Resource Navigation with Care
A Human Centered Pathway at OWL360
Howdy! Derek Firenze here, OWL360's Resource Navigator and Case Care Coordinator. All of those very official sounding words translate into the messy and meaningful work of helping young people find resources, community, and sometimes just the next right step.
When people hear the phrase “resource navigation,” it can sound abstract and bureaucratic. But the reality is much simpler and much more human.
You see, the vast majority of the young people I meet in my work don’t lack motivation. They lack a clear path. They’re bombarded with the same firehose of information we all are through social media, the news, and the complexities of relationship with all the other human beings in their families and social circles. They’re trying to figure out housing, jobs, education, transportation, and mental health. Sometimes all at the same time. When everything feels uncertain, even knowing where to put your feet is a challenge.
That’s where resource navigation comes in.
My job is to walk alongside young people to help them untangle the overwhelm. Sometimes I’m connecting them to housing support, so they have a foundation of safety to build on. Sometimes I’m offering them tools to build a resume or engage in job hunting. Or maybe I’m just sitting down and talking through the goals they’ve been quietly carrying in their head while pointing out manageable steps on the path to their dreams. Often, I walk those first steps alongside them while they build confidence and independence, lending a little grounding from my nervous system while they relax into their power. Always, I’m honored to meet young people in their struggles with unconditional positive regard for the outcome. Mistakes happen, and we can always learn from them.
This is the work of connection. Jefferson County is full of organizations, businesses, and mentors who genuinely want young people to succeed. Through partnerships with those organizations as well as the young people we serve, we’re connecting people to opportunities and services that might otherwise stay hidden. That’s also the hope of HOOT360, the online resource library we built to share what Jefferson County has to offer its youth.
For me, this work is personal. I know what it’s like to feel like the ground under your feet isn’t stable yet. I also know how powerful it is when someone takes the time to say, “Let’s figure this out together.”
And that’s what resource navigation really is. Sitting down with someone, listening to where they are, and helping them take the first real step forward. Folks find their way to start this work with me oftentimes just by walking into The Nest. Or perhaps they pick up one of the toys I like to fiddle with when I’m tabling at schools and other youth programs. I’m also surprisingly happy to receive emails. However a young person crosses my path, I’m grateful to share this journey with them.
In my experience, people usually know more about what they want than they think they do. Sometimes they just need someone willing to slow down, look at the options together, and help turn possibility into a plan.
For more information contact Derek Firenze (derekf@owl360.org) or click the button below.
