Service Navigation InternAt — Pathways of Hope

The Service Navigation Intern will work with one of the Service Navigators within our access point center and/or food pantry location to provide housing and service navigation to families and individuals requesting services. The intern will have the opportunity to deep-dive into all things service navigation. They will be able to connect with families and individuals at our access point location, help with finding them useful resources, assist with housing related searches and support, helping navigate through the homeless system, as necessary and complete assessments, assist in the every day operations of our access point program, as applicable, learn how to document case notes and complete record-keeping, and any other duties as assigned.

The Service Navigation Intern(s) will be assigned the following tasks/responsibilities: service navigation with participants who access our access point requesting services alongside the service navigators, on-site duties including connecting with walk-ups and assisting in the food pantry management, building/updating community resource guides for the agency, housing navigation including calling and visiting prospective properties to build up landlord connections for all participants, record keeping and document maintaining (i.e. completing case notes, building case files, etc.), attending internal and community meetings as necessary, and any other duties as assigned.

Training:

All interns receive an onboarding training which details and overview of the agency as well as all programs. Site visits are conducted and Supervisory staff introductions are conducted. Ongoing trainings take place within the roles/duties an intern performs alongside the service navigator and supervisor. All interns will get a chance to be a part of all internal trainings offered by the agency to better help inform the work we do.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand all components of Service Navigation
2. Become familiar with the Orange County Homeless System and how to navigate through it
3. Become trauma-informed and housing-first and prevention/diversion knowledgeable when working with community members at-risk of or experiencing homelessness