Reentry Navigator

The Reentry Navigator provides direct reentry support, resource navigation, discharge planning assistance, and service connection for incarcerated individuals and clients exiting the HCSO. This position assists individuals before and during release preparation by educating them on available resources, identifying service needs and barriers, coordinating referrals, scheduling appointments, and supporting access to community-based services.

Assignments may vary based on operational need. The selected candidate may be assigned to support one or more special populations or reentry service areas.

The Reentry Navigator serves as a direct point of support for incarcerated individuals and reentry clients who may require specialized release planning, resource navigation, service referrals, or connection to community-based supports that promote stability, continuity of care, and successful reentry.

This position promotes respectful, responsive, trauma-informed, culturally informed, and person-centered communication between incarcerated individuals, reentry clients, correctional staff, service providers, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and community partners. 

The Reentry Navigator helps elevate population-specific needs, service barriers, and resource gaps through appropriate supervisory or operational channels while maintaining accurate records, client data, and program documentation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supports incarcerated individuals and reentry clients experiencing homelessness or housing instability by coordinating specialized release planning, housing-related referrals, service connections, and other community-based supports needed for a safe and stable transition.
• Provides specialized reentry support, transitional planning, resource navigation, and release preparation assistance for incarcerated individuals and clients exiting the Joint Processing Center.
• Conducts assessments, identifies needs and barriers, and assists with discharge planning for individuals requiring community services, specialized referrals, or additional release coordination.
• Educates incarcerated individuals and reentry clients on vetted community resources and assists with service connection before release.
• Coordinates access to community resources, including housing, employment, education, healthcare, behavioral health services, substance use services, transportation, identification documents, benefits, family services, legal resources, parole, CPS, and other reentry supports.
• Assists clients with completing forms, applications, documents, and other required paperwork related to reentry services, identification, benefits, housing, employment, healthcare, legal resources, and other support needs.
• Schedules appointments and coordinates referrals with community partners, service providers, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and other external agencies to support release preparation and continuity of care.
• Serves as a liaison between incarcerated individuals, reentry clients, correctional staff, facility leadership, courts, attorneys, parole, healthcare providers, community organizations, advocacy groups, consulates, immigration agencies, and other external partners.
• Promotes respectful, responsive, trauma-informed, and culturally informed communication among incarcerated individuals, reentry clients, correctional staff, service providers, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and community partners.
• Conducts routine rounds in assigned housing units, program areas, or service locations to provide resource information, respond to questions, support communication, and assist with reentry-related needs.
• Responds to electronic requests, staff referrals, agency inquiries, client requests, and program-related requests in a timely and professional manner.
• Coordinates reentry-related activities, including program transfers, housing-unit movement, special releases, service appointments, agency visits, resource groups, educational sessions, and special events.
• Maintains current information regarding community resources, eligibility requirements, referral processes, contact information, service availability, and admission procedures.
• Engages with community organizations and partner agencies to understand available services, identify resource gaps, strengthen referral pathways, and support client access to services.
• Tracks, documents, and maintains accurate client contacts, referrals, service connections, appointments, releases, housing movement, agency contacts, program participation, grant-related data, and other program activity records in accordance with department policy and reporting requirements.
• Runs, reviews, and prepares routine reports, statistical summaries, correspondence, participation letters, certificates, program summaries, and other documentation as assigned.

Assignment-Specific Responsibilities

Depending on operational needs, the Reentry Navigator may be assigned to support one or more special populations or reentry service areas. Assignment-specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, supporting older adults, pregnant or postpartum individuals, individuals with disabilities or ADA-related needs, veterans, individuals with immigration-related needs, individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability, individuals housed in designated reentry or specialized housing units, or individuals requiring specialized release coordination.

Assignment-specific responsibilities may include:

• Identifying individuals who may require specialized reentry planning, service coordination, or additional release support.
• Conducting needs assessments to identify barriers, immediate stabilization needs, available support systems, documentation needs, transportation needs, accessibility needs, and service eligibility.
• Assisting with referrals to community-based services, including housing, healthcare, behavioral health, substance use treatment, benefits, legal resources, transportation, family services, veteran services, disability-related services, and other reentry supports.
• Coordinating release planning for individuals who require additional support due to housing instability, medical needs, behavioral health needs, substance use concerns, disability-related needs, victimization, age-related needs, pregnancy or postpartum needs, immigration-related needs, or other barriers to safe discharge.
• Assisting individuals with obtaining or replacing identification documents, birth certificates, Social Security cards, benefits documentation, medical records, veteran-related documentation, and other records needed to access housing, employment, healthcare, benefits, and community services.
• Communicating with shelters, housing providers, outreach teams, healthcare providers, behavioral health providers, disability service providers, veteran service organizations, legal service providers, consulates, immigration-related service agencies, courts, attorneys, parole, family members, advocacy organizations, and other approved partners to support continuity of care and safe release planning.
• Providing resource information, responding to questions, and assisting individuals housed in designated reentry, special population, or specialized housing areas with release preparation and service connection.
• Tracking referrals, service connections, appointments, release dates, transportation arrangements, documentation needs, accessibility-related needs, housing status, and other relevant activities related to reentry planning.
• Maintaining current information regarding community resources, eligibility criteria, referral procedures, contact information, admission requirements, service availability, and population-specific supports.
• Identifying and elevating resource gaps, service barriers, urgent release concerns, and population-specific needs through appropriate supervisory or operational channels.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee in this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, psychology, sociology, human services, public health, public administration, education, behavioral science, or a related field. 
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in a career, educational assessment/counseling, support services, or job placement environment.
  • Relevant education may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and cultural competence to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Must possess strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to work effectively with incarcerated individuals, reentry clients, correctional staff, community partners, government agencies, advocacy organizations, service providers, and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, and ethical standards.
• Must be proficient in basic computer applications, electronic documentation, data entry, reporting systems, Microsoft Office, and/or database management.
• Must be able to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to changing operational needs within a correctional environment.

• Experience working with incarcerated individuals, justice-involved populations, reentry clients, individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability, or individuals with complex service needs.
• Experience providing case management, service coordination, discharge planning, release planning, resource navigation, community outreach, or client advocacy.
• Experience coordinating referrals with community-based organizations, government agencies, healthcare providers, behavioral health providers, housing providers, legal service providers, veteran service organizations, disability service providers, or other external partners.
• Knowledge of reentry barriers, social determinants of health, homelessness services, housing resources, public benefits, behavioral health services, substance use treatment resources, disability-related supports, veteran services, maternal health resources, immigration-related support services, or other community-based supports.
• Experience supporting special populations, including older adults, pregnant or postpartum individuals, individuals with disabilities or ADA-related needs, veterans, individuals with immigration-related needs, individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability, or individuals requiring specialized release coordination.
• Bilingual ability, especially English/Spanish, preferred depending on assignment.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment, such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands

This role is sedentary; however, the ability to lift and carry up to 10 pounds is required to move files and/or boxes of documents, etc.

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

This is a full-time position.  Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours may vary based on the department's business needs.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.