants, including attending community events, distributing materials, and building partnerships with local service providers.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with program guidelines and reporting requirements.
• Meet program performance standards and participate in required training, supervision, and evaluation activities.
• Follow all guidelines and protocols as outlined in the BBO-N Policy & Procedure Manual.

Qualifications

• An associate degree in a behavioral science, social science, or health-related area is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, human services, or related field preferred.
• Experience working with pregnant and parenting individuals and familiarity with maternal and child health systems.
• Knowledge of community resources, public benefit programs, and care coordination in Illinois.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and advocacy skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and maintain confidentiality.
• Must be culturally competent, compassionate, and dedicated to promoting health equity.
• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel for in-person visits and community outreach.

Salary : $21 - $23