What is a family navigator and what do you do as a family navigator?
I came up with the name The Family Navigator as I was searching for a way to explain how I wanted to help families. Throughout my special education teaching days, my early intervention days and my research coordinator days, I saw parents who needed someone to hold their hand and guide them. Parents who received information for the first time, or were searching for information, and were just overwhelmed by all of it. I wanted to give parents their spark and their advocacy back.
I recognize that some agencies have people they label as “family navigators.” These are typically free services through medicaid or volunteer groups and can get you what you need. However, no one offered specialized, to your child and your family situation, help for ALL families. My family navigator services have zero prerequisites for service. I can see your family if you are just trying to figure out symptoms, are leaving the hospital, just received a diagnosis, need to plan for school, or just want to pick my brain! In addition, I’m here for family navigation, so that means every member. If you are a parent who is neurodivergent or has a diagnosis that you feel needs support, I’m here for that too!
Here are the steps we would take, from your perspective, if you reached out to me.
- Send a message through the contact me page or to my email [email protected] Helpful things to include are: primary concern/diagnosis, what you hope I can help with and your general availability for a consultation call.
- I email you back with options for a consultation call. Typically parents prefer virtual (google meet, zoom) but I’m happy to call as well. These calls are 15 minutes long and cost $20.
- We have a conversation on the consultation call. I usually ask you to share details of what you are needing for 5 minutes or so, I share what I am able to support families with for about 5 minutes and then we make a plan and I answer your questions.
- I will send a follow up email of any specifics we discussed and ask you to let me know if you would like to continue.
- If you want to continue, great. If it wasn’t a good fit, no problem.
- If we work together, we will discuss the format. I have 3 different ones:
- Family Navigator Level 1- Rapid fire questions- you want a sounding board and want to pick my brain. With this option, I’m not doing research for you but will send you a quick email with any resources we discussed. This would be best if you have concerns about symptoms and don’t know where to go or you just have those lingering questions after seeing a specialist and want to know the best support in the community for you. 30 minute session is $50, 45 minute session is $75.
- Family Navigator Level 2- Can you just do the research for me- You email me what you want me to research, I spend 45 minutes doing that research and we meet for 15 minutes to discuss it. I will provide you with a google sheet/doc with what I found. This would work for 1-2 topics. 60 minutes total $100.
- Family Navigator Level 3-I have so much on my plate (due to child’s diagnosis or your own)- You have a laundry list of things that you can’t begin to manage and want support with prioritizing, researching, knowing who specifically to contact and what to do. This would take multiple sessions but typically no more than 3. I let you know ahead of time how long I believe it will take and we work together. I provide you with any research/resources in a google sheet/google doc. 60 minutes total (research/meeting) are $100. If ongoing, we can discuss a monthly rate to keep it economical.
Communication: Do you prefer email, text, or phone calls? Just let me know and I will use your preferred communication mode. As The Family Navigator, my goal is to make this easier for you, not harder! I am available by text during workdays and will respond to after-hours text/calls/emails the next business day. I am not a crisis line, but I’m colleagues with many psychologists and therapists if you are needing that role as well and would be happy to connect you.
Any other questions about a family navigator? Feel free to comment below!