Full-time Family Support Navigator - 1.0 FTE (Temporary)
École Secondaire Notre Dame High School, St. Joseph High School and St. John Paul II Outreach
Red Deer, AB
Please note that this opportunity is open to all applicants (internally and externally).
Position Summary:
The Family Support Navigator acts as a vital bridge between schools, families, and community resources. Operating strictly from an early-intervention, non-crisis framework, this role empowers families to address challenges — such as school attendance, housing instability, food insecurity, lack of medical/mental health access, or basic needs — before they negatively impact student success. The Navigator does not provide clinical therapy or crisis management; rather, they serve as a knowledgeable guide, conducting "warm hand-offs" to community agencies and building families' capacity to advocate for themselves.
Key Responsibilities:
Direct Family Support & Navigation
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Needs Assessment: Receive referrals from school staff (teachers, principals, counselors) and conduct initial intake meetings with families to identify barriers to student well-being and academic success.
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Resource Connection: Develop customized action plans with families to address identified needs, facilitating direct "warm hand-offs" to community organizations, government agencies, and non-profits. Work directly with families to support school attendance providing resources on why it is critical to attend school
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Empowerment & Coaching: Educate and coach parents/guardians on how to navigate complex community and social service systems independently, fostering long-term family resilience.
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Follow-Up: Maintain regular communication with families to monitor progress, ensure successful connections with referred agencies, and adjust support plans as necessary. Maintain regular communication with school counselors and school administrators.
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Boundary Maintenance: Clearly communicate the scope of the Navigator role to families, ensuring immediate referral to appropriate school counselors, crisis teams, or emergency services if a situation escalates to a crisis level.
Community Liaison & Partnership Building
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Resource Mapping: Continuously research, identify, and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date database of local community resources, eligibility requirements, and contact personnel.
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Network Development: Build and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with community agencies, local government services, and healthcare providers to streamline the referral process for school families.
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Advocacy: Serve as a voice for the school division within the community social services sector, highlighting the specific needs and trends observed among the student population.
School Collaboration & Administration
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Staff Consultation: Advise and collaborate with school staff regarding available community resources and appropriate referral protocols.
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Data Tracking: Maintain accurate, confidential records of family interactions, student attendance, referrals made, and outcomes achieved.
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Reporting: Compile regular reports on trends in family needs and resource gaps to help the school division make informed, data-driven decisions about future support initiatives.
Qualification & Experience:
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Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Sociology, Child and Youth Care, or a closely related field.
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Experience: Minimum of 2–3 years of experience working directly with families, youth, or in community outreach/case management.
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Knowledge: Deep understanding of local community resources, social service systems, and the barriers families face when accessing them.
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Skills:
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Exceptional interpersonal and active listening skills, with a trauma-informed approach.
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Strong organizational and case-management abilities.
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Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries.
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Cultural competency and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
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Proficiency in maintaining databases and tracking data.
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Assets: Fluency in a second language commonly spoken within the school division's demographic.
Working Conditions:
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Requires travel between École Secondaire Notre Dame High School. St. Joseph High School and St. JPII Outreach and local community agencies (valid driver's license and reliable transportation required).
- May require occasional flexible hours (e.g., late afternoons or early evenings) to accommodate parent/guardian work schedules.
How to Apply:
In order to be considered for this position, you must upload a current Resume and Cover Letter to the job posting you are applying to. The Cover Letter and Resume must be a Microsoft Word or PDF file.
If you are having trouble applying to this posting, please contact Apply To Education at 1-877- 900- 5627 or [email protected]
For instructions on how to create a Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools account, please click this link:
