[Hiring] Care Navigator @Think of Us

Role Description

Think of Us is building a new kind of direct service practice — one that is human-centered, technology-enabled, and designed from the start to generate the intelligence needed to change systems at scale. The Care Navigator is a founding practitioner in that model.

Where a Community Responder opens the door, the Care Navigator walks through it with you. This role is defined by sustained, relationship-based navigation — holding TAY and kinship families in California through the full arc of their journey, not just the first moment of contact. The Care Navigator carries complex, evolving caseloads, goes deep on individual circumstances, and stays present through transitions, setbacks, and progress over time.

This is not traditional case management. The Care Navigator is a practitioner, a knowledge generator, and a co-designer — someone who delivers high-quality direct support while simultaneously helping codify what a 21st-century digital navigation practice actually looks like.

Key Responsibilities

• Engagement:
  • Serve as a consistent, trusted point of contact for TAY and kinship families.
  • Build and sustain relationships with California community partners.
  • Deploy micro-cash grants strategically as an engagement and stabilization tool.
  • Activate crisis support protocols when needed.
• Assessment:
  • Conduct comprehensive, Motivational Interviewing-informed needs assessments.
  • Recognize and respond to change talk.
  • Identify gaps in the resource landscape through direct service interactions.
  • Collect and document user feedback and satisfaction data.
• Support:
  • Manage an active caseload across multiple stages of the care journey.
  • Co-develop individualized action plans with each person served.
  • Guide individuals through meaningful transitions to community partners.
  • Empower individuals to navigate complex systems on their own terms.
  • Leverage ConnectMe's technology-assisted directory.
  • Support individuals who face barriers to digital access or literacy.
• Learning & Systems Intelligence:
  • Implement and scale ConnectMe's evolving suite of tools.
  • Document what works, what doesn't, and why.
  • Contribute lived-experience and human-centered design perspectives.
  • Capture real-time lived-experience data through case notes.
  • Enter data accurately and on time in compliance with established protocols.
  • Participate in regular team debriefs, learning sessions, and case consultations.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with the Innovation and Tech team.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience accessing and navigating child welfare systems and/or other social service systems.
• Trained or experienced in Motivational Interviewing (MI).
• Bilingual ability in Spanish (both written and verbal) is preferred.
• Experience with data entry and documentation in case management, CRM, or tracking systems.
• Familiarity with California's child welfare system, county structures, or specific state programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, counseling, human services, or a related field is required.
• Motivational Interviewing training (foundational or advanced) is strongly preferred and expected within the first 90 days of employment.

Benefits

• Annual salary for this role is $65,000–$75,000.
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 50% for dependents.
• Access to Talkspace for confidential therapy and mental health support.
• Flexible PTO policy, plus sick leave and paid leaves of absence.
• Regular organization-wide learning sessions on relevant and reflective topics.

Application Instructions

As part of your application, please submit a resume outlining your skills and experiences relevant to this role.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Think of Us is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and value applicants of all backgrounds, knowing that diverse perspectives strengthen our work with children, youth, and families.