Transition to Adulthood Navigator .4 FTE

SouthWest Metro Intermediate District #288 has an opening for a part-time Transition to Adulthood Navigator (.4 FTE) at SouthWest Metro Intermediate District.

SouthWest Metro serves students in 11 member districts and 8 associate member districts across the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area with programs in Special Education, Career and Technical Education, Care & Treatment, Adult Education, and Alternative Education. We invite you to embrace your own value, potential, and ability at SouthWest Metro, while empowering others to discover theirs. We work to empower ALL learners to realize their self-worth through personalized educational instruction, connection to resources, and access to a supportive learning environment.

Description:

The Transition-to-Adulthood Navigators will support transition-aged students with epilepsy and co-occurring conditions, along with their families, as they move through key life transitions into adulthood. Working within either the MN Epilepsy Foundation or Southwest Metro School District schools, Transition-to-Adulthood Navigators will serve as trusted guides, helping youth and families access resources, coordinate healthcare, educational, vocational rehabilitation services, and community resources, and strengthen their ability to navigate complex systems using a tiered support framework (i.e., information request, consultation, and comprehensive 1:1 support). This role builds on the expertise of current employees at the MN Epilepsy Foundation or Southwest Metro School District schools, expanding their responsibilities to include structured transition navigation. Transition-to-Adulthood Navigators maintain their primary reporting structure within their respective organizations while participating in shared training, communication, and data collection across both systems.

This is a non-clinical, consent-based role: Transition-to-Adulthood Navigators facilitate coordination and communication only with informed consent and signed Release of Information (ROI), and do not deliver medical advice or treatment.

Key Responsibilities

Tiered Support for youth and families

• Information request: Provide brief, resource-oriented responses and referrals for transition-aged students and families, educators, and community members seeking information and/or guidance related to epilepsy, co-occurring conditions, transition services, or local supports.
• Consultation: Offer focused, short-term assistance to help transition-aged students, families, or professionals address a specific area (e.g., transition planning, service coordination, daily management strategies). Identify when transition-aged students or family may benefit from ongoing support.
• Comprehensive 1:1 support: Deliver ongoing, scheduled sessions with transition-aged students and families to address multiple areas affected by epilepsy and other co-occurring conditions.
  • Partner with transition-aged students and families to assess needs, identify strengths and goals, and create individualized action plans.
  • Use person-centered approaches to guide planning and coordination across healthcare, education, vocational rehabilitation services, and community systems.
  • Ensure consistent follow-up and continuity of support as the needs and circumstances of transition-aged student and family evolve.

Transition-Aged Student and Family Engagement & Support

• (If transition-aged student and family want) Provide one-on-one navigation support, including needs assessments, action planning, and follow-up.
• Facilitate transition-aged students and family workshops, group sessions, peer connection, or learning opportunities to share resources and strengthen self-advocacy skills.
• Use Person-centered approaches and tools to guide conversations about goals, supports, and future planning.

System Navigation & Cross-System Collaboration

• Connect transition-aged students and families to healthcare, education, vocational rehabilitation services, and community resources (e.g., county social services, HCBS waiver support) with special attention to epilepsy related and transition specific needs.
• Collaborate with medical providers, school staff, vocational rehabilitation services, and community partners (e.g., county case managers for social services) to ensure smooth transitions and “warm handoffs” between systems.
• Identify barriers (e.g., social determinants of health, system/service gaps) and collaboratively work with transition-aged students, families and partners to address them.
• Participate in joint meetings, trainings, and case discussions to bridge communication across healthcare, education, vocational rehabilitation services, and community systems.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with transition-aged students and families, school staff, healthcare providers, and family advocacy organizations, and community systems.
• Serve as a liaison between transition-aged students/families and systems to ensure culturally responsive and coordinated services.

Data & Reporting

• Document transition navigation activities, outcomes, and resource connections in project tracking systems.
• Collect feedback from youth and families
• Support quality improvement by sharing challenges and opportunities with the project team.
• Support program evaluation and help refine referral and support processes based on youth and family experiences.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, healthcare, social work, human services, or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in family support, student services, healthcare navigation, advocacy, or community-based work.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to engage youth and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Experience working within schools, community-based organizations, or health-related systems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom/Teams, and electronic data systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with epilepsy and co-occurring conditions, or transitions to health, postsecondary education, employment, and community living
• Knowledge of local and state resources available to families of children and youth with special health care needs.
• Bilingual skills (e.g., Spanish, Somali, Hmong).
• Experience applying equity-focused practices in family support.

Core Competencies:

• Cross System Collaboration: Builds connections between schools, healthcare providers, and community agencies.
• Person Centered Practice: Honors the family’s goals, values, and strengths in all interactions.
• Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness: Provides inclusive, accessible, and respectful support to diverse communities.
• Confidentiality and Boundary Clarity: Maintains trust and professionalism across settings.
• Empowerment and Advocacy: Helps families build knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-determination.
• Continuous Learning: Engages in ongoing professional development and reflective practice.

Additional Notes:

• Transition Navigators may be located within schools or the Epilepsy Foundation and will collaborate closely with one another across sites.
• Training and ongoing professional development will be provided.

Pay & Benefits: 

The pay  for this position is $32,000 annually and will be prorated based on the FTE. Available Benefits Competitive and comprehensive benefit package available:

• Generous Sick Time
• Personal Time Off
• 403(b) Plan
• TRA/PERA (Pension Plan)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Application Procedure:
Apply Online at swmetro.k12.mn.us/employment_opportunities  

Selection Procedure:
Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately until the position is filled. Those selected for interviews will be contacted.