Family Support Navigator – Medical and Community Resource Navigation

Organization Description: 

Family Futures’ mission is to shape a community in which all children are supported to reach their full potential. Our geographic focus is primarily Kent County with some services extending into other communities. We help children ages 0 through 5 by supporting parents, providing connections to resources and programs, and offering ways to monitor and enhance early childhood development. We believe in supporting our employees to be successful as well. Family Futures offers a strength-based, learning-driven, quality improvement-based culture that celebrates equity and diversity and an opportunity to grow while making an impact in your community. Family Futures values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.   

Position Overview

Family Futures is expanding its support for families navigating medical and community systems in response to a local medical social work provider closing. The Family Support Navigator – Medical & Community Resource Navigation will help fill this gap by connecting families with healthcare, insurance, developmental, mental health, housing, transportation, and other essential community resources as a part of Family Futures’ Connections program. Through the Connections Program, we partner with families, healthcare providers, early childhood programs, schools, and community organizations to ensure children ages 0–5 receive developmental screenings, resource navigation, and support services that strengthen family well-being.

This role combines compassionate family support with practical coordination across medical and community systems. The Navigator will assist families in understanding available services, overcoming barriers to care, and successfully accessing needed supports for young children and caregivers.

The ideal candidate is organized, relationship-oriented, comfortable navigating healthcare and social service systems, and passionate about reducing barriers for families.

This position may require:

• Travel within the community using a personal vehicle.
• Occasional lifting of materials up to 25 lbs.
• Attendance at some community events or meetings outside regular work hours.
• Use of a personal cell phone and reliable internet access (Family Futures does offer reimbursement up to a certain amount for this cost).

Key Responsibilities

Medical & Community Resource Navigation

• Conduct family intake assessments and identify medical, social, and developmental needs.
• Help families navigate healthcare systems, including pediatric care, specialty referrals, insurance/Medicaid questions, and appointment coordination.
• Connect families to community resources such as food assistance, housing support, transportation, behavioral health, early intervention, and caregiver supports.
• Provide short-term case management and follow-up to ensure families successfully access services.
• Assist families in overcoming barriers such as transportation, language, scheduling, and system complexity.

Family Support & Advocacy

• Build trusting relationships with families through phone, text, email, and in-person communication.
• Advocate with and for families when coordinating with medical providers, schools, agencies, and community partners.
• Support families in developing practical action plans based on their goals and priorities.
• Recognize patterns of unmet needs and help inform program and community responses.

Documentation & Collaboration

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in program databases.
• Track referrals, follow-up activities, and family outcomes.
• Collaborate with Family Futures staff, healthcare partners, and community organizations to coordinate care and referrals.
• Participate in relevant workgroups, meetings, and outreach efforts to strengthen community partnerships.

Education & Experience

Family Futures values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees and families are treated with dignity and respect.

We welcome candidates with a variety of educational and lived experiences. A strong candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, Human Services, Early Childhood, or a related field OR equivalent combination of education, lived experience, and professional experience.
• At least 2 years of experience working with families, patients, or community members in healthcare, social services, case management, or resource navigation.
• Familiarity with medical, behavioral health, insurance, and community support systems in West Michigan.
• Experience supporting diverse populations and navigating complex systems.

Required Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build trust with families experiencing stress or crisis.
• Excellent organization and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities simultaneously.
• Comfort navigating healthcare and social service systems.
• Problem-solving and advocacy skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and basic database/data entry systems.
• Cultural humility and commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Fluency in English.

Preferred Skills

• Fluency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in the community.
• Experience with Medicaid, insurance navigation, or healthcare coordination.
• Knowledge of early childhood and family support resources in Kent County.
• Experience working in community-based, medical, or behavioral health settings.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed and family-centered practices.

The job description is intended to provide the employee with a general, broad understanding of the job’s responsibilities, and not necessarily to specify all activities and responsibilities.

Please note: this is a grant funded position, and currently, funding for this position is guaranteed through September 2026. We have applied for additional funding to extend this position, but it is not guaranteed at this time. It is our intent to secure funding to continue this position.