Mission: The Link works with youth and young families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice. Our 23 programs provide supportive housing, intensive case management services, and skills development to youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness, sex trafficking and/or involvement in the juvenile justice system. The Link prides itself on its innovative, youth-centered, strengths-based programming for youth and families as well as programs that are co-designed, implemented and overseen by youth.

Position Specifics

• Hiring Salary Range: $56,000-$64,000/year based on qualifications /a year based on qualifications 
• Job Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
• Location: Southwest Suburbs, MN
• Hours/Days: Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00. Some Weekend On Call Rotation, Weekday and Weekend On-Call Rotation Hours, 24/7 Crisis Line and Shelter
• Note: This position requires driving. To be able to drive on behalf of The Link, candidates must have a valid driver's license, have a safe and reliable vehicle, be able to successfully clear a criminal and motor vehicle background check, and maintain personal insurance at the levels of $100,000 Bodily Injury/Per Person and $300,000 Bodily Injury/Per Accident. Job offer is contingent on having these requirements. 

BASIC FUNCTION

The West Metro Regional Navigator position is a collaborative position that will be housed within The Link. The collaborative includes Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) and The Link. The position will play a critical role in the state and Hennepin County’s Safe Harbor Law/No Wrong Door response for sexually exploited youth. The Regional Navigator will provide a centralized point of contact for providing training, coordination and the response for sexually exploited youth for the “West Metro Region” which includes Hennepin, Scott and Carver counties. The Regional Navigator will be a point of contact for sexually exploited youth in that the position will provide a safety and needs assessment for trafficked youth, referrals to appropriate services and on-going support and coordination with all systems and stakeholders involved with the youth. The Regional Navigator will interact with law enforcement, child welfare, juvenile justice, health care providers, culturally specific service providers, street outreach workers, runaway and homeless youth providers and other stakeholders. 

This position will be considered a mobile one that will be housed within The Link but will spend time at multiple community sites in order to accommodate the needs of sexually exploited youth within the West Metro area.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Build Network of Collaborative Service Partners across Hennepin, Scott and Carver counties:

• Build relationships with law enforcement, child welfare, juvenile justice, runaway and homeless youth service providers and other stakeholders across the West Metro Region.
• Identify services appropriate for sexually exploited youth in Scott, Carver and Hennepin County and make a resource list of appropriate chemical dependency, mental health, physical health, culturally specific services, parenting support services, legal services, education and employment services.

Enhance coordination and collaboration between system (juvenile justice, health care, child welfare, etc.) and professionals serving, interacting and engaging with sexually exploited youth:

• Develop expertise on current systems and planned changes for the various governmental systems which non-profit agencies, individual professional and victims must interact with.
• Translate the above expertise into usable information that is specific to each county and include it into training materials.
• Work in coordination with the County/City No Wrong Door coordinator as well as any other key staff similar to this position in Scott and Carver counties.

Act as a change agent for systems work that is still needed to better address sexually exploited youth:

• Act as a liaison to system leaders who may be reworking their systems for compliance with Safe Harbor legislation and/or helping to build up major initiatives to fight the sexual exploitation of youth.

Train partners and collaborating service agencies:

• Provide and coordinate trainings to key sectors that encounter sexually exploited youth such as health care providers, child welfare and juvenile justice system staff, public health employees, schools, court system staff, non-profit youth providers and law enforcement. (Trainings can be coordinated with other entities and staff.)

Build Public Awareness on the issue of Juvenile Sex Trafficking:

• Partner with community organizations to raise public awareness within community sectors that interact with sexually exploited youth which include schools, transportation, hotel/motel employees, faith communities, health care providers, youth program providers, street outreach workers, etc.

Support Youth and Collaboration Partners with Appropriate Referrals:

• Take calls directed to them from the Day 1 Hotline and any other referring entity (including youth themselves) and conduct initial safety and needs assessments with the youth.
• Coordinate service referrals with Safe Harbor Emergency Shelter and Housing as needed, health care services, legal services, case management and all other services as needed.
• Work effectively with all systems involved in the youth’s life including child welfare system, juvenile justice, schools and law enforcement.
• Provide mobile case management if the youth is not already receiving case management. Once a case manager has been identified then coordinate services with that person and disengage from full case management duties.

Attend and participate in all required meetings and trainings:

• Participate in monthly Regional Navigator conference calls with the Minnesota Department of Health and all other required meetings.

Reporting of data suitable for collaboration, planning, process improvement and resource allocation:

• Formalize the reporting requirements of Minnesota Department of Health into the West Metro service region.
• Meet all reporting obligations to the state and any other related funders and stakeholders as needed.
• Understand and work within all data privacy requirements.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Preserve the integrity of the programs and agency
• Demonstrate commitment to The Link’s mission and vision, and values of equity, diversity and inclusion
• Support the overall growth of the agency
• Maintain positive and healthy relationship with co-workers and other related parties
• Assist where needed as a team player
• Create a safe, respectful, and healthy atmosphere and environment where everyone can grow and learn
• Participate in special projects as necessary
• Attend all meetings and trainings as required
• Maintain positive and professional interactions with clients, co-workers, and all parties involved
• All other duties as assigned 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Desire to continuously learn for personal and professional growth
• Ability to build positive relationships with at-risk and sexually exploited youth
• High level of personal and professional integrity, including ability to protect and maintain confidentiality and data privacy 
• Knowledge of the commercial sexual exploitation of minors
• Creative and able to engage a diverse range of needs and learning styles
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively with and relate to diverse populations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially for client advocacy
• Ability to work independently 
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently organize, coordinate, track and complete multiple tasks as well as adjust to changing priorities
• Computer application proficiency, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint 
• Schedule is based on meeting the needs of program and will require some evening hours
• There is also one week of being on-call during a program on-call rotation that this position will fill which requires keeping a work cell phone on 24-7 to respond and help with emergencies and open shifts 

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least three years of experience working with sexually exploited youth
• Training in positive youth development, harm reduction, and/or trauma informed care
• Extensive knowledge of issues related to sex trafficking, comprehensive programming, child welfare, juvenile justice, and court systems
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Life Experience (Survivors) and/or other relevant education including social service or social work, human services or other related degrees
• Current driver’s license, reliable vehicle (with current insurance at the levels required by the Link) and ability to pass a criminal and driving background check

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear
• The employee is frequently required to use manual dexterity for use of objects, tools or controls as well as visual acuity
• The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• The employee must lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• This position is highly mobile and works at multiple sites within the Twin Cities Metro area.
• Ability to work a variable schedule (including some evenings, overnights and weekends) as needed
• Requires ability to drive

BENEFITS

The Link offers benefits to eligible employees such as medical, dental (The Link covers 100% of the premiums), vision, a generous 401k with employer match, over 2 weeks of PTO in your first year, birthday PTO, two days of volunteer PTO, 11 paid holidays/holiday pay, and more!

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY 

As outlined in our Compensation Philosophy . The Link believes strongly in pay equity and transparency, and wages that lead our field for similar roles.  To that end, The Link will ensure all new hires are offered the highest wage they are eligible to receive within the position's hiring range based on their years of relevant professional experience, lived experience, and relevant degrees and licensures.  The Link has a “no negotiation policy,” which means candidates should not have to negotiate their way to a fair wage for their skills and experience and will automatically be given the highest wage they are eligible for based on their qualifications. 

OTHER

The Link is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The Link complies with laws relating to discrimination against qualified applicants and employees in hiring or in any decision affecting job status or pay, based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, familial status, covered veteran status, public assistance status, membership in a local commission, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, or other applicable protected classes. 

NOTE: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.