Certified Community Resource Navigators link community members to the local landscape of service providers to improve their access to housing, healthcare and other resources. Navigators listen, advocate, and act on behalf of everyone in the communities that they support. Navigators also support nonprofits by guiding clients/potential clients through documentation gathering and applications, making time spent with local agencies more effective.
United Way of Kaw Valley’s Community Resource Navigation program is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and UWKV donors.
Highlighted Quotes:
“Expanding community health worker and navigator services is an intersecting strategy throughout our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). United Way of Kaw Valley’s involvement in this work reflects a shared commitment to improving access to essential services like primary and prenatal care, behavioral health, childcare, food assistance and housing. Efforts to expand Douglas County’s community health work and navigation services not only help individuals navigate complex systems of care, but these efforts also foster collaboration among community partners. By implementing a coordinated network of support, we strengthen our collective ability to improve the health of our community.” – Johnathan Smith, UWKV Board Member and Executive Director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health
“We are grateful for the progressive vision of BCBS that recognizes the health and wellbeing impact of connecting people with necessary social services. This grant to support a systemic approach to community care coordination will be a significant difference maker across our urban and rural communities while integrating across all service providers.” – Beth Llewellyn, UWKV Board Chair
For Community-Based Organizations
Are you a community-based organizaitonlooking to get in touch with our Community Navigation team? Email us at UWCommunityResourceNavigators@uwkawvalley.org
to learn more about becoming a partner, update your existing resource card and more.
Community Resource Navigation:
Our certified Community Resource Navigators will support community members in need of support and resources. By helping them navigate complex systems, the Community Resource Navigator will be a key point of contact and source of support for community members in crisis. This program aims to be a link between the health and social services sectors and the community. The goal is to facilitate access to services and improve both the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
This program will not only improve access to services but also improve the experience of community members navigating complex systems and can result in cost and resource savings.
This intervention will support and leverage closed loop referral networks across our communities, serving as a critical link between service providers and programs.
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.
The essential functions of the navigators:
- Carry out work in a client-centered approach with dignity, respect, and cultural competence
- Be onsite in strategic locations throughout the community to build relationships and trust with community members, including being out in the community 65%-70% of the time
- Complete all telephone and face to face contacts with community members in a timely and professional manner
- Assist in completion of enrollment forms and other needed documentation and document in approved format in a timely manner
- Complete referrals through closed-loop referral system (where available)
- Help with medical, behavioral health, and social service referrals to ensure client access and follow through
- Ensure client access to interpreters and translators for medical and social services appointments
- Assist clients in obtaining necessary medications through patient assistance programs and other reduced cost programs
- Complete all required documentation and data tracking in a detailed and timely manner
- Attend and actively participate in project related training and project meetings
- Understand community needs, resources, and local and national best practice strategies