As a bridge between service providers and participant communities, Resource Navigators link community members to the local landscape of service providers to improve their access to housing and other resources. However, their role is not solely referring. Rather, this position is also tasked with the responsibility to listen, advocate, and act on behalf of the communities that they support. In this way, Navigators are active in the systems individuals are navigating, changing the service provider landscape as much as they are using it to support participants.
Vision:
Community members are connected to resources that provide the opportunity to thrive and live healthy lives.
Theory of Change:
If we implement a robust community resource navigation program that intersects existing navigation programs and systems, we will build capacity in our human services ecosystem and individuals and families will more easily and effectively access the resources they need to thrive.
Overview:
United Way of Kaw Valley will develop a Community Resource Navigation program across Shawnee and Douglas Counties that:
- Ties to Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities in each community;
- Is developed according to best practice models in the state;
- Provides training and certification to navigators;
- Creates and maintains workflows for both high-need and general populations;
- Works collaboratively with existing navigation/Community Health Worker (CHW) programs in the communities;
- Uses existing referral networks and systems to receive clients and to refer clients to services or work with partners to develop those systems;
- Creates and maintains branding materials to distribute at key locations across the communities to build name recognition and awareness of services;
- Builds capacity in the human services sector;
- Is innovative, nimble, and open to key and strategic partnerships;
- Measures meaningful outputs and outcomes that drive improved community health outcomes.