Child welfare workers, in-house and external Economic Resource Navigators (ERNs); and ERN dispatchers at external organizations

• ES Activity Reporting Form.

1. Economic Resource Navigator (ERN) determines whether the family requires ongoing economic security support beyond case closure and whether or not they have the capacity to continue offering that support beyond case closure.

• This determination should happen by 4-6 weeks before the end of the ACS case, to have enough time to find a new post-closure ERN, as needed, and to conduct a warm handoff of the family or young person to them.

2. ERN identifies suitable external Economic Security providers if external referral is needed.

• Consider language and program needs. Families or young people might also prefer to speak with a provider that has no connection to ACS. Consult the Economic Security Referral Directory.

3. ERN reaches out to possible appropriate ERN matches to confirm capacity and fit of the referral.

• The Economic Security Referral Directory offers email contact for the ERN dispatcher at each organization accepting external referrals. Reach out with the subject line ‘Economic Security Referral.’ Send a short summary of the economic security needs of the family or young person and ask if the provider has capacity and willingness to take on the referral. If they don’t, move on to the next navigation provider.

4. ERN dispatcher (at new organization) confirms they are able to accept the referral.

5. ERN sends the referral, sharing needs and priorities identified previously.

6. ERN dispatcher (at new organization) confirms receipt of referral and follows up with questions.

7. ERN dispatcher (at new organization) shares referral with 
new ERN and shares new ERN’s contact information with referring ERN.

8. ERN determines the warm handoff method likeliest to work for the family or young person.

9. ERN schedules and conducts a three-way warm handoff conversation with new ERN and family or young person.

• Consider a three-way phone call or in-person meeting. A three-way email is the least ideal but still better than no warm handoff.

10. ERN updates the referring child welfare worker about final Economic Security outcomes and referrals.

11. CWW reports all final updates on ES applications/benefits to ACS using the Economic Security Activity Reporting form.