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.