Mental Health Navigator

Job Description

Employment at My Father's House (MFH) means you are part of a thriving community creating a more just and merciful society through outreach to the incarcerated, re-entry services, nonprofit management, and community building.

Job title: Mental Health Navigator
Location: Denver, CO (In-person, some travel to partner sites)
Reports to: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Full-time Exempt Status

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to jim@myfathershousedenver.org with the subject line: Mental Health Navigator Application - [Your Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The mission of MFH is to provide a transitional housing community for men on parole; seeking to offer them safe, decent, affordable housing and a community of support. We are a prison reentry nonprofit that also provides job placement assistance, life-skills training, and a supportive community to men on parole so they can lead whole and productive lives. MFH has an emphasis to help men grow and move on to discover new purpose and find themselves more capable than they knew in a faith-based setting. We do this on a non-discriminatory, non-sectarian basis.

My Father's House is seeking a compassionate and skilled Mental Health Navigator committed to helping our participants navigate Mental Health systems effectively, so they can positively grow and change through relationships. This job requires someone willing to work alongside individuals who are reentering society from prison. We offer services to individuals who may have committed non-violent and/or violent crimes in their past and who have been convicted of sexual offenses. If this poses a problem, it's best not to apply. This is a new position in our organization, so we will favor candidates who are open to thinking creatively and interested in helping us build this position for the long-term needs of our participants.

The Mental Health Navigator will serve as a dedicated bridge and liaison between MFH, participants, Mental Health providers, and the complex systems involved in reentry. This position ensures participants receive coordinated, consistent, Mental Health care while managing parole requirements, employment, reengagement with family and society, and other life transitions. The Navigator will address treatment gaps, reduce barriers, and prioritize psychological healing alongside employment and parole stability.

Compensation:

• Salary range based on level of experience: $50,000-$57,000 per year.
• Meaningful, mission-driven work environment.
• Eligibility for health, dental, and vision insurance reimbursement for the employee, subject to terms.
• Eligibility for mileage reimbursement, subject to terms.
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Eligibility for participation in our SIMPLE IRA program with company match.
• Professional development opportunities.

Characteristics

My Father's House's mission is rooted in the Gospel and in the social teaching of the Catholic Church, at the center of which is the inherent dignity of every human person. The successful candidate will have an understanding of and belief in this social teaching as well as the following:

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with justice-involved individuals.
• Ability to navigate complex systems on behalf of and with participants, helping them learn to navigate these systems themselves.
• Creative and resourceful in removing barriers to care.
• Respectful of diverse life experiences and able to work effectively with people of diverse cultures, ages, and economic backgrounds in a culturally competent and sensitive manner.
• Possessing an understanding of trauma-informed approaches to care.
• Maintaining appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Familiarity with Catholic social doctrine and a commitment to not advocate for anything that explicitly contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum 2 years' experience in mental health, case management, social services, or reentry-related work.
• Knowledge of community mental health resources and Medicaid/insurance navigation.
• Knowledge of different kinds and forms of therapeutic interventions and ability to suggest the best likely match with different types of client problems and aspects of client backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and documentation skills.
• Willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be willing to undergo a criminal background and DMV check. Having a criminal background is NOT necessarily a bar to employment.
• May require occasional travel throughout the state of Colorado as well as travel to prisons/facilities where prospective clients are located.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care
• Skill in motivational interviewing.
• Familiarity with parole/probation systems.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

Care Coordination
• Assist participants in navigating Mental Health care systems, including insurance, appointment scheduling, medication management, and referrals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with therapists known to be or found to be effective in working with this population and who are willing to participate in an unusual level of care coordination needed by the clients; being aware of individual therapists' therapeutic orientation and style so as to help match to client needs.
• Serve as the primary liaison between participants, MFH, and providers.
• Share relevant background with providers to initially inform treatment planning; share relevant updates and feedback about therapy effectiveness and compliance while also gathering progress updates for program integration.
• Evaluate participants' progress in treatment and other program areas to maximize the value and effectiveness of interventions.

System Navigation & Advocacy
• Help participants meet insurance and documentation requirements for treatment.
• Coordinate transportation/logistical solutions to ensure appointment attendance.
• Advocate for participants within healthcare and social service systems.

Trust Building & Participant Support
• Build rapport and trust with participants to encourage engagement with Mental Health services.
• Where needed, educate participants about therapy, help them to overcome negative attitudes from previous therapy failures, and to become more able effectively to benefit from therapy.
• Recognize and respond to early warning signs of relapse, crisis, or disengagement from care.
• Provide consistent follow-up to maintain treatment continuity.
• Program Collaboration
• Work closely with case managers, parole officers, and community partners to align Mental Health care with participants' broader reentry plans.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records in compliance with HIPAA and organizational policy.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, balance, and stoop. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job is performed primarily in an indoor, home office environment in the houses where our participants live. The Navigator may also meet with participants in the common areas of their homes or other locations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The atmosphere is collaborative and friendly.

About the Employer

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:2-3

Our Mission

The mission of My Father's House (MFH) is to provide a transitional housing community for men on parole; seeking to offer them safe, decent, affordable housing and a community of support. My Father's House offers reentry and support services, including weekly social community support for men within the housing community, and those living in their own housing. My Father's House has an emphasis to help men grow and move on to discover new purpose and find themselves more capable than they knew in a faith-based setting.