Young Adult Case Manager
BLOOMINGTON, IL
Young Adult Case Manager
Full-Time
Reporting Relationship:
Reports to the program manager or supervisor
Supervisory Responsibilities:
May provide orientation to new staff, interns, or volunteers
Status:
Full-time
Provides day-to-day case management, life skills training, street outreach, counseling, and crisis intervention, using a trauma-informed approach, to individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 who are in Livingston and McLean counties. Ensures proper screening of runaway, locked-out, homeless, and street youth to assess at-risk status and to provide prevention services and life skill education, intervention, and placement information.
Duties and Responsibilities
Role Specific:
- Assist youth in crisis or who are runaways, locked-out, homeless, or living on the street.
- Complete initial assessment and uses a defined screening tool to determine program eligibility and risk level of youth.
- Provide regular supervision to youth housed in the emergency hotel and assist them in obtaining more stable housing.
- Troubleshoot client concerns and ensure youth safety.
- Function as a neutral advocate to address youth, school, or parent concerns.
- Educate youth in life skills with the intent to stabilize behavior and promote self-sufficiency.
- Conduct street outreach activities to educate homeless youth regarding shelter and placement options, etc. This involves frequenting areas where youth are known to socialize or congregate.
- Act as liaison and network with juvenile officers, schools, and other stakeholders to the youth’s service planning.
- Assist Project Oz staff in developing action plans to expand agency outreach capabilities and methods.
- Is available, as scheduled, to provide 24-hour crisis intervention services.
Youth Services Specific:
- Assume rapid response duties to crisis calls at all Safe Place locations by carrying a pager and cell phone on designated weekdays and weekends. The rotation schedule varies.
- Communicate with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others, understanding that someone may have been exposed to trauma.
- Provide referrals and linkage to appropriate agencies as needed.
- Debrief appropriate staff on cases opened, interventions utilized, case status, case plan, and case documentation at the completion of on call duties.
- Provide appropriate documentation of care contact through case notes and monthly data entry and service reports.
- Complete all required forms and progress notes and submit agency reports, forms, and logs by agreed upon dates.
- Participate in community outreach, panels, and other committee meetings as directed by leadership.
- Act as a representative of Project Oz and as a community resource person.
- Attend all required staff meetings and weekly Youth Services meetings.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Program Manager or executive team.
- Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field.
- Reliable personal transportation, valid Illinois driver’s license, and satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance. May transport clients in own vehicle.
- Must be flexible, able to respond to crisis calls within designated time frames, and able to travel and work weekend and evening hours as needed.
Preferred:
- Related professional experience working in a human services program and with people of diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to recognize trauma symptoms and support healing and recovery for youth exposed to trauma.
- Knowledge of childhood trauma and/or experience working with youth that have been exposed to trauma.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong negotiation and mediation skills.
- Ability to solve practical mathematical problems.
- Knowledge of Microsoft® Teams software and/or Outlook, Excel, and Word.
Additional Details
- Background checks – Must pass required criminal and character background checks. Must possess valid Illinois driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance. May transport clients in own vehicle.
- Mandated Reporter - Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.
- Training – Job involves CPR and other crisis-intervention related training.
- Travel – Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles. Must occasionally drive in heavy traffic and/or inclement weather conditions.
- Physical Requirements – Must be able to stand, walk, and sit. May occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- Hours – Job may require irregular work hours and travel outside of normal business hours. Must be flexible and able to respond to crisis calls within designated time frames.
Competencies
- Adaptability – Alter approach as the situation demands. Work effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals and groups.
- Integrity – Act ethically and honestly in all employment activities and build professional relationships by promoting mutual trust.
- Communication – Express ideas and facts effectively, contribute to open exchange of ideas, and exhibit an understanding of audience needs.
- Relationship Building – Build and maintain relationships (internally and with key external groups) that support and improve personal/team effectiveness.
- Teamwork – Work toward common goals by demonstrating sensitivity to others' needs and supporting, encouraging, and sharing information with colleagues.
- Initiative – Recognize what needs to be done and accomplish it proactively.
- Resourcefulness – Identify critical information, effectively use available resources, and seek ways to improve agency processes.
- Dependability - Reliable, responsible, and helpful on the job while fulfilling obligations in a timely manner.
- Self-Control - Maintain composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Problem Sensitivity - Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Trauma Sensitivity - Ability to communicate with clients and others with sensitivity understanding that someone may have been exposed to trauma.
Skills
- Active Listening – Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Social Perceptiveness – Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Strategic Thinking – Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.