Community Navigator

Job Overview

Job Title: Community Navigator (Full-Time)
Reports to: Program Director
Schedule: Monday‑Friday (9:00 am‑6:00 pm or 8:00 am‑5:00 pm)
Location: Lawrence L. Frank Center – Pasadena, CA
Status: Full‑Time, 40 hrs/wk, Exempt
Driver Position: Yes

At Ability First, we are dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities achieve their personal best. We support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families, with person‑centered programs that foster fun, fulfillment, choice, autonomy, community participation, social connections, and belonging.

The Community Navigator provides person‑centered planning, case management, intake coordination, and community engagement services to participants. The role collaborates closely with program staff, regional center service coordinators, and families to align services with participants’ goals. The navigator must be Director Qualified per community care licensing regulations and is responsible for documentation, goal planning, programming integration, and outreach. When the Program Director is absent, the navigator is authorized to correct operational deficiencies that threaten participant health and safety.

• Attend required 2‑day Person‑Centred Thinking training.
• Conduct screenings, phone calls, and intake meetings as the first level of intake.
• Maintain documentation: 30‑day reports, annual assessments, progress reports, exit reports, Person‑Centered Plans (PCPs), 1‑page descriptions, daily goal documentation, and annual forms (emergency contacts, consent forms, seizure plans, personal rights).

• Serve as liaison to Regional Center Service Coordinators.
• Attend Individual Program Plan (IPP) meetings.
• Submit progress reports every six months and annual reports within first 30 days and during birth‑month.
• Submit licensing waivers for participants 18–22 in ASP programs.
• Provide audit documentation for participant files when requested.

• Meet with each participant at least once per month to review goals, satisfaction, and placement.
• Collaborate with community coaches to implement goals in daily programming.
• Facilitate support meetings with participants, their support teams, and invited individuals.
• Coordinate community outings and volunteer activities with program supervisor and directors.
• Update individual goal documentation monthly.

• Represent Ability First at resource fairs and public events.
• Identify, vet, and initiate volunteer opportunities aligned with participants’ interests and goals.
• Coordinate with coaches and volunteers for successful placements.
• Assist with quarterly family and participant surveys.

• Input and maintain participant data in Pro Care (enrollments, discharges, demographics).
• Ensure records are accurate and up to date for internal tracking and billing.

• Step into program ratios as needed during staff shortages, including personal care items such as diapering, toileting, and feeding.
• Receive training in PCP, workers’ compensation protocols, opening/closing procedures, licensing compliance, and attendance/data management software.

• Uphold mandated reporter responsibilities.
• Complete all required staff training each quarter.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the program and organization.

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, marriage & family, recreation therapy, or 12 ECE units (or 4+ years of equivalent experience) preferred.
• Must be LIC Director Qualified under Title 17/22 regulations mandatory.
• Must have 2+ years of experience in developmental disability services or related field mandatory.
• Familiarity with regional center processes preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication mandatory.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and data management tools mandatory.
• Valid driver’s license mandatory.
• Ability to work with diverse populations mandatory.
• Understanding of person‑centered practices preferred.
• Must be able to work evenings/weekends as needed mandatory.
• Successful background (Live Scan) check…